[saphireSue]

Just as in hospital clowning, first thing you need to do is contact the activity person at the nuriing home, find out what you can and can not do. With HIPPA regs. they don't seemed to be as stricked as hospitals but some places are going latex free, which means no balloons, some will allow you to go to rooms to visit, others will not.

The center we go to, we call ahead and confirm the time, they have the residents that want to participate in the dayroom when we arrive. We do a small show, with skits, music and then meet and greet. I like the one on one interaction best, but I realized the first time we went [which we expect to do mostly meet and greet in small numbers] they expected a show. That's what they had been used to having when ever they had visitors.

I have some small pocket magic I carry around and props [hospital props work well here too.] stickers, and I try have a new joke. I have one fellow who always tries to have a new one for me.