BartMan

Music and Music Therapy is always a good one.... ........BartMan in Tally quote name='Jenbean81' date='Apr 23 2008, 10:41 AM' post='9297'] I am the AD in a 112 bed facility. I have 2 sensory activity groups that are ran by an activity aide from 8am-8pm. Most residents in the groups are frequent fallers or are in advanced stages of dementia. I was wondering if anyone had some ideas for low level activities. I have thought of all i can think of and I need some help. Thanks

Hello to All !! Just know this , before you even get started setting the games up and picking the day for this Activity , YOU must ask for the appropriate amount of help from your Colleagues. This Activity , when done the right way , will wipe you out , exhaust ya ! I tried to do it all myself one year and it was not pretty , the next time I did it I had help, and the Staff had fun too ! Just a suggestion.... Good Luck !!!! BartMan in Tally ;o) quote name='Tinki' date='Apr 8 2008, 07:51 AM' post='9228'] Maybe this website can help you get ideas http://www.party411.com/theme119.html Karen

We are having a Leap Year Celebration with a cake and punch , also we are having a cake walk but the one who lands on the number is not the winner , it leaps to the person in front of the number , hahahaha , should be interesting.... BartMan ;o)

This is funny I keep hearing about this. We bought a Wii for our facility back in Sept. of last year. RT and OT use it on the higher functioning Residents and they absolutely LOVE it !!!! After we bought one , our local Newspaper did a story on it here in Tallahassee,Florida and then a couple months later we started hearing about it all over the place.... Not saying that we were the first but it is funny how it sort of spread everywhere after we bought one for ourselves. Coincidental.......... BartMan

Welcome Aboard !!!! You will enjoy this site , lots of cool peeps and I have got a lot of new ideas from this site.... BartMan in Tally ;o)

Yes , an outing can be a nightmare if you do not have adequate staffing to go with you. I try and recruit volunteers to help. Not can it only be a nightmare without the proper staffing but it can be very unsafe for the Residents. Surely your Upper Management people realize this ???? If not, you can always do an in-service with the staff about how an outing is suppose to work and also invite your Administrator.... BartMan

I think it our duty as Activity Directors and Activity Professionals to be at work on ChristMas day ! At least for a half day. BartMan in Tally

www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com/Gina_Activ... , okay stressed Activity Director hope this helps a little. We all run out of ideas at some point so what I do is get on line and surf the Activity Profession .... I have found a lot of creative ideas from doing this. I know what it's like to work by yourself.... This link at the top of the page is a good one. Never give up , peace out for now , BartMan in Tally , Fl.

No worries , I too work by myself as an Activity Director .... I'm not going to lie to you, it is not an easy task keeping up with all the paper work/computer work and then finding time to spend with the Residents and doing fun things. But believe me when I say the reward you get at the end of each day will be worth it , trust me on that one. I have worked by myself for fifteen years now at the same place , there will be times when you think you have had enough , but those feelings pass when that one Resident tells you that you are so special or that they love you or that you do such a good job. Try to remember that you got into the Activity Profession for them (the Residents) and not for the staff . It really doesn't matter how jealous they(the staff) are of you or if they even like you. What matters is you are there for the Residents and to better their quality of life. So Go Get Em' Tiger !!!! Merry ChristMas from the BartMan ;o)

Merry ChristMas to you too Tinki , and Merry Christmas to everyone else as well !!!! It is ChristMas Day and I just got through passing presents out to all the Residents , and now I can't wait to get out of this 500 degree Santa Suit , if you have ever wore one then you know what I am talking about , heehee..... But it is soooooooooo worth it to see those smiles on the Residents and staff faces !!!!! Ho Ho Ho , Merry Christmas !!!!!!!!! Peace out for now , BartMan ;o)

That is AWESOME !!!! Way to go !!!! Sometimes it's just the simple things in life that really just might make the difference for someone !!!! But I could see how that would work , who doesn't like a good foot massage , yall know what I mean JellyBeans ???? BartMan ;o)

Holy Guacamoly dear !!!! I know what I would do if I was you Fo' Sho' !! But I can't say how I really feel on this message board , if ya know what I mean ?? I totally agree with everyone else and their comments on this matter. You are the better person here indeed. Please let us know the outcome of this situation you're going thru. And please do KEEP YO HEAD HELD HIGH !!!! BartMan in Tally.... ;o)

I too missed this site very much , good to be back !! Hope everyone is doing FANTASTIC !! BartMan

Hey Pennie , Happy Friday !! Now Stacy was the one they were visiting. I am just the spectator this time , Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha .... But I'm sure she will keep us informed...............

Hi Connie , Happy Friday !! I know where I work I got mine from the Nurses. They had to upgrade their old medicine carts and they just happened to be nice enough to give me theirs ) If you work at a place that has nurses then you could ask them if they have any old ones in storage............... Hope this helps and Good Luck !! BartMan

Hello Sara in Iowa !! Welcome to the site , it's really cooooooooooooooool !! Have fun !! Ya thinkin' 'bout becoming a member ? There are a lot of AD's who visit here and share all kinds of neat ideas ! I have been able to incorporate a lot of new ideas from this site into my programs , Anyway welcome aboard !! BartMan

Okie Dokie Smokie ! I'm just glad they are gone and you can breath. Geeeeeeeeeeeeeez I was even nervous and yall are like not even close to my facility , Whew Weeeeeee !! Have an Awesome weekend everyone !! BartMan

Hey Pennie ! How are ya ? Hey, funny thing ya mentioned what you did . I just had to remove a Resident from Bingo because of disruptive behavior. And then he wondered why I did what I did. After I explained it to him and he finally calmed down he was willing to give it another try. Now this Res. is fully alert and after all was done he was able to realize what happened. This is very difficult to do with a Resident that has cognitive difficulties.Know what I mean JellyBean? How is the Coginitive level with the Resident on the Bus ? BartMan

Wow !!!! Thanks KateAA , very interesting ! Thanks a lot ! I shall speak to my team about this , and maybe implement it into my program. Thanks again ! BartMan

Hello Brandi , I could not come up with anything on this subject either , and I have spoken to two other AD's about this and they have not heard anything as well. But I would love to hear more about it when you get time , thanks , BartMan )

Well Guest , all I know is that I have been through a lot of surveys and Yes they are now tougher than they were say five years ago , I think everyone would agree with me on that one. A lot has changed from thirteen years ago when I started. I will have to stick by my statement..... Anyway , everyone have a blessed day !! Peace Out , BMan

Yeah , what she said !! Way to go TINKI !! AD's RULE !! Hey , I'm proud to be an AD !! What can I say !! BartMan

I knew you could do it Stacy !! Congrats on not getting any tags in the Activity Dept. Sounds like they are getting tougher and tougher every year. My survey in December was also pretty rough. You Rock Girl !! No tags , No Tags , it's yo B'Day , Go Stacy !! Good Job !! BartMan )~

Thanks Catlovermj , I am going to try this one in my facility , thanks for sharing your ideas , this sounds really fun !! Whoooooooooo Hooooooooo ) BartMan

Hi Mary !! We also had some trouble with staff members a while back at my place. There is always going to be "Bad Apples" in any facility. I know where I work I am allowed to say something to another employee. Not only that but I also am allowed to write someone up. Check into that , okay? It would be a last resort of course , but if the D.O.N is talking to them like "dirt" and nothing is getting done that way , then try my way. I tell ya the staff around here get nervous when they see a Dept. Head carrying a pink piece of paper around. Hey , sometimes ya have to do that to get someones attention. And that write up goes directly into their personal file. Might sound harsh but when your busting your --- everyday to better the Residents Quality of Life you don't need others who will slow down that progress. Hope this helps , peace out , BartMan ) (It usually only takes one write up to solve the situation, at least with my experience) Hope this doesn't offend anyone......