"Where's the Money?" series: Creative Services in the Senior/Healthcare Market

This is the start of a series of topics about "Where is the Money?" as it relates to possible earnings in different venues and unexpected market places.

Did you know that most senior and healthcare communities have a budget for activities and often bring in artists, musicians, photographers, dancers, and others to provide entertainment or teach classes or lead projects? Many of these communities also have group outings to cultural events.

Karen Raines will be joining us for this topic of discussion.

For several years, Karen Raines has been providing entertainment to several area senior residential/care facilities, through inspirational readings, tea parties, crafts, historical programs, and since 2010, cat visits with an accompanying speech on cat behavior and other cat-related topics.

Originally, her easy rapport with and fondness for seniors led to her serving as an activities professional in two Raleigh nursing homes. There, she introduced paid performers and arts and craft leaders and others to the resident population, gaining valuable experience and insights into activities calendar planning, which she will share with us in a presentation on providing entertainment to the senior care facility market.

Recently, she parlayed her experience on both sides of the eldercare entertainment equation into a website that will serve as a conduit between the two. Through www.SeniorPlayList.com, local entertainers and program providers will gain exposure to the appreciative, lucrative, eldercare entertainment market, benefiting them, the activities directors, and the seniors, themselves.

Karen's new website should be already launched by the date of our Meetup.

I can personally can attest to this market for income as a musician as much of my own steady creative income comes from senior and healthcare communities!

We have been given permission to meet in one of the senior community venues. To be courteous and respectful, please follow these directions:

Park in non-resident parking at the back of the building.

Come in the main front entrance (circular drive) and wait quietly for everyone to arrive. I will try to be there early to greet you.

You will need to sign in with the concierge. We will all do this together.

I will walk you back to the room we can use.

Please be respectful of the seniors living in the community who will be milling around, eating dinner, or trying to get the concierge's attention.

Do not come if you are sick!!!!

Because I plan to walk you back to the room, you need to be on time! I don't want people straggling in after we leave the lobby area. Karen & I can give you all a little tour on the way in or out.

A reservation has been requested at Winston's Grill. The only potential time they had for a group up to 9 (+ or -) was 7:30. We could easily leave the Heritage by 7:15pm. Again - it is essential everyone be on time for the meeting. Let me know if you plan to include yourself for dinner. I will update this post if Winston's decides they don't have room for us.