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Just took my MEPAP1 final exam and passed with a 94%! I should have read two of the questions better, I knew the answer, but read the questions wrong. Oh well, I still passed!!4 points
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Hey All, I have an easy participation log and room visit log, if anyone is interested feel free to e mail me at msarasa@thevillagehemt.com and I would not mind e mailing you a copy. Both allow you to have 3 months on one page. and I created it myself -Miguel3 points
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Hello, my name is Tiffany and I am from the MEPAP1-OWNPACE course. A great activity I've found works with my memory care residents stems from my lessons in creative writing. I had a teacher that asked us to imagine how different writing forms are when writing in the voice of a child, teenager or adult. To do this, we had to take a trip down memory lane and write or draw a outline of our neighborhood, the place we grew up and where we remembered most of our lives were spent. We had to think about how our house looked, smell, who were our neighbors, how the different seasons were, etc. I remembered this being an fun activity and decided to adapt it with my residents. I had them think back to when they were little and asked them to describe out loud what their neighborhood looked like and who was around. I t brought back so many fun memories for them and one gentleman even remarked upon seeing his brother being born in the house compared to hospitals today. There were stories of when they first met their husbands/wives and special traditions. It was a fun activity! Next time, I may get the more creative ones to try to draw out some buildings and label them.3 points
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Here is an industrious undertaking.. UnityPoint Healthcare has provide a website with details for making a new modular mask, The Olson, named after 1930's legendary maker nurse Lyla Mae Olson. The Mask was quickly developed by clinicians from UnityPoint Health and is being shared across the globe in the fight against COVID19 St Lukes Hospitals are in short supply of masks. UnityPoint Health has provided downloadable patterns, YouTube Videos, and complete instructions on how to Sew, Package and Send completed Masks to the St. Lukes Hospitals. ---------------- https://www.unitypoint.org/cedarrapids/sewing-surgical-masks.aspx -------------- Completed Masks Enclose completed masks in a closed plastic bag or closed plastic box. We will launder them prior to use so no need to wash before delivering. Please deliver to the St. Luke's Foundation, 855 A Ave. NE, 1st floor, Cedar Rapids. Phone (319) 369-7716.2 points
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Hey All.. here is a unique way to get a scheduled Sing-A-Long activity on the calendar. Rob Crozier from Michigan, is a Sing-a-long entertainer in Senior care. He has put a demo of his program up on youtube. Schedule a Hallway Sing-A-Long for each afternoon at 3: I love it, Let me know what you think and contact Rob for more info on his program. We need a few days of song.. He seems like a hard working creative guy, Activity Director material... thanks Pennie ROB CROZIER ( ROBCROZIER123@GMAIL.COM ) Website - Youtube Channel Hello, I am an Ann Arbor, MI music professional with a specialty in sing a longs and senior entertainment. As you may know, musician gigs are all cancelled in Michigan. I was wondering if it would be possible to share the work that I'm doing with your community? I'm offering a full sing a long program for one month with unlimited use for $100 per facility. The video is ready as a Youtube link that can easily be played back like this demo: https://youtu.be/ZC4TiSqzxYg As you may know all "Outside Entertainers" have been cancelled and as Senior Home Musicians we are trying to get creative. I’m worked out a new platform of "Online Entertainers" a Sing-A-Long YouTube Presentation video for a month’s use, perfect for scheduled activities several times throughout the month , great way to economize). You get to use it for a full month for $100. Are you interested in my Sing a Long youtube link? Let me know if you can put this to use. These videos take about 8 hours to record, edit, mix and upload. Just so you know that I’ve put some thought and hard work into this product. Feel free to send any feedback, or if you are running into hardship, you can pay whatever is affordable. Here is a demo: https://youtu.be/ZC4TiSqzxYg All the best, Rob Website - Youtube Channel2 points
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Hi my name is Amy. I'm about to complete my qualification for activities director.I currently work as a concierge part time at an assisted living community. I live in the Austin Texas area.Hello everyone!!2 points
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The best technique for me to get our residents to come to activities is to be very enthusiastic about the activity myself. I try to get them involved before the activity even begins. I try to spend alot of time getting to know each of them as well and this seems to help. Joelle2 points
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Hi. Here is a following list that might sound like fun for your male residents. 1. Poker Club, or any card games 2. Dominoes 3. Checkers 4. Sports Trivia 5. Western Movie Night 6. Bowling 7. Horseracing 8. Kickball 9. Balloon Volleyball Competition 10. Bean Bag Toss 11. Gardening 12. Puzzles, word searches, Crosswords 13. Get car magazines and reminisce about res. first car, fixing cars, etc. 14. Basketball 15. Football game and pizza (check with dietary orders) 16. Building model cars, airplanes 17. Coffee, donoughts, and current events from newspaper 18. Painting/drawing, work with clay 19. Do a "fishing" game where you have a fishing pole ( a clothing pin connected to a large stick will do) and get prizes such as stuffed animals and let them fish for those prizes. Put prizes behind something so res. cannot see what their fishing for until they pull out the prize. 20. Go for a nature stroll outside. Hope some of these activity ideas work for your men, I know our male residents at our long term care facility love these ideas. Good luck.2 points
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Hello, my name is Cheryl, I work in a 25 bed CAH in Burns Oregon as a swing bed coordinator/discharge planner. I'm in my final weeks of MEPAP 1050713 and I will be looking for new ideas for activities for our swing bed patients. I have to admit this course has been very challenging for me as the swing bed/hospital setting is very different from lets say a nursing home for example, we don't have an activity room in fact we don't have anywhere for our patient's to go except the patio outside of the cafeteria. Otherwise all activties are 1+1 in the patient's room. I do have a cart on wheels that currently holds 1 card table and 4 chairs, cards, CD player's and a variety of CD's, curlers, hairdryer, fingernail polish, puzzels, tangle therapy, table top dry erase boards with colored pens, magizines, and a kindle fire.........any suggestions? Thanks in advance!1 point
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Thanks for the link! We do not have the ability to stream on the TV or have a channel, nor do we have any smart devices, tablets to do activities! I am worried the state will ask about what we are doing regarding technology.... we are of course calling family members with their own phone but not skype, etc.1 point
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I love the idea of having an Easter egg hunt with families and having a bunny. I’m going to have a meeting with my team to see what we can do.1 point
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Hello Everyone, What types of programs or software are you guys using to create your calendars? Right now I am using Activity Connection for templates. Does anyone have other sites they use, or do you outsource?1 point
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Oh boy it took me so many days to figure this out,the emails were going into my spam folder! I finally made it. I am here to finish my final practium ! I'm excited to finish up strong so I hope someone is available to chat!!! Robin1 point
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JessBelta I cant find the exact format, but I hope this helps http://www.legacyproject.org/activities/lifestory.html1 point
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Greetings, My name is Kathryn and I am from Texas.1 point
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I'm Cassandra and I reside in Dallas Texas.1 point
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A Gift from : Paul Tedesco <htlk@comcast.net> There’s No Place Like (Nursing) Home – Stories of Dementia, Dying, and Peeing on the Christmas Tree Paul publishes non-fiction memoir to inspire caregivers. The book is free between January 23-25 on www.amazon.com , Kindle Store, if the link doesnt work, goto the Kindle Store and search for the title. (https://www.amazon.com/Theres-Place-Like-Nursing-Home-ebook/dp/B07899SL4F/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516736109&sr=8-1&keywords=paul+tedesco). Paul Tedesco is a former pastor, counselor, and administrator at a human services organization, holding a Master of Divinity degree. He has been a trainer locally and nationally, a weekly columnist for The Catholic Spirit, a contributor to The National Catholic Reporter, and an invited headline guest on ABC 20/20 and the Canadian Broadcast Corporation radio network. There’s No Place Like (Nursing) Home – Stories of Dementia, Dying, and Peeing on the Christmas Tree: I have an Nh.D. Doctorate in Nursing Homes. I got it at the University of Experience. One day my mother moved into a nursing home. On another she died there. What happened in between changed my life. This is a book for my friends, almost all of whom I haven’t met. They, like me, are getting older. So are their parents. Many are or will end up in nursing homes. Most who do will die there. Whether my friends learn to smile in between can change their lives too. The book is a short folksy memoir, a compendium of stories about what I saw, learned, and felt, and how I learned to smile again, then and now. Three-part dementia-inspired operas will do that. So will listening to a saintly mom call a white nurse a “honky.” I found laughter amidst my tears. I also found serenity for a troubled soul. So can my friends. URL: www.paultedescoauthor.com Please contact: Paul Tedesco, 412-327-8078, htlk@comcast.net For Free Kindle App: KINDLE Store https://www.amazon.com/Theres-Place-Like-Nursing-Home-ebook/dp/B07899SL4F/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516736109&sr=8-1&keywords=paul+tedesco1 point
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Hi my name is Lori. I am finishing up the last few weeks of MEPAP1 started in Aug. It is hectic but exciting and it will be nice too to have my evenings free, at least for a little while. I am at least taking the holidays off. Hope everyone else in my class is feeling as optimistic. L1 point
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Hi, Im Priscilla and im in MEPAP1 and started in April. I have acquired a lot knowledge taking this class and look forward to taking Mepap2 in 2 months. Provided with resourses, networking, and in depth understanding, Im truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to be in the class.1 point
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Hey My name is Jurell and I am taking the mepap 1 own pace. I need some one to chat with and was wondering was their anyone interested to chat with me1 point
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Hello there, my name is Ashley Walden and I am the Life Enrichment Coordinator for the health care unit of a retirement facility in a suburb outside of of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I just started the job in October of last year, so I have been in the position for about seven months. Prior to that, I had four years of experience as an Activity Assistant on a health care unit, a secure dementia unit, and in personal care. I covered three maternity leaves in that time! I am starting to get my feet on the ground in this new position, making the calendar my own and getting to know my residents well. I am also taking the MEPAP1 course on the path to getting my ADC. Looking forward to learning from you here!1 point
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Hi Ashley, I would love to hear about some of your favorite activities your facility provides! Would you be willing to share a few? I am enrolled in MEPAP1 as well, and am almost finished. I work in a 145 bed SNF in Shoreline, WA near Seattle. A few of my favorites are: Men's Breakfast- 1x/month-Men only and we have a cook come to do made to order eggs and omelets, etc. Arm Chair Travel-2x/month-Sensory incorporated activity. We have bags for different places. For example, France, we have a picture travel book, French language cards, a beret, and we will bake croissants for the residents and talk about what France is known for and it's history. Wackey Ball-1x/month- active sport activity. We use pool noodles that are cut in half and a large balloon and they hit it back and forth to each other. They LOVE this!1 point
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My name is LaYvonne Jones and I live in Fort Worth, Texas. I have worked in LTC as a CNA for over 25 years and now I'm so excited to become a Activities Director. When I started this journey I had been in activities assist for 4 years. I love what I do . I'm proud of my self for taking this course on line it has been a really challenge for me . Reason is cause I always been hands on person . This is who I am.....1 point
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My name is Sue Hill and I am on my last week of MEPAP1. I live in Fort Worth, Texas.1 point
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Hello All Best luck on your test, if you haven't already taken & passed them.1 point
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there are several I do on the weekend. since I do not work on sat or sun. you can use theses. do a scavenger hunt, walk your facility finding item's that are located thru out and where they are located at then make a list of the items and copy the list for each resident that wants to participate and have them locate the items write it down and turn it in the next day to you. who ever finds the most wins. movie night set it up for a nurse to push play after dinner.1 point
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Just a FYI be sure that when activies are held and your not there that someone writes down the names of those who attened it. If it's not written/charted then it didn't happen. Maybe you have a resident that you know who attends these evening/weekend activies and they are able of take down names of eveyone who comes. Make them a resident volunteer. Then you can collec the names from him/her or they could put them in your box etc.1 point
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Hi, My name is Lisa and I work as Activity Assistant at a skilled nursing facility in North Carolina. I posted to two threads here about men's activities, and about lower cognitive activities. I see a few classmates of mine from MEPAP1 have been wanting to chat as part of our final practicum. I am going to go on our class forum and try to set something up, in case others want to join in too.1 point
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Hello, I am Kathy Degestrom from Cape Cod Ma. My first time on the network and have 3 weeks to go for MEPAP 1. Looking to talk to someone re practicum final1 point
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Hi, I currently work as a CNA, but when we have our meetings it seems like they are making sure that residents that are in the room are being visited by the staff especially if they don't participate in group activities; they should have 1:1 visits. Also, they make sure that you're following your calendar and that all music and items used are AGE APPROPRIATE. Also, charting is very important, they make sure that goals are being met and residents are provided with individualized activities for their care, if needed.1 point
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I was having a very hard time finding ways to get our male residents to attend activities. One day i figured it out... Ask them what they want. And do everything in your power to make it happen. Gambling id huge amoungst our male residents. They wanted to go fishing, health condition make that next to inpossible, so we went a bought pools, filled they with live trout, and our residents caught their own fish, gutted them and bbq them right up. We made a day of it. Another idea is time, some people just want to chat. Men like to get together in talk about sports, chicks, hunting, etc, really find what interest them and run with it. I have a resident who only watchs movies in his room, so i go twice a week and restock his movie collection.1 point
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Some questions you can ask is how they got started in advocating for residents- how they define Quality Of Life-and how they have seen residents rights improve during their career... hope that helps1 point
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Hi everyone, my name is Barbara G. I have only been in the Activity business or 8 months. I have really enjoyed taking the MEPAP course. I have worked in the medical field for over 25 years, after one week of starting this job I told my husband that I did not know that I could have a job that I smiled all day long. Love this work.1 point
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One thing we do at our facility is we by candy bars, soda and chips and different kinds of snack and we sell them to the resident and staff and family members and let the resident volunteer to run it. If you are a crafty person you can make wreaths and also sell them.1 point
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Hello Everyone! My name is Jenny I am from Wisconsin. I am the Life Enrichment Director at Oakwood Villa Nursing and Rehabilitation. We are a 86 bed, 5 star facility! I am just finishing up my MEPAP Course 1! It has been very interesting and I have learned so much and feel I have so much more to learn! I am looking forward to starting MEPAP2 soon. It has been great meeting other Activity Directors and sharing great ideas!1 point
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Hi Nita One thing you need to do when you are having a fundraiser is to tell everyone why your raising the money! Some of the things I have success with are: Purchase some Bingo Sheets Like these (check Ebay) & sell them for a $1 for 4 Bingo Cards to staff, residents & family members. Every day Mon - Fri in the am call out 1 number. Post this number on your bulletin board for everyone to see. Keep these numbers up until someone bingos. The money you collect will be divided between activity department & winner. If you have 2 winners then split it 3 ways. Be sure to post winning card for everyone to see and be sure when someone wins that you don't give out the money until next day. This will give staff from night shift a chance to check their cards. This is a hugh hit at the facility & raises quite a bit money. Another way to raise money is to put together baskets & sell tickets for it. This can be done during holidays. IE Easter, Mother's Day etc. Sell food: It is best to do this on a pay day or day after. Sell hotdogs, potato chips & sodas to anyone who wants to buy them. Have residents help serve this. During summer ice cream cones &/or sundaes are hugh hit too. Another way to raise money is fix up 3 or 4 baskets & hold a raffle. People purchase raffle tickets & place it in a box in front of the basket they want to buy. Sell tickets for several days to collect more money. Do a search for raffle ticket. Purchase the double row kind. That way they can place 1 in the item they want & keep the other end: Just a few ideals.1 point
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That is a great idea and I want to invite you to share it on our facebook page. We are the Alzheimer's Store www.alzstore.com. I am sure our followers would like to hear from you. My e mail address is Barnet@alzstore.com.1 point
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http://agileaging.org/store/ Check out this ladies store. She has great things that I think would be useful for activities. One of the one's I like is the "Games for Grandparents!"1 point
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After 32 years of working 50-60 hrs. a week, I retired from elementary and middle school teaching. I couldn't afford, as a single person, the luxury of not working. I go to a church that owns an 1)independent apt. 2) assisted living 3) skilled nursing facility right next door. While trying to figure out when my next position would be I volunteered there and absolutely loved what I saw and what I did. I went online and found my present position, Activities Assistant. My team is comprised of 3 of us who each leads a 'circle' of dementia/Alz residents we divide into 3 groups based on functioning. I teach the lowest functioning group and I love love love it. I am fascinated with learning an entire new vocabulary and strategies in this field. I feel I am growing as a human being, and am certainly learning how to deal with dying as our residents leave us. Hope to visit here often to share and find fun and meaningful activities for 'my folks'.1 point
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Activityconnection.com is a great resource for bulletin board material. It is a subscription based site (around $12/month). But well worth it! You can find a bunch of ideas for your bulletin boards under the "Planning and Publication" sections for each month. Pinterest has some great creative ideas http://pinterest.com/suehills/bulletin-board-ideas/ Resourceful ideas: http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/classmanagement/bb/borders.htm Hope this helps! Stephanie1 point
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Hi...I am a brand new member but I am not an activity director although I would have been good at it because I just plain like "older" people. Here's my situation... I am a senior cititzen entertaining seniors here in Portland, Oregon. I am on a terrific website just for Activity Directors called "Elderaudience". I am listed under comedy, storytelling and variety show with my picture. We have hundreds of retirement and assisted living facilities here in Portland. How do I get started contacting AD's to do my show. At the present time my show is free but I do ask for donations, a ham and cheese sandwich and ice tea. My show runs around 40 minutes. It is audience dictated. I have a table of props...enough for 20 people. I ask for ten people to come up and pick any prop they are interested in. When everyone is done I tell a story, do a skit or a game with the audience with that particular prop. If the AD can pay $10.00, I will use that money to go to the Dollar Store and pick out ten (or twenty for $20.00) brand new little gifts for winners of games/door prizes. So ADs how to I get my show out there? Should I send an unsolicited email, a regular letter or a call? Thanks for any help,1 point
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Does anyone make welcome baskets for new Residents? I'm looking for some new ideas.I'm putting word search books,coupons for shampoo & sets or hair cuts, toiletries. Im looking for something different & fun. Any ideas? Thanks Cindy1 point
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Full and part time positions available for activity coordinator in the Alpharetta, Georgia area at a local assisted living community. Please contact 770-649-1009 for more information.1 point
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My money issues have apparently gotten to the point where if I want to spend ANY money going forward, I have to raise my own money. While I find this completely ridiculous (do CNAs have to raise money for wipes, gloves, etc to do their job? Why do I have to raise money to do MY job?), I have taken the mindset of, well, if they want me to raise money, I'll show them. I'd hate for it to become the norm, however. I have no start up capital. I also don't necessarily want residents to know that I have to raise money for their activities. I have churches who like to come and play Bingo and will put up 10 dollars each time to do that, but that's not enough for day to day expenses. I cannot personally afford to put up any money at this time. Besides going out and asking for a handout for something my facility SHOULD be paying for, what else can I do to raise money and still run my department day to day?1 point
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[b]A Fundraiser Story[/b] By Unknown [b]A Fundraiser Story[/b], author unknown... A way to conduct a fundraiser for the Activities Department in the facility with the help of the employees and staff. A good time of the year for this fundraiser is spring. Place an Ad in your local paper, in your newsletter, call all of the churches in your area and anyone else that you can think of to tell them about your up coming Craft Show. Step One... Contact crafters in your area, pass out flyers at local craft shows to inform the vendors of your upcoming Craft Show. i.e. 6 foot table space or booth space (determine the size) for rent for $15. Tell them that they will get to keep all of their profits. Be sure that you inform them it will be well advertised, via newspaper, newsletter, signs, flyers and posters. Prior to the big Craft Show Event have Craft Days as an activity. Have your residents create items to sell at your craft show. [b]Ask local businesses for donations of items you can sell.[/b][list] [*]Local Florist for flower arrangements [*]Hair Salons, Dollar Stores, Retail Chains for products [*]Bakery, Grocery Stores for cakes, cookies etc. [/list] [i]Be sure to involve family and staff members by asking them to donate baked items that you and your residents can sell.[/i] [b]You can also sell tickets for items that can be won and/or raffled[/b].[list] [*]Ask local reatil stores for gift certificates, [*]Ask the video store for DVD's [*]Local resturants for gift certificates [*]Book Stores [/list] Decorate boxes or cans to serve as ticket collectors. Place them in front of the items to be given away and/or raffeled off. Draw one ticket out of each box/can at the end of the day for the winners name(s). You will want to consider if the person needs to be present to win or not. If not then be sure to get names and phone numbers, so that you can contact the winner(s). Let them know if they need to be present or not. This event is done yearly at our facility and is a hugh money maker for activities. It grows bigger every year. I recieve phone calls months in advance from people wanting to rent a table/space. People call asking when it will be beause they don't want to miss it, these are buyers. The residents enjoy meeting people from the communiy that they might not otherwise get to meet and they also enjoy the shopping.1 point
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We have a Wii. The residents get so frustrated when they can't play a game right. They love to box. They cheer eachother on and really go at it.lol. I found a racing game and bought the steering wheel adapter, it wasn't bad. Also I rented a Carnival game once and it had several different games on it that the residents seemed to enjoy. Many of them just enjoy watching, because they aren't sure what to do. Either way, I guess all that matters is that they have fun.1 point
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We had a Wii Tournament with kids from the local elementary school today. It was really lively and noisy but worth it! The kids were split into teams, playing the Big Brain Academy Mind Sprint, and one kid would hold the remote while the others called out answers. The residents really weren't quick enough to answer along with them, but they really enjoyed seeing the kids having so much fun!1 point
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Hi Jersey, Will you send me a copy of your Excel Part sheet. If you agree I will put it up on the site under the download area for all to look at etc. If anyone else has any type of forms that you have made up and find useful please email them to me as well. I will put them up to so that we can share these. If you know how to put them up please do this. It helps so many of us out. You may send me info. by email me at pbacon@activitydirector.com or send them to the contact us located in the main menu area on the left. Thanks P1 point
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Care Plans remain a mystery. I am not good at writing goals. I have bought all the books but they have not dealt with the problems of my residents. I definetly need a policy and procedure book. I need something to take to the Administrator because he does not have a clue of all the things an AD does.1 point
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Hi Rich, Here are a few ideas for assisted living mens groups: Blackjack Nite- Poker nite- Small Wood working projects Car talk -get different car magazines and chat about the new cars vs. the old cars. Golf- if possible install a small putting green on a portion of your outside area. Horse shoes- if possible install a horse shoe ring outside or purchase an inside horseshoe game. Basketball-get a swimming pool basketball hoop game,it works well indoors on the floor. Horseracing-Get an old racing form from an old race and find out the winners and have residents place bets(with fake money) then payout fake money to the winners. Bowling-Get a bowling set(pins and ball) and set at the end of a hallway in the facility,then have a men against women bowling game,from the other end of the hallway. Shopping trip-Take the men out to Walmart or other store to get toletries and other private stuff. Chess club- Checkers club- Exercise club-Get some small weights(2-5 lbs) and let men work out Dominoes club- Yahtzee Club-1 point
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