16 Great Ways To Recruit Volunteers

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Isn’t it wonderful to see our nursing homes reopening their doors after COVID quarantines? I know many of you are also working to revitalize your volunteer programs. That’s why it seems like a good time to share this post I wrote a few years ago.

Many of you have other excellent volunteer recruitment strategies. Let’s help each other out by sharing those ideas in the comment section!

• Consider visitors as potential volunteers. Is a visitor especially good at communicating with residents in memory care? Invite them to help with activities. Does a visitor show a particular interest in the animals? Invite them to be a volunteer dog walker.
• Write a newspaper article about something special going on at your nursing home and put in a plug for volunteers.
• Many nursing homes hold exit interviews when employees leave. If they left on good terms, invite them to return as a volunteer. (That’s what I did!)
• Check with mom groups, especially if you offer opportunities for them to bring their kids along when volunteering.
• Encourage employees to invite their teenagers to come in and volunteer. Suggest they bring their friends, too.
• When a resident leaves after a short-term rehab stay, encourage them to consider returning as a volunteer in the future.
• Offer volunteer opportunities to residents of nearby independent living communities.
• Invite a potential volunteer to spend a day as a “buddy” with a current volunteer to see what it’s like.

“Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.”—Marjorie Moore

• Be sure to have an application and interview process. This lets people know that being a volunteer is something special; you don’t take just anyone.
• Interview current volunteers. What ideas do they have for recruiting new volunteers?
• Send a note and brochure to family members of past residents inviting them to return as volunteers.
• Set up booths at community events during National Nursing Home Week in May.
• Host a “Get to Know Us” event. Show passion for your mission and share opportunities available for volunteers. (It always helps to serve food, too!)
• Invite community groups to help with a specific event. If people enjoy the experience, they’ll probably want to learn more about long-term volunteer opportunities.
• Take good care of your current volunteers. As a result, word will get out that this is an exceptional place to volunteer.
• Check with local high schools and colleges. See if they have a program where students can get credit for volunteering at your nursing home.

Now it’s your turn! What recruitment ideas can you add?