How a nursing home can collaborate with the community and businesses to improve the quality of life for its residents

Sponsorship and collaboration with the community can help create a more vibrant and stimulating environment in the nursing home. By involving businesses, associations, and volunteers, the nursing home can offer more activities, aesthetic improvements, and social encounters that enrich the daily lives of the residents. Here, we will explore how the nursing home can work with sponsorship and collaboration to improve the quality of life for its residents.

Why are collaboration and sponsorship important for the nursing home?

Nursing homes often have limited resources, making it difficult to offer extended activities, cultural experiences, or aesthetic improvements in the residential environment. By collaborating with businesses, associations, and volunteer organizations, the nursing home can create a more dynamic and inspiring environment for the residents.

For businesses and associations, engagement in nursing homes can also be part of their social responsibility, strengthening their relationships with the local community and providing their employees with opportunities for meaningful contributions.

Examples of sponsorship and collaboration

Decoration and comfort in the residential environment  
A nursing home in a medium-sized Swedish city received art donated by the property owner, which enhanced the environment and created a more inspiring everyday life for the residents. Inviting local artists to exhibit at the nursing home can also be a way to both support culture and create a beautiful and stimulating environment.

Access to culture and sports  
Some nursing homes receive sponsored tickets to hockey games, theatre performances, or concerts. Providing the residents with opportunities to participate in the community's cultural life can contribute to increased joy of life and involvement.

Friend associations and volunteer efforts  
Many nursing homes have friend associations or volunteer groups that organize activities such as parties, reading aloud, and outings. These efforts can help create a more vibrant and inclusive environment in the nursing home.

Cooperation with schools and preschools  
Involving children and young people in the nursing home's operations can create meaningful encounters between generations. For example, preschools can visit and sing or draw pictures for the residents, which can contribute to increased joy and stimulation.

Corporate engagement and sponsorship  
Companies can sponsor materials for hobby activities, contributions to outdoor environments, or technology that facilitates contact with relatives, such as tablets and computers. An IT company, for example, could train the residents in using digital tools to keep in touch with their families.

Garden projects and cultivation opportunities  
Gardening companies can contribute with plants, cultivation boxes, and tools to create lush and peaceful outdoor environments where the residents can participate in simple gardening activities.

How can the nursing home invite the community to cooperate?

To achieve successful cooperation with the community and businesses, it is important to clearly communicate the nursing home's needs and opportunities. Some strategies might be:
- Organize an open house and invite businesses, associations, and relatives.  
- Create a forum for relatives where they can suggest and participate in development projects.  
- Contact local businesses and ask if they want to contribute with resources or sponsorship.  
- Inform about the opportunity to volunteer at the nursing home.  

Reflection Questions - Sponsorship
Care staff:  
- What are you doing to involve relatives in the unit's development in a positive way?  
- How can you encourage more volunteers to engage in the nursing home?  

Manager, nurse, occupational therapist, and physiotherapist:  
- Are you working to bring in volunteers or sponsors who can contribute to the development of the nursing home?  
- Do you have a forum where relatives have the opportunity to influence and develop the operation?  

Residents and relatives:  
- Are you invited to participate in activities or development projects at the nursing home?  
- Do you have ideas about how you or others in the community can contribute to creating a better environment for the residents?  

Erland Olsson
Specialist nurse
Sofrosyne - Better care every day