The Power of a "Live" Experience in the Nursing Home Setting

"Hey Bill, would you mind if we had Kareen's Kettle in here this afternoon?" I inquired, "Though I don't want to interrupt your movie."

Because the dining room was under construction, I had to relocate my event for the nursing home residents to a living room where Bill was watching a western movie on the big screen.

"It doesn't matter to me," he replied.

Within minutes, we had the space filled with a couple dozen residents while I shared a concoction of original nature pictures, Bette Midler tunes (in honor of her December 1st birthday), headline newsbits including the tale of the 103-year-old woman and her 83-year-old daughter who had threatened to be evicted from their home, and personal anecdotes.

I invited residents, one by one, to share their metaphor for love as a means to engage them in the song, "The Rose" and asked them to think about who their everyday heroes are as I sang "Wind Beneath My Wings."

In short, we experienced a rich and engaging afternoon together as I closed it with my usual routine of having my Emilou Goldenpuppet shake hands with each resident.

"Thanks for letting us interrupt your movie, Bill," I stated while rearranging the room.I wanted him to be assured that his rights and opinions mattered.

"You're twice as good as a movie," he replied.

"Awww, you didn't have to say that. But thanks so much. You just made my day," I replied.

"Well, facts are facts," he re-emphasized.

I think it goes without saying, that a live experience usually outweighs that which is automated. Especially if it's facilitated in a way that includes any of the following:
- Invitation to allow the residents to express themselves
- Close proximity of the participants (circles and semi-circles are best)
- Variety of means of communication (music, visuals, touch, discussion, storytelling, humor, play)
- Acknowledgement of each resident (shaking hands and/or hugging before and after the experience, identifying each resident by name, showcasing the visuals to each resident one at a time, good eye contact)

The spontaneous reactions and interactions that occurred during today's "kettle" could never be replicated. And for those who participated, the experience was much appreciated.

Kareen King is a Registered Drama Therapist and founder of The Golden Experience, offering keynotes, concerts, and workshops to enrich lives in long-term care. For booking information, contact her at kking@thegoldenexperience.com or visit www.thegoldenexperience.com.