Pennie

Hi Irene I read your story & really enjoyed it. I think all of us AD's probably have a funny story like yours at some point in our career. Being able to see the humor in the things we do as well as those our residents do is what makes us all good at our jobs & love it so darn much!

A new definition that can legally be used on a residents progess notes or care plans: (per the MDS 3.0 Manual) Inattention: Reduced ability to maintain attention to external stimuli & to appropriately shift attention to new external stimuli. Resident seems unaware or out of touch with environment (eg., dazed, fixated, or darting attention). Just a FYI for everyone

Why did the founder of Mother's Day try to abolish it? Mother's Day founder, Anna Jarvis greatly admired her mother, who tended to the wounded during the Civil War. It is believed that Anna heard her mother pray that there might one day be a day to honor mothers and the work that they do. When Anna's mother died in 1905, she made it her mission to create such a day. She held memorials for her mother on the anniversary of her death and handed out white carnations (her mother's favorite flower) in remembrance. After many letters to the government of West Virginia and later to Congress, Mother's Day was approved by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914. The holiday was meant to be spent in Church, and afterwards, sons and daughters would write letters to their mothers. Carnations were also given to mothers - red or pink for living mothers and white for those who had passed. But with every passing year, Mother's Day became more and more commercialized. In 1920, greeting cards entered the scene. Anna was enraged and appalled, and tried to abolish the holiday in 1924. In 1930 she was arrested for disturbing the peace at a Mother's Day carnation sale. She spent the rest of her life fighting against the holiday she had created. Source: The History Channel

Activity Assistant at Park Manor Tomball. This is a part-time position. Please contact Roxanne Stengel, Activity Director, at (281) 516-7929. Tomball, TX

Position open at The Forum for Activity Assistant. Houston, TX Must work some weekends and evenings, also, must be willing to obtain a CDL Class B. This is a fulltime position with benefits after 90 days. Contact Cynthia Sullivan, HR Dept. at 281-292-2600 ext. 42

May 21st 9:00 am to 1:30 pm Champion Forest Baptist Church 15555 Stubner Airline Rd Houston, TX 77069 --- Free & everyone is invitied to attend. Free Health Screening & Resources, over 50 exhibitors, door prizes, snacks, entertainment & more. If you need more info contact Champion Forest Baptist Church or email Donna Martin martindonna@hotmail.com She can email you the flyers etc.

April 28th a new show is starting -- I think it may be worth recording or watching a couple of the shows & see if it is something your residents may enjoy. Do a search for more info & check your local TV stations for the time & channel in your area. For Dish folks it is on the WE channel Sunset Daze NEW SERIES: Premieres April 28 at 10pm|9c "Sunset Daze" follows a group of outgoing, party loving seniors who are living it up in Surprise, AZ. Viewers can follow Gail "The Actress," Joanna "The Matchmaker," "The Ex-nun" Ann, "Wild Child" Sandy and all of the others as they live up life in the retirement lane on Wednesday, April 28 at 10 pm ET.

Inspired Care At St. Joseph's Healthcare System, our inspiration comes from a tightly knit team of accomplished professionals that help give people in our care every opportunity to live life to the fullest. Through our commitment to support, technology and training, we think you will find one of the most rewarding and satisfying experiences of your career. DIRECTOR, ACTIVITY THERAPY St. Vincent’s Nursing Home Based in our Cedar Grove, NJ facility, you will help the psycho-social needs of our patients by overseeing the organization and day-to-day operations of our comprehensive and therapeutic activity program. Responsibilities include: • planning relevant activities for residents • preparing monthly calendar of activities • coordinating outside entertainment and community groups • providing timely MDS assessments and discharge summaries • designing and implementing therapeutic activities • participating in family care plan meetings • handling other related functions as necessary To qualify, you must have a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Art, Sociology, Therapeutic Recreation or a related discipline, or, have a HS Diploma and 3+ years of related experience, along with completion of NJ DOH & Senior Services approved 90 hour activity training course or Certified by National Council for Activity Professionals. In addition, you must possess superior oral/written communication, interpersonal, organizational, PC and multi tasking skills. Valid Drivers license will also be expected. We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. For immediate consideration, please email: kimbelle@sjhmc.org, and put “Director Activity Therapy” in the email subject line, fax 973.754.4511, or send your resume to: St. Joseph's Healthcare System, HR Dept-EK/DAT, 1135 Broad Street, Clifton, NJ 07013. EOE M/F/D/V ST. JOSEPH'S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM www.StJosephsHealth.org

Hi I am not completely understanding your question. CNA's are usually under nursing. They do help out in activities, as all depatments are suppose to do this. If residents want to attend activities then it is their right to & staff should help get them there. As far as budget goes, usually SNF residents get billed for therapy, nursing & dietary. Not sure how it would effect your activity budget unless you are filling out the MDS on residents, for billable time?

(Flyer attached) May 21st for our 2nd annual Texercise Kick Off and Health Expo, at Champion Forest Baptist Church This years event will, also, include information about DADS "Silver Lining" Volunteer Program. There are some wonderful door prizes and there will be a lot of exhibitors with information and give aways for our residents. The event is open at 9:00 am and the Astros Mascot, Junction Jack, will welcome everyone. You can bring your camera to take pictures of your residents with him. We will have entertainment, Opera Singer, Danny Reagan, from 9:30 to 10:00 and the Texercise Kick Off will be at 10:00ish. Please let me know as soon as possible how many residents you will be bringing, also, PLEASE help us promote the Age Well ~ Live Well Expo in your community. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. I hope to see you all at this special event. Working together we ALL make a difference! Have a BLESSED Easter, Donna AgeWell_LiveWell_HoustonExpoFlyer_final_1__1_.pdf

Here are a few quick bites about St. Patrick’s Day: It’s a mostly American-created holiday. The Irish historically considered green to be an unlucky color to wear because it meant fairies would snatch you up and steal you. The traditional Irish diet consisted mostly of lamb and garden and root vegetables. Corned beef was most likely created on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in the 1800s when Irish immigrants took a page from their Jewish neighbors and made brisket their own.

We have an opening for a full time, certified Activity Director at Heartland at Willowbrook, 13631 Ardfield Dr. Houston, Texas 77070, for our Skilled Nursing Dept. which includes our Post Acute Rehab patients and our long term care residents. Heartland at Willowbrook needs a full time high energy, creative, Certified Activity Director for the Skilled Nursing Dept. For more details, please contact Heartland's Human Resource Director, Cara Theis, if you are interested in this position. Heartland at Willowbrook - 281-955-9572

The Terrace at Champions, on Cutten Rd, has an opening for an Activity Director. Please see the e-mail below.... Please e-mail Karen Moore, kmoore@horizonbay.com, the Executive Director at The Terrace at Champions. The Terrace at Champions needs a full time high energy, creative Activity Director for a 103 bed Assisted Living and Alzheimer community.Responsibilities to include developing monthly activity calendar, and volunteer program utilizing monthly themes.Community has another activity person working solely in Alzheimer's neighborhood but will work with the Activity Director to incorporate programs. Salaried position. Must be flexible with days and hours. Thanks.Karen Moore, EDTerrace at Championskmoore@horizonbay.com

We have a copy in the downloads are at http://www.activitydirector.net/Activity_Downloads/ goto the Activity/TR Documentation and look for the 2008 draft.. it may not be the finalized copy, but it gives everyone the idea of how to structure their programs to fit the new tags. Time to start being more of a meeting coordinator to accomadate self directed activities with groups holding their own group meetings, clubs, get-togethers, religious ceremonie etc. all this in a effort to make sure that each persons needs is being met on a personal, social and culturally enhanced/aligned level within your activity program. also a good time to recruit any aides, staff who may have a good knowledge of another countries celebrations and events. later pennie

"One More Time" aka Larry and Melissa Beahm Contact Name Melissa Beahm "One More Time" aka Larry and Melissa Beahm Originally from Pennsylvania, now residents of Tennessee, Larry and Melissa have been traveling these great United States in their Jayco Designer fifth-wheel RV, putting on musical comedy variety shows for boomers and seniors since December, 2007. Performing together for over 20 years, Larry and Melissa first sang together as two-thirds of a trio called "Off Center", performing in establishments and on cruise ships in thirty-seven countries. Now they focus on the seniors (and soon-to-be seniors), while fulfilling their need to wander. As of January, 2010, they've performed their shows in 23 states for RV rallies and campgrounds, as well as retirement and healthcare venues. This sought-after husband and wife team has developed a series of incredibly fun, professional shows filled with nostalgia, novelty, show tunes and old standards your residents will know and love! In their fast-paced, up-beat shows, the audience is escorted from the '20s through the '70s with songs that showcase Larry's amazing keyboard skills and their voices with beautiful harmonies. They've pre-programmed all the bass, drum, string and horn tracks themselves, for a very full sound that is truly their own. In addition, they both play ukuleles and guitar, tell jokes, and Melissa clowns around with the melodica, rhythm instruments and gadgets. Beautiful staging, costumes, props and wigs are available to make their shows even more visually appealing and unique. Visit their web site to see photos, watch a short video clip, and read tons of references: www.OMTmusic.com. Larry and Melissa serve seniors first and foremost, bringing quality entertainment to them because they deserve to have the best! Retirement homes and healthcare venues receive at least a 50% discount off the regular pricing. Three pricing options are usually available to accommodate almost every budget. For more information or to book "One More Time", contact: Melissa Beahm "One More Time" Music (850)377-6982 http://www.OMTmusic.com ~~~~ Melissa@OMTmusic.com Fax: 888-633-3202

New Listing in the Activity Entertainers Database .. see all The McKinney Washtub Two We are a husband and wife duo, "The McKinney Washtub Two." We are into our 3rd year touring as full-time professional entertainers (though we've been performing together for about 9 years.) We do an Americana music and humor show (heavy on the humor!), and play venues all over the country; fairs, festivals, coffee houses, concerts in the park as well as RV Rallys and resorts. We do a very specific show for the retirement community that's lively, upbeat and gently interactive, that will delight and stimulate your residents.! We do a variety of material in a variety of styles including ragtime, blues, folk, country bluegrass, ww II songs, and old timey gospel if appropriate. We are sensitive to a diverse population and will work with you for special events, holidays and themes. Whitt plays the guitar and Judy plays the washtub bass (in tune!), rhythm washboard, mandolin, flute, bodhran, ukelele and a fun array of percussion instuments. Though we use some traditional instruments we are not a hillbilly band, rather more of a variety show. We always invite residents up afterwards to try the washtub bass, if only to pluck the string if that's all they are able to do.(We've had more than a few activity directors give a whirl as well!) If you are looking for something a little different with a positve flavor we're your entertainers! We are a great addition to family night and outreach programs. When we are asked to play a memory care facility we do a slower, gentler paced program, with more of the pretty music rather than humorous. (Sometimes we pass out rhythm instruments if appropriate.) We travel constantly (our standard year has us visiting 10 states.) so we are sometimes in your location several times a year. Usually we are in northern states for the summer and southern for the winter.) You can always check our "gigs" page for the current schedule, give us a call. We're happy to answer questions. We try to book at least 2 months ahead for your convenience, but we can also book a year or more in advance, depending on our route. Keep in mind if we are in your area and you've had a cancellation we are happy to fill in on short notice if we can. Our retirement rate is half our usual fee, for up to an hour. There are several factors that can be to your benefit if you don't have the budget : If we can book another facility close by, if we can work without setting up the sound system (in other words if you have a small population and room) or if there are multiple facilites we can play in your community, and we've been know to be lured by the offer of a nice meal! Currently our route: MI, IN, KY, TN, GA, FL, ALA, MS, ARK & TX. Contact: Judy McKinney 615-618-8595 by phone, or email us at: mckinneywashtubtwo(a)hotmail.com Our website is: www.mckinneywashtubtwo.com. Looking forward to talking with you! Whitt & Judy McKinney

Tip of the week: Understand liability in your facility Liability exists in various forms. The liability that exists in healthcare does not exist just for the residents or patients the facility or organization cares for; family members, visitors, and workers also have to be considered. Therefore, administrators have to be aware of the legal responsibility and accountability their organization holds over numerous areas, which includes: Vicarious liability – The employer’s responsibilities concerning workers. This is sometimes referred to as Respondeat superior, which basically states that the organization is responsible for the behavior of its employees while they are working. In other words, the organization has a responsibility toward making sure its workers are conducting themselves appropriately and are not creating situations that may place the organization in an unwanted position of liability. Premises liability – A person who is legally on the premises of the facility and gets hurt due to negligence on behalf of the facility may have a legal claim against the facility. The facility has a responsibility to maintain an environment that is free from hazards that can cause injury. Professional liability – Determining negligence in this area is based on determining a reasonable standard of care to benchmark any professional liability practices. Professional liability covers all areas of the facility, but especially areas involved with resident care; therefore, physicians and nurses are strong targets for professional liability claims. Note:****The professional liability includes Activity Directors. Are your's (you) certified or qualified?? This is an excerpt from HCPro’s book, The Long-Term Care Administrator’s Field Guide, by Brian Garavaglia, PhD.

Visit this link to download the calendar and newsletter.. Activity Downloads then goto openoffice.org and download openoffice . excellent program.. then edit and create and edit and edit an .. Have Fun! pennie

Hi Cindy You should have 1 year in your office. Last 3 months in a binder plus the current month in its own binder. And you need 5 years kept in Medical Records (or where ever you facility keeps their records) Hope this answers your question. Pennie

Tip of the week: Comprehending the enforcement cycle Article From: CLTC Weekly Traditionally, the enforcement cycle begins the day the survey team leaves the facility. Nursing care facilities, especially those receiving Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, face mandatory annual surveys. These surveys are conducted without notification, which makes it more important that administrators have their facility survey-ready every day. Usually, an annual survey needs to be completed approximately nine to 15 months after the preceding annual survey. Frequently, individuals will speak about reducing or shrinking the survey window. This means that if the facility received a number of complaints during the year or if it traditionally has a poor history of compliance, the survey window is shorter than it is for facilities that are regularly compliant (i.e., it’s closer to nine months). However, you should not try to predict when your next survey visit will occur; it is much more prudent to be an assiduous administrator who addresses compliance daily and in a fastidious manner. That way, you will promote the highest standards of care for your residents, and your staff will understand that your expectations for quality care are continuous. This is an excerpt from HCPro’s book, The Long-Term Care Administrator’s Field Guide, by Brian Garavaglia, PhD.

Activities Director For The Medallion Assisted Living Residence at Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services, Inc. The Medallion is seeking a full time Activities Director to develop, conduct, coordinate, direct, and evaluate the activities/events for the residents of The Medallion. The position will include working some evenings and weekends. Computer skills are needed and experience is preferred. Please contact Annette Betz abetz@themedallion.org or Jane Shapiro jshapiro@themedallion.org at The Medallion for further consideration. Jane R. Shapiro Director of Community Relations The Medallion Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services 6262 North Braeswood Houston, TX. 77074-7599 713-778-5702 Main 713-724-4162 Cell jshapiro@themedallion.org

Hi Sharon If you are certified by NCCAP then you should go to their website NCCAP.org & then get their number & call them. They are really helpful. If you are certified via the state you live in then you need to contact them. If you don't know how toreach your state maybe NCCAP can help you figure it out. Merry Christmas

All CEU's are on sale right now! All CEU's are NCCAP approved. Don't wait until the last min. to get your CEU's & at this price you can't go wrong. Go to http://www.activitydirector.org You don't have to take the course right now but you do have to buy them right now to get them at these prices. Merry Christmas

Hi... you can try Make Parties .. they have alot of themed items that may help build your themes.. Also look in the AD Bookstore (http://www.activitydirector.net/shop) for Armchair Travel DVDs .. good for a background let me know.. pennie http://activitydirector.makesparties.com/

Weekend Activity Director position open at Barton House Assisted LIving Facility in Sugar Land Texas. Barton House is a small 20-facility specializing in Alzheimer's/Dementia care. Dementia experience preferred. Please call Carol at 281-780-4679 or e-mail resume to cforeman.bhal(at)yahoo.com