Kingsway Community

The standards of social engagement in residential healthcare facilities have evolved over time. For more than fifty years, the term “Activities” has been used to describe what residents engage in when they are not receiving care. However, the changing demographics of each generation bring new challenges to caring for aging populations. Advances in technology and shifts in cultural values require resident engagement to evolve with the times and adapt to residents’ changing needs.

Directors of Resident Engagement departments are responsible for leading their teams and aligning departmental efforts to achieve the best possible social health outcomes for residents. These outcomes differ from person to person, depending on their past and current interests and the social experiences they wish to have at their stage of life. The leadership challenge lies in identifying where staff members’ talents intersect with residents’ needs and goals. This requires leaders to recognize each staff member’s individual strengths and match them with the social health goals of individual residents.

This represents a shift from traditional approaches to social engagement in residential healthcare. Earlier approaches focused on helping residents develop new skills and providing diversional programming to keep them engaged. These approaches remain relevant, but adopting a resident engagement perspective allows for greater creativity in how care is delivered.

Resident engagement focuses on meeting people where they are in their current social state. Goals remain important and must be measurable, but they may not always be as clearly defined as they were under previous approaches. Instead of focusing solely on skill development, goals can be broader, emphasizing overall social health. The nature of these goals is deeply personal. Residents may not want to learn new skills or continue pursuing skills they have already developed. Some may prefer peace over progress. As people age, their social health goals can change, and the Resident Engagement Director is responsible for recognizing and supporting these changes.

Advances in technology and shifts in cultural values require resident engagement to evolve with the times and adapt to residents’ changing needs.

For a leader in resident engagement, creating social health programs that align with each individual’s social health plan can strengthen relationships and foster more meaningful connections at every stage of life. This can be achieved by recognizing the unique talents of staff members and pairing them with residents’ desired social outcomes. Such alignment can help build connections naturally and create a supportive social environment for both staff and residents.

Instead of simply attending social engagement programs, residents can become active participants in shaping and facilitating the facility’s social health culture. Making purposeful use of available resources gives individuals greater autonomy over their social health and how they choose to engage with others.

Over the years, the focus on residents’ social health has evolved alongside the resources available to support it. Each new generation brings different expectations and needs, creating ongoing challenges in caring for aging populations. Resident Engagement leaders recognize these changes and work to align staff talents with residents’ individual needs, ensuring that the care and social experiences provided remain relevant, meaningful and purposeful.