Virginia is the place to be if you’re looking for a community that welcomes residents of all ages. The 55+ communities in Virginia are embracing and accommodating to aging family members who want to enjoy their retirement years with plenty of opportunities for socializing, health and wellness activities and more. Here are some ways these communities welcome new residents:
Orientation
Orientation is a great way to introduce new residents to their community. It allows them to get acquainted with their fellow community members, meet team members and learn about amenities in the facility. During this session, you can cover topics like:
- How to find your way around the community.
- Who to contact if you have questions or concerns.
- The process for assistance requests.
Welcome Dinner
Another great way to get to know your neighbors is hosting a welcoming dinner for them. This can be done in two ways: the community hosts the meal, or a resident does. If you decide to host it, you’ll want to make sure that you’ve invited all of your new neighbors. This way, everyone gets an opportunity to meet each other and form new friendships. You can either host the event in a clubhouse or in someone’s home, or even both.
Get-To-Know-You Brunch
In celebration of the new residents, the community hosts a get-to-know-you brunch. All community members are invited to this event, which includes food and drinks, including mimosas (or whatever your favorite drink is). The care team and residents mingle with one another and share stories about life in the community. This is a great way for you to meet people who will be living close by in your neighborhood and for the staff and other residents to get to know you on a personal level.
Name Tags
Name tags are a great way to help new residents feel welcome and get to know their neighbors. New residents can use name tags to find their way around the community, meet other residents, and get involved in activities.
Name tags allow for positive interaction between you and your fellow community members. One of the best ways to ensure that people interact with each other is getting them to talk about their interests, or something relevant to them personally.
Games And Trivia
Games and trivia are fun ways to get to know your neighbors. Games can be played in groups or individually, and trivia can be about the community, local area, or general knowledge (like how many countries there are in the world).
Volunteer Opportunities Signup
One of the best ways to get to know a new community is through volunteering, and many communities in Virginia have opportunities for residents over 55 to do just that. Many communities have volunteer programs where they match up experienced residents with new ones, allowing them to share information about local resources and help them learn about the community’s history through personal stories.
Another great way for new residents to learn more about their neighbors is allowing them to participate in neighborhood clean-up events. These events give older adults an opportunity to meet their neighbors while also helping keep their community clean and vibrant!
Conclusion
It’s important to remember that you don’t have to do all of these things. If you think about the most important things for new residents, it’s likely not a checklist or orientation packet. Instead, what they really want is to feel at home in their new community and be comfortable making friends with the other people here. That’s why we recommend keeping it simple: start by introducing yourself, welcoming your guests over for dinner on move-in day, taking them on a tour of the neighborhood, then showing them some activities like trivia night or volunteer opportunities!
