3 Keys to Improving Resident Engagement in Wellness

National Institute for Fitness and SportBethany Garrity

(317) 274-3432bgarrity@nifs.org

This is how activities work in most communities:

20% of residents participate in 80% of the activities

So the question becomes:

How do we engage more of the 80% who don’t regularly join in?

This isn’t about putting more programs on your calendar.

Doing more ≠ Doing better

Filling the activities calendar and keeping the staff busy aren’t usually the answer to

improved engagement.

Most communities we work with have PLENTY of activity and program options on their

calendar(s).

We’re talking

about doing activities

differently…and change can be hard.

No one really likes

change.

“But…we’ve always done it that way.”

I was born in 1946. I just finished my first triathlon. I am health and food conscious.

(Oh, and my parents live in a community just like this.)

Need a reason to change your activities paradigm?

If you’re still with me after all that intro, then you’re probably more

than ready to dig into the promised “3 ways to

improve resident engagement”.

#1 cultivate synergy with wellness personnel

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Silos perpetuate status quo because they build kingdoms with kings who are often territorial.

The kings spend a lot of time guarding turf, and thus limit your organization’s potential for a multidimensional wellness strategy.

see the forest for the treesID a leader who can see the forest for the trees (It may not be your activities director.)

He’s counting on you to help him live with vitality.

Improve resident options for living with purpose and vitality:Tap into the one thing that is consistent with all staff who work

in a community setting…their love of the residents. Build collaboration into job descriptions and evaluate against that

work Look at existing programming…at some of the favorites and re-

envision how those events or services can be developed with a multidimensional approach

Transition passive activities to active opportunities Evaluate last year’s programming to uncover opportunities to tap

into more dimensions

Join us for our newest healthy living series: “Life In Balance”

What Who DescriptionA balanced approach to fitness

Fitness Manager Passport-type program; encourage participation in the range of fitness program offerings Create specific invitations to residents who haven’t exercised recently.

A balanced approach to faith

Chaplain Host a speaker series with religious leaders from the most common world religions. Follow up with trips to a local temple, mosque, etc. Include resident-led post-tour discussions.

A balanced approach to the living on Earth

Activity Director, Garden Committee, Fitness Manager

Bring in a local master gardener to teach about native plants, best ways to grow fruits and veggies, etc. Hold in the spring and follow up with exercise classes focused on helping residents be gardening-ready.

A balanced approach to living simply

Library Committee, Activity Director

Initiate a community-wide book discussion: Enough: Discovering Joy through Simplicity and Generosity;Create a public comment board where residents can list the ways they want to living more simply. Follow up on those goals to build opportunities for purposeful living.

A balanced approach to care giving

Social worker, Chaplain, Administrator

Create a care-giving summit to create access to resources available at your community as well as in the broader community. Take an inventory of caregiver needs; consider creating programming from the results of the survey

#2 tap into your amazing residents to invite others and to build purpose

How can you use this story

of resident adventure on

a sand-sledding trip

to invite other residents to

sign up for the next trip?

Do you know what the less-engaged residents in your community are passionate about? Do you

know what helps them live with purpose?

Look beyond the ‘activities director as order-taker’ model.

For more on this concept, find our blog post by searching those keywords.

#3 get smart about data and strategy for wellness

Maybe your group fitness program is a good place to start evaluating your

wellness programming.

$10,000 spent with no data?

Assume 8 classes per week at 50 weeks of the year =

400 classes per year

400 classes per year x $25/class = $10,000 spent in

group fitness classes

Here are the components to our evaluation framework: Begin at the beginning

Map out the how

Stick to the plan

Evaluate and report

(For more on this concept, find our blog post on “4 keys to getting wellness program data you can actually use”.)

40% of residents who participated

in NIFS balance

challenge reported a decreased

fear of falling

2011 2012 2013

13% increase in NIFS

wellness series

participation over two

years

20% increase in group class participation with NIFS DIY oatmeal bar

44% increase in participation by previously inactive members during NIFS floor wars

Nothing happens until the pain of remaining the same outweighs the pain of change.

~Arthur Burt

National Institute for Fitness and SportBethany Garrity

(317) 274-3432bgarrity@nifs.orgwellness.nifs.org