What if we Competed with Bingo?

If Bingo is the most popular activity in most nursing homes and assisted livings, is that a compliment to us? It doesn’t feel like it to me.

Dr. Bill Thomas, founder of Eden Alternative, would say at conferences that the reason people love Bingo is that it is the only thing the home has not messed with, the only thing in their lives that has a natural outcome, that is not rigged. Meaning that so much choice and natural consequences are taken away from institutionalized people.

Of course, because it is so popular I’m not saying take it away. We couldn’t do that. So instead, I offer a creative idea.

In this empowering video, you’ll see a gentleman who lives in a nursing home say, “I didn’t think nursing homes did things like this [take vacation]. I just thought that they like played Bingo and things like that.” YouTube Signature HealthCARE – Disney Vacation (1/16/15).

In With a Little Help from our Friends: Creating Community as we Grow Older (2014), Beth Baker reports how Baby Boomers are rejecting the status quo in order to avoid long term care with cohousing, cooperatives, house sharing, the village model and affinity groups. Not surprising there is no bingo at the Artists’ Colony. Many people told her they“desire real, not make believe, sterile, artificial.”

My vision is this: What if there were so many community service projects one didn’t have time to play Bingo? Now that would change the perception of living in a LTC home.

A group of people who lived in a nursing home would make crafts every week and then admitted, why are we just making crafts for ourselves that we don’t need? This group became the Project Club instead filling needs as they heard about them within their home and organization as well as for the wider community.

My vision is this: “Oh honey, I don’t have time for Bingo, they are coming at 5:00 pm for the letters to soldiers and I just have to keep writing and thanking them.”

I recommend brainstorming a list of all that could be done to bless the people who live and work in the home you represent. See how long you can make it.

Join me in creating the longest list ever. Email me and I’ll list them next month. carmen@edu-catering.com.

Carmen Bowman, MHS, is a former activity director, state surveyor (honored to be the first certified activity professional to be one), federal surveyor at CMS Central Office training surveyors, Eden Alternative Associate/Mentor and Certified Validation Presenter. As a Regulator turned Educator, she teaches how to Use Regulations to Reject & Replace Institution with Home and Normal Life.  Consider personalized continuing education for you and your team. Conversations with Carmen and culture change workbooks at