Wilkesrose

I wear comfortable, business casual most of the time. But for special occasions, I bring out the glitz and the flash! I can pretty much wear anything that the guests would not find objectionable. That's my rule---not the company. I have seen women come to work with their cleavage (and more) hanging out and I just think it's disrespectuful. Low cut belongs in a bar, not at work. If I wear a skirt, it's to the ankles or just above the ankles. No high heels-------it's so hard on the feet running up and down the halls in heels! LOL I observed today that some of the Special Care Unit guests have an aversion to anyone in scrubs. If the Med Techs can't get them to do what they need them to do, they always page me. I have thought about this for some time now. And today, I think I hit upon the problem. They don't like uniforms. I was really relishing the notion that I have a special effect on the dementia patients until I realized it was because I am in street clothes!

Hi! I was wondering what, if any, employee recognition programs are in place at your facility? Is there a daily thank you or we appreciate you kinda thing? Weekly? Monthly? Or just on special dates? Are you responsible for the program? Sept 11-17 is National Housekeeping Week in addition to National Assisted Living Week. We have awesome housekeepers! I want to do something special for them. Our facility is the cleanest facility I have ever been in. I don't know how those women do it!

I think most of us are in the same boat. I have 60 residents, no assistants. The State requires 14 hours of programming per week per resident, one scheduled outing per month, one special social event per month, and all activities must have therapeutic aspects. The CNA's are not interested in assisting with activities. And I understand that. I spend nearly every free minute I have researching, shopping, crafting---and yes, I bring paperwork home to get it done. I do my calendars and newsletters at home, and sometimes my charting. During the last guest council meeting, they requested quilting. So, I contacted the local Quilter's Guild, and they were kind enough to come and get the ladies started. They provided lap quilts that the ladies tacked. And, so, I thought, well, you have tons of fabric---this would be a great time to get rid of some of it. I added quilting to the calendar. First meeting, only 2 showed up and we didn't get a lot accomplished in one hour. Next meeting was scheduled from 10-4 because I didn't have time to drag everything out and put it away for one hour's worth of sewing. 12 ladies showed up! And, I thought, ALL RIGHT! I found out real quick that their fingers weren't as nimble as we thought, and their vision was not clear enough to sew a straight seam. But, they could lay out the fabric in interesting patterns. And they can tack. And they really enjoyed themselves. They chatted and laughed, which reminded me of my own childhood spent in the quilting room with my Mother, Grandmothers and Aunts. So, I have spent my weekend pressing fabric and cutting it into 5" squares. Why? Because I love my residents. As we all do. And I'm not sure who gets more joy from it----me or them. But, when I need a break, I tell my Administrator. Together, we arrange for me to take 3 days off in a row. I love what I do, and I live, eat, and breathe activities. But, I also know that I can't run full steam 24 hours a day, 7 days a week all the time! She knows that I must have time to re-fuel, relax, and rejuvinate. But she also knows that I will do whatever it takes to provide quality programming that is meaningful. I think it's all about balance. I am fully aware of my "tired" point and my cycle of energy. So, what does all this have to do with you? I think you are at a "tired" point and you need to step away for a few days. Stay at home. Do anything you want to do or nothing at all. Pamper yourself. Read a good book. Sleep late, take a nap during the day. I spend one whole day a month in bed, reading and sleeping. Find your comfort zone and snuggle in. You will be amazed what a little r&r can do for you. I hope you get the rest you need. And I'm sorry to be so long winded but I do lots of thinking aloud when I'm on the computer!

I did a watermelon art demonstaration-------I carved the watermelon into a basket and filled it with fruit: watermelon chunks, cantaloupe balls, white, green and red grapes, strawberries, and kiwi. I used decorative picks and let them help themselves. When the group was finished, I made another one and wheeled it up and down the hallway for the ones that couldn't attend. I had printed Watermelon Fact Sheets and we discussed those while I carved the melon.

Here's another in-room idea I did a few weeks ago. I did a watermelon carving presentation for the residents that wanted to attend. I used a cart, covered it with a red platic table cloth, filled it with ice, placed the carved watermelon basket on the ice, filled the basket with ready to eat fruit (strawberries, blueberries, grapes, cantaloupe, and watermelon), put cups, napkins and serving utensils on the bottom shelf. When the group was finished, I reloaded the basket with more fruit, and took the cart up and down the hall to each resident that did not attend the function. They really enjoyed it, and some of the more mobile residents helped me push the cart and distribute the fruit cups. Hope this helps!

Hi, Janice! Your post kinda took me off guard there-----what do you consider "busy work"? Do you have a lot of down time? I only know of one way to get certified and that's to take the classes required. I am State Certified and working on National Certification. I haven't had any "busy work"---it's all been work! Good luck to you, and welcome to the board.

Hi, Tyson! Welcome to the board----I'm relatively new here myself. I'm very green to the world of Activities so finding this board (and a few others) has helped me every day since I found it. I look forward to reading your additions to the topic!

Hello! I feel your frustration, and I know how it feels! When I was first hired, it was nothing but resentment all the way from the secretaries to the kitchen staff to the aides and even the housekeepers. But I am more stubborn than they are rude. I did as many others have done--------I kissed butt and was so sweet, butter wouldn't melt in my mouth! And, slowly but surely, they are coming around. I live and work in an area of the country that is somewhat backward in their thinking. They are a resentful, clannish group. Most of them were born and raised here, and have never been anywhere else. Their education is lacking, as are their social graces. Now, I'm not being critical, just stating facts. I idenitified the problem and adjusted my way of communicating. We had to meet on common ground. I think it has finally dawned on them that I do not have horns and I'm not going to turn them into toads. I praise them daily. I leave "thank you" notes in their communication files. I give them treats. I bring them flowers. I help them with their duties when I have a few free minutes. I no longer take anyone to the doctor, nor do I assist the kitchen staff with daily chores. I no longer run to the store every time someone says so-and-so needs something. I explained to them that my first responsibility was to the Activity Department, and I would be pitching in to help any time I had a few free mintues but that it wasn't part of the daily process. I now have shopping trips scheduled once a week. The nursing staff have been instructed to make a list of what the resident needs, including all preferences and sizes. I take the list, get the money from the office, and go shopping, sometimes alone, sometimes I'll take up to 3 residents with me. We schedule once a month shopping trips, and an outing, that are done by bus so we can take as many as 18. The bus comes on Mondays and Fridays, and that's when I schedule outings, and doctor appointments are rearranged if needed, the bus takes the residents to their doctor appointments also. The nursing staff are a bit more eager to help me these days. I still get frustrated some days, but not nearly as often. :-D

http://www.allen-cognitive-levels.com/backgrou.htm That's the web address for the official Allen Cognitive Levels. I am new to the world of activities as well, and I did not know about ACLS until your post. Then I did a search and viola! Hope this helps!

:-) Hello! I started the Activity Director course in December, was hired by a facility at the end of January, started work on February 7, finished the class in May. And I gotta tell ya-----I am overwhelmed. Don't get me wrong---I love my job and I am having a blast nearly every day! But, geeze, the paperwork alone could cause gastric responses! LOL There are mountains of tasks: planning, implementing, charting, purchasing, decorating, knowing who is diabetic and who is not, knowing ALL about the resident and their families, cleaning, cooking, gardening, networking, monthly calendars, fund raisers, holiday dinners, religious services, games, meetings, regulations, guidelines, laws, resident council dinners--------the list is endless. Oh, and did I mention the BUDGET???? And along with all your other required duties, you must have a loving heart, helping hands, and a listening ear. You must be alert to symptoms of illness, and you should have at least a rudimentary knowledge of medications and diseases. Activity Directors have the most contact with the residents: we spend several hours a day with them, while nursing/CNA/PCA/ therapy dept. etc. staff spends a few minutes several times a day. Activities ain't for sissies! LOL But, of all the things I've done in my life, I love activities the best. I'm not trying to terrify you :-D I'm just sharing my experience. I know that in a year or two, I will be more comfortable with my tasks and chosen career. And it really does have the greatest rewards. Good luck to you, hang in there, and your collage idea sounds great!

Hi, Lawrence! I lead 2 exercise groups a day----one for the Traditional Living guests and one for the Special Care Unit (Alzheimer's Quarters). When I first started the program, attendance was minimal. Here's what I did: I stopped calling it exercise----now we "Sit and Be Fit". I also had the guests make their own exercise equipment: plastic eggs with a few beans and taped securely----do an arm circles routine or play some kind of "Shake" music with the guests keeping the beat with the bean filled eggs; tambourines: red plastic plates with holes punched around the perimeter of the plate, and then we attached ribbons and bells. The exercise routine is performed while listening to marching music. The guests remain in their chairs if they can't or don't want to stand. We start out slowly with deep breathing and stretching for 10 minutes then move into a stepped up pace of walking in place, followed by a series of movements that mimic daily chore movements---we rake leaves, scrub the tub, wash windows, etc., then we do the marching routine with the tambourines, followed by a cool down. I now have excellent attendance, and some of them actually show up without being coerced! LOL They love the movement of the ribbons and the sound of the bells. I always make sure to ask them if they want a drink of water before we get started, and then I always end the session with a glass of ice water, served from a colorful round serving tray, and morning chit chat. I always end the session with a round of thank yous and hope to see you at such and such (event) at (time) today. I am relatively new to the world of Activity Director so I'm still learning things that most veteran AD's already know! LOL Sorry I'm so long-winded this evening! :-D

Pennie, I nearly fell out of my chair laughing! Thank you! I was not expecting that and the cats certainly weren't expecting my reaction! LOL :-D

Hello! You can purchase a bubble machine at one of the discount chain stores for about $15.00. CD's with the sounds of nature are about $10. A bread machine is also a good investment. A fish tank is relatively inexpensive and is also good for dementia/Alzheimer's patients. A lava lamp. Scarves. A box of beads or buttons for finger sifting. I love the idea of the rooms, now, if only I had A room to set it up!

Hello! I'm relatively new to the world of Activity Coordinator. I've given the subject of "dining room entertainment" some thought, and one of the things that I do is sing silly songs. Nothing new there! LOL How about a color game? Before the guests (our folks are referred to as guests, not residents) come to the dining room, hide an object on or around several of the tables and play "I Spy"; or maybe use cut outs from magazines, display them on the tables and ask guests to tell you what they have in front of them, or something along those lines. Sorry I couldn't be more help but I'm sure there are some folks here with more suggestions.

Hello, Ellen, and welcome to the board. I am just starting my third week as an Activity Director and I LOVE IT! The Activity Director certification course I am taking is geared toward State and Federal regulations and not a lot of "activity" information. I have researched and researched and researched some more to find activities that will interest the people I work with. It was quite daunting at first but now I'm anxious to start my day and reluctant to go home at the end of the day. Good luck, and keep us posted on how you are doing! :-D