5 Ways to Make Every Resident Feel Included

1. Learn What Matters to Each Resident

Inclusion starts with knowing the person. Take time to find out each resident's interests, hobbies, cultural background, life history and personal preferences.

A short conversation, a life history form or a simple questionnaire can give you the information you need to plan activities that feel personally relevant. When residents see their interests reflected in your program - their favourite music, a familiar game from childhood, a topic they care about - they are far more likely to feel that the session was planned with them in mind.

Related: 100 Reminiscence Questions - a great starting point for getting to know residents better.

2. Go to Them

Waiting for residents to come to activities means the most isolated people are often the least likely to be reached. Make it part of your routine to visit residents in their rooms - particularly those who are bedbound, socially withdrawn, recently bereaved or new to the facility.

A short one-on-one visit with a simple activity - a word puzzle, a reminiscing prompt, a few jokes or a favourite song playing quietly in the background - can mean as much as a full group session to someone who rarely leaves their room.

Related: Portable Activity Ideas to Reach Every Resident, Every Day - practical ideas you can take directly to residents.

3. Offer More Than One Way to Join In

Not every resident wants to participate in the same way - and that's perfectly fine. Some enjoy being actively involved, while others prefer to watch, listen or contribute in a quieter role.

Invite residents to hand out materials, read quiz questions aloud, keep score or help set up activities. For residents living with dementia or those with limited mobility, even passive participation - sitting with the group, listening to music, holding a tactile object - can provide meaningful connection and sensory stimulation.

There is no wrong way to take part. The goal is presence and connection, not performance.

4. Notice Who Is Missing

It's easy to focus on the residents who regularly attend activities and forget about those who don't. Make a habit of tracking attendance and following up with residents who haven't joined in for a while.

Sometimes a resident stops coming because an activity no longer suits their abilities, their health has changed or they've had a difficult week. A friendly knock on the door and a genuine "we missed you" can make a real difference - and might reveal something important about how your program could better meet their needs.

5. Celebrate What Makes Each Resident Unique

Every resident brings a lifetime of experience, knowledge and culture to your community. Actively creating space for that richness to be shared is one of the most powerful ways to help people feel truly included.

Invite a resident who was a musician to choose the music for a session. Ask a former teacher to help run a quiz. Plan activities that reflect the cultural backgrounds of your residents - national celebrations, traditional foods, music from different countries and decades.

When residents see their own identity and history reflected in your program, inclusion stops being something you do to them and becomes something you create with them.

Final Thoughts

Every resident deserves to feel that they belong. The small, consistent efforts you make - a visit, a personal touch, a familiar song - add up to something that truly matters.