Spring Holiday Events

It’s that time of year; I bet someone on your team has suggested hosting some community events for the upcoming spring holidays. Everyone loves celebrating with others and attending fun events full of appreciation! Many people have fond memories of celebrating Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day with family members in the crisp spring air. You and your team might be thinking of how important it is to show prospects that they’ll still be able to have these celebrations once they become residents. 

However, before your team talks you into planning a marketing event Mother’s Day Tea Party or Father’s Day Barbecue, you may want to pump the breaks. Ask yourself: Did you have a lower-than-expected attendance rate for that Easter Egg Hunt you hosted last month? Do your prospects really want to come to the local retirement community for these types of holiday events? 

These are certainly events that your current family members will appreciate as an occasion to celebrate with their loved ones. It’s important to focus on making holidays an extra fun, special time with activities, events, festive meals, and seasonal decorations to engage community members and make them feel right at home, but I’d recommend not including prospects to those general community events.

Coming to visit a retirement community is already fraught with fears about living with older adults. Attending a large family-member oriented event can cause more anxiety about the move and discourage someone from taking the next steps. 

Try this instead…. What if your prospect were to attend a personalized activity or event that directly related to their needs? Someone who might have some balance concerns may appreciate a personal invitation to meet with your physical therapist, or a personalized training session on balance. Someone who might have concerns about the quality of your food might enjoy a personalized “chef’s table” experience with your head of dining. 

This way you can host events your current members will love without causing added stress to prospects. These personalized, thoughtful ideas are some examples of events that drive connection with your prospect and build a trusting relationship.