richardsonl

At Harmar village we will be hosting a nursing home week with a Monte carol theme. We will be hosting a horse race game, having a roullette table, black jack, playing the slots and more. We will be serving mock tails, hot dogs, ice cream and popcorn. So what is your facility doing for nursing home week? Linda Richardson MEPAP1-010113

My name is Linda. i work as an activity director in Cheswick PA (Near Pittsburgh) with a 130 bed skilled Nursing facility and 120 bed assisted living facility. It is challenging trying to maintain both, but I am confident I can manage both as I priortize and chunk out time for things. I am fairly new to this position but not with Activities as I have been involved with activities for 15 plus years. I got involved with activities when I started volunteering at a facility and I worked with an Alzheimers resident a former school teacher and got her to draw a butterfly using the letters of the alphabet. I thoroughly enjoyed this and have been working with older adults and adults with disabilities ever since. I tend to enjoy lower functioning dementia residents and am comfortable around challenging behaviors (well maybe not challenging staff behaviors). I believe everyone is a person and a little compassion can go a long way. I try to put myself in their position. As a director, I wish to remain hands on as much as possible. There are times I have administrative stuff that I must complete. I am still trying to find a system that works for me. My favorite activities are having residents sitting around the table and engaging residents in household type activities such as folding laundry and cooking. For the guys, I like to have nuts and bolts around for them to sort, and wood working materials for them to use. That is something I would like to add to the facility I am working at. I was spoiled at my prevous place of employment because there was a wood shop in the basement and a room where people worked on model trains. Where I work at now there is space and there isn't space for this. But maybe with a little creativity I can adapt something. So what about you?

Hello, My name is Linda. I am new to this. I have over 15 years experience working in Activities. I have experience with Skilled Nursing, dementia units, adult day programs, working adults with mental retardation and autism, and I also worked as a Care Manager providing resources for seniors in order for themto remain home. I live in a suburb near Pittsburgh Pa. I spend most of my free time with my teenagers (3) and husband. I enjoy, hiking, gardening, being goofy, goin going to plays, concerts, painting (which I haven't done in years), reading, learning how to play the guitar, and church. I just started being an Activity Director again after being a Care Manager. Care Plans are different from place to place I work, so the MEPAP 1 really helps remind me of what is needed. The challenges I face are planning a big Car cruise, balancing my life and work and this course, and having to develop a budget. I am limited on how many hours I can use for activity staff, and I can see already, that I need to have a discussion on possibly hiring a part-time staff person. (Does anyone have anty suggestions presenting this to my Administrator?) I hope you all have a good day. Peace. Linda