Keep Residents Engaged Virtually!
looking for some ideas to give your residents to stay busy and entertained? Scroll down, friend! >>>>>
Things are changing rapidly for our industry these past few weeks. Communication with our residents is just as important now, if not more so. But how do we do that without face-to-face communication?
This is where social media comes in handy. Here are a few things you can post about to keep communication open, and positive with your residents.
Social Media Posting Topics To Communicate with Residents:
Tag a Friend:
Sprout has plenty of “tag a friend who…” graphics that can get conversations started and get your residents engaged.
“Dreaming of sunshiny days ahead? Tag a friend who you can’t wait to go to the dog park with!”
“Closets are nice, pantries and cabinet space for all the staples are appreciated, but tag a friend who’s real need is some great wine storage! (Mainly because we want to be friends with them too!) 🍷”
Click images to download the graphics
Spring Cleaning Challenge:
While residents are cooped up inside their apartments, encourage them to use this time to get a jump start on their Spring cleaning. Every day you can post a different room or area of a home for your residents to clean.
“Take this time to jump-start your Spring Cleaning and clean out all those junk drawers and closets you’ve been meaning to get to. Where do you usually start when you do your spring cleaning? Let us know in the comments!”
Click on the digital graphics below to download them
Recipes to Try:
Find some yummy recipes on Pinterest or even your favorite personal cookbook and post it on social for your residents to cook for breakfast, dinner, or lunch. Here’s a website I like for recipe inspo: Magnolia Recipe Collection
“If you’re sitting at home, you might as well eat well! Here’s one of our favorite recipes that’s oh so easy and always a crowd-pleaser. Drop your favorite recipe in the comments and if you try this one, let us know how it turns out!”
Click the digital graphics below to download them
DIY Projects to Try: Encourage residents who are at home to try those projects they’ve been eyeing on pinterest for way too long.
“You know that DIY board you have on Pinterest that you’ve only made 1 thing from? Now is the time to try the rest! Let us know what you’re DIY’ing today!”
Best Balcony/Door Decoration contest:
You could have a theme or just have a free-for-all, but this is a great way to get residents in a creative mood and feel connected, while still practicing social distancing.
“CONTEST TIME! We’re having a “Spring themed” balcony decorating contest over the next week so get to brainstorming and crafting! We’ll announce the winner on social media, so be watching for it!”
Click image to download the digital graphic >>>>
Learn a New Skill:
There’s probably something your residents have always wanted to learn but never had the time to. Now is the chance to encourage that!
“Have you always wanted to learn how to crochet? Maybe how to speak another language? Now is the perfect chance to do that! Let us know what you’re learning in the comments!”
Click on the digital graphic to download
Have a virtual book club:
If you have a resident Facebook page, or even just through your social media channels, you can have residents vote on a book to read and then invite them to chat about it through social media.
“Consider this your invite to our virtual book club. We’ll be picking a book for anyone to join in and read, and then once a week we’ll join the chat on social media to talk about what we thought about it. Drop your book suggestions in the comments!”
Click on graphics to download them for social media
Need help with your SOCIAL posting? We can help.
Here are some ideas for you to give your residents on how to keep the kiddos entertained at home:
Play a board game or card game
Bake and decorate some cookies
Build a lego set (bonus - if you build it, you probably won’t step on those darn things so much.)
Build a blanket fort
Make a scavenger hunt for them to search for things around the house
Have a movie marathon (Frozen II is out on Disney+.... You’re welcome)
Here are a few links for some websites that have lots more fun ideas to keep those little ones entertained
Here’s a link to a website where parents can download printable coloring sheets for their kids
Have Teenagers you’re trying to entertain? They can be a bit more tricky, but here are some ideas to get them off their phone
Minute to Win it games (These are so fun, and will make you laugh. Two of my personal favorites are “grab bag” and “junk in the trunk”)
Here are some blogs with other Minute to Win it Games for your residents to pick from
Have a Mani/Pedi session
Make a face mask
Do something or have them teach you something they enjoy, like how to play an Xbox game or how to do the latest TikTok dances. (If they choose the TikTok dances, please oh please send us videos!)
Play a board game or card game
Play charades
Encourage them to read a book
Family exercise sesh
For all the adults needing something to do besides nap, clean, and watch the news, we have some ideas for you too:
Play a board game or card game (The kids can’t have all the fun!)
Do a crossword puzzle or play Sudoku
Start a hobby you’ve been wanting to try
Learn a new skill - TED talks are great for getting the brain pumping.
Plan that trip you’ve been wanting to take (just maybe wait on the travel part)
Practice all the self-care you forget to all the other times in life
BONUS: No matter the age, create an activity jar with all these activities written and when you hit the boredom wall, draw an activity!
The main goal here is to encourage your residents to still have fun during this difficult time, while still staying informed on the most up to date information.
