Physical distancing can be tough, but it is no challenge to Activity Professionals. We’ve compiled some of the most creative hallway activity ideas to keep residents engaged while staying safe. Have an idea to share? Let us know here!
1. Hallway Olympics
Courtesy of Yorktown Manor
While the Olympics may be postponed, that doesn’t mean you can’t safely host a competition of your own. Courtesy of the folks at Yorktown Manor, set-up various yard games that can be played from residents’ rooms. A few ideas include bag toss, putt-putt, or a ring toss. See how many golds they took home!
2. Hallway Meditation
Courtesy of Compass on the Bay
Restricting contact can cause anxiety and stress for residents. Meditation is a proven strategy to help cope with anxiety and stress, and doesn’t have to be limited because of physical distancing. Consider creating an ambiance in your hallway by using an essential oil diffuser or electric/battery operated candle lights. See how Compass on the Bay stays calm.
3. Hallway Trivia
Courtesy of Acoya Mesa
Get those minds working with a friendly competition of trivia! You can assign residents to teams or have residents play individually. Pass out slips for residents to write their responses on and, at the end of each round, have them share their answers out loud. For an ongoing event, turn this into a weekly tournament and keep the scoreboard in the hallway for residents to see. Here are some free trivia questions to get you started.
4. Hallway Never Have I Ever
Courtesy of The Heights on Huebner
This is always a fun one and can sometimes have a lot of shock value. It is a good way for residents to get to know each other and is very entertaining to see how residents respond! This activity is also a great way to tie into reminiscence activities. Residents can sit in their doorways and you can give them three items to use as their “fingers”. Some items that are good for all to see include paint sticks, straws, or flags.
5. Hallway Bowling
Courtesy of Keenan Grosdidier
Strike them out! Residents can participate in hallway bowling no matter their circumstances. For residents with less mobility, create a ramp (a folding table slanted downward will work) that is positioned in front of the pins. To keep residents safe, use a plastic ball or a soccer ball as the bowling ball. Set pins up in front of a board to make resetting easy! Play a few rounds and see who wins!
6. Hallway Horse Racing
Courtesy of Five Star Quality Care
It’s off to the races! This activity can be done in two ways. The first using a tabletop horse racing game that residents can make their bets on the lucky horse. Set the horses up on a table in the hallway, making it visible to all residents. Pass out disposable money for residents to bet with and give the winner a prize!
7. Hallway Car Racing
Yorktown Manor
Use remote control cars to allow residents to compete with one another. Residents that are not racing, can be spectators and wave checkered flags. Ask staff to dress up and announce the race. See how Yorktown Manor hits the tracks!
8. Hallway Mario Kart
Courtesy of The Commons, United Methodist Communities
This hallway activity brings Mario Kart to life! Tie balloons to a remote control car (or a few depending on the size of your hallway) and select a resident(s) to control the car. Then, pass out Nerf guns to the remaining residents whose goal is to shoot the balloons. The way to win? Shoot each balloon at least once! It is recommended to use different color balloons to help identify this or put a non-toxic washable substance on the nerf gun tips to see where they hit.
9. Hallway Sing A Long
Courtesy of Greenwood Nursing & Rehabilitation
This evergreen activity is one of the easiest hallway activities to execute. The best part of this activity is that it lends itself to so many variations, ranging from spiritual hymns to hosting an American Idol-like competition. Other creative variations include show tunes, broadway songs, or even nursery rhymes. And if you’ve got the talent in house, hold a hallway performance like Greenwood Nursing & Rehabilitation
10. Hallway Drumline
Courtesy of JEA Sycamore Place
When life gives you lemons, make music! This activity idea is not only therapeutic by relieving stress but allows residents to work on their musical talents. If your community already uses drums for mindfulness, great! If not, you can use plastic bins, or create your own using packing tape or large balloons on tin coffee or paint cans. You can also add other musical instruments to your hallway band such as tambourines, harmonicas and symbols.
