Pennie

BRAND NEW FACILITY!!!! wooh ee... Activity Position available at Grace Care Center of Cypress TR or Certified Activity Director Position Grace has not opened yet. It is located near 290 north of 1960. If you are interested in applying for this position contact the Administrator, Laura Stanford at 281-463-9001.

Dec 18th CMS announced a new rating system for Nursing homes. Similar to the 5 Star rating system for hotels the new rating system for nursing facilities for the elderly will be a 5 star system to aid the public in choosing a Nursing Facility for their loved ones. CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) unveiled an updated Web site Thursday Dec 18th, intended to make choosing a nursing home easier for elderly Americans and their families. ( http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ ) CMS is a excellent resource for the Elder Care industry, search the site for Surveyors Guide .. learn what the surveyors will be looking for when they enter your facility.. search f248 and f249 to find info on the federal tags that affect the Activity Directors in elder care. For an administrator or owner/s of nursing, elder daycare, assisted living, specialized care, and hospital rehab centers the CMS is the source for goverment regulations.. as a rule of thumb .. if your facility accepts Medicare or Medicaid payments, then the Goverment Regulations as set by the CMS apply to you. As Activity Directors the same rule applies to you. Keep this info in mind when you are searching for answers. Information on HIPAA (your residents privacy rights) are listed on the CMS site also.. if you have questions, then this would be the source .. Watch the news.. there are new articles listed everyday about the new ratings.... what states have the best staffing ,. which states have the highest ratings.. worst ratings.. great topic of discussion.. let us hear from you ... thanks, Pennie related articles: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...8121802098.html http://www.mcknights.com/Nursing-homes-to-...article/122767/

Print out this link for some great Holiday Recipes.. top10_autumn_recipes.pdf Happy Holidays.. Pennie

We are currently looking for a qualified Activity Director for our brand new 35 bed Skilled Nursing Community in Spring, Texas. For more information, see our website at www.gleannlochseniorliving.com Thank you Tab Werner LNFA, CTRS Director of Health Services/Administrator The Village at Gleannloch Farms 281-430-4900 tab.werner@lsss.org

Hi All, The Latest AD Newsletter is posted online at .................... http://www.activitydirectorsnetwork.com/ph...c.php?k=1.17.15 Februarys Online CEUs OnSale.. .................... Alzheimer's and Dementia Seminar in Houston Texas .. March 4th.. contact cabacon@activitydirector.com to register .. Visit CTRACTX.org - Upcoming OneDay CEU Workshop covering MDS 3.0, Culture Change and "I" Care Plans.. Austin Texas download the MDS 3.0 draft in the Download area on www.activitydirector.net ... .. The NEW 3.0 Open Office is available for free download.. Great for Activity Calendars and Newsletters www.openoffice.org Visit www.activitydirector.com for News and Cal Templates .. .. Visit our Online Store at http://www.activitydirector.net/shop .. The MEPAP 1 & 2 start the first tuesday of every Month.. call 1888.238.0444 for more info... activitydirector.org Next MEPAP 1&2 March 3rd.. now enrolling Next Texas Basic is February 17th for Texas ADs seeking Activity Director Certification for the State of Texas note.. both the MEPAP (nccap.org Certification) and the Texas Basic & Advanced (ctractx.org Certification) are recognized in Texas call Cheryl at 1.888.ADU.0444 for enrollment information (cabacon(at)activitydirector.com)

"My heart is filled with sadness……I wanted to contact each and everyone of you; to let you know that Pam Sander died Saturday evening……. There are never the right words to express how deeply sad I am that we have to endure this loss….Pam will truly be missed by everyone who knew her no matter where they crossed her path in life..... We all knew that Pam was a giver, never a taker. She was always there to help no matter how hectic her schedule was; no matter the time of day; and, never asking or needing anything in return. Friends like Pam are few in life and it is with a heavy heart that I also grieve with her family’s loss. Her friendship meant the world to me, and I couldn’t have asked for a more genuine friend than Pam. Memories of our times together regardless of where we where or what we were doing will be forever cherished.. As each one of you take time out to remember your encounters with Pam; may your memories bring you comfort in the days ahead." from Dorothea Brewer Pam was my mentor and a cherished friend.. If not for Pam .. there would probably be no Activity Directors Network, I probably would not have made Activities my lifes career without her help and encourgement. I think of the hundreds of residents that I loved and cared for and who loved and cared for me in return.. The families whose lives were a little more at ease because they knew their family member was well taken care of .. one persons life touches so many.. Pam taught me that compliance was a path to compasion, a rather strange concept .. but one Activity Directors understand completely... She will forever be missed in our family.. Pennie

Activity Leaders Course View and Print the Attached flier using this link --- Adobe pdf Activity_Flier_Dec__2008.pdf or MS Word doc Activity_Flier_Dec__2008.doc Location Info: ------------------ Emeritus @ Villa de Anza 5881 El Palomino Drive Riverside, CA 92509 Time and Date: -------------------- Starting December 5th Now taking enrollments. Contact Info: ---------------------- Cathy Allen, CTRS, ACC, RCFE Phone: 714-376-6169 * Fax 949-551-2566 E-mail: ca_consulting@sbcglobal.net See the Attached flyer for an upcoming Activity Leader course in December at Villa de Anza.

Hi .. there is a sample calendar on the homepage under Downloads. Http://www.activitydirector.net Its a Microsoft word document .. its a 2006 halloween calendar template from our subscription site (activitydirector.com) but you can download it and edit it to fit your facility. If you dont have Microsoft word.. go to OpenOffice.org and download their free Office Suite.. New 3.0 is available and it is the hottest thing on the internet as far as a Microsoft replacement goes.. We encourage all of our members and students to use it if they need a great Calendar and Newsletter editor. have fun, Pennie

Richardson, Texas Activity Director needed for busy department. Come and join our department of five activity staff. You are needed to lead out in small groups, do in-rooms, larger group activities and one day a week care plans. This position is for an Activity Director that has a certificate or you should be in the process of getting your certificate. Looking for an energetic, organized, and compassionate individual to be part of our great team! For more information call: 972-231-8833

Hio Renee Welcome to the message board. AD's from all parts of the world use the web-site. You can help others as well as receive help, vent or just browse. The AD's here are all very helpful & great group of folks. Enjoy the site & visit it often.

Pumpkin Seed Necklace THIS YEAR, when you hollow out that Halloween pumpkin, save the seeds to make enchanting and colorful jewelry. Separate the seeds from the pulp and rinse them well in warm water. Spin them in a salad spinner, then spread them out on paper towels to dry completely. When the seeds are dry, color them with felt-tipped markers, leaving some uncolored if you wish. Make holes near the center of each seed, using an awl and a block of wood. String the seeds with a large-eyed needle and fine elastic, using 125 to 130 seeds for a necklace, far fewer for a matching bracelet. (Measure around your neck or wrist before cutting the elastic, allowing a little extra to tie the finishing knot.)

Halloween Make-up FACE PAINT: For each color, use 1 teaspoon cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon cold cream, 1/2 teaspoon water, and 1 to 2 drops food coloring. In a paper cup, mix the cornstarch and cold cream. Add the water and food coloring; stir. Use a paintbrush or cotton swab to apply paint. Remove with soap and water. FACE MAKEUP: In a bowl, mix 3 tablespoons cornstarch and 1 tablespoon flour. Stir in 3/4 cup light corn syrup and 1/4 cup water until smooth. Divide mixture into 4 paper cups; add food coloring to 3 of them. For a makeover, use tissue paper torn lengthwise into 2-inch strips. Paint untinted mixture onto a section of the face. Place strips of tissue paper over it. Cover with more untinted mixture. Continue covering face, one area at a time. For warts, stick puffed wheat cereal to the untinted mixture; cover with tissue paper. When dry, use the color mixtures to paint the face. To remove, wet the face and peel tissue away. Wash with soap and water. Sorry I put this up twice, once before in earlier posting. Must be my age showing

Hi All, Here are a few places to get ideas and supplies for you Halloween activitys.. We have several information areas that you can search for ideas, first try visiting the Message Board at www.activitydirector.net/forum and search for Halloween or parties etc and see what some of the other ADs have posted in the message board it may give you a little direction.. it might help you set a theme, a list of activities, food, games, volunteers, outside entertainment, trick or treaters, church groups etc.. I listed several Snack, Games and Decoration ideas below... Visit http://www.activitydirector.net for a listing of Activity Entertainers in your area. Compile a list of your budget, your cognitive level, your available help, available rooms and dietary availability and plan from there. We have a Halloween Party Store if you need decorations or supplies at http://activitydirector.makeparties.com We have several books in our Activity Book Store at http://www.activitydirector.net/shop do a search for holiday or holidays ... for planning ideas for all the various holidays throughout the year.. We offer a Members site for 9.95 monthly that we update every month with activities, games, and various other help to fit the season at http://www.activitydirector.com Below are some of the ideas we have listed for Halloween on the members site.. --- --- Snack Ideas --- Description : -Make this great snack to enjoy for Halloween! Materials : • Pot • Strainer • Cookie sheet or roasting pan Ingredients : • 2 Cups pumpkin seeds • 2 Tb. salt • 1 Tb. butter Instructions : • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. • Boil pumpkin seeds in about a quart of water for 10 minutes. • Drain the seeds and toss them in melted butter. • Spread the seeds on a cookie sheet or roasting pan. • Roast the seeds for about 30 minutes (make sure to stir and toss them as they bake for even cooking). Boo Mix Description : -Make this fun treat for Halloween! Materials : • Large bowl Ingredients : • 1/2 Cup blood drops (Red Hot Tamales) • 1/2 Cup cat eyes (blanched almonds or gum drops) • 1/2 Cup cat claws (sunflower seeds) • 1 Cup colored flies (M&M's) • 1 Cup butterfly wings (corn chips) • 1 Cup ants (raisins) • 1 Cup earthworms (cheeses curls) • 1 Cup cobwebs (Triscuits) • 1 Cup snake eyes (peanuts) • 1 Cup bat bones (shoestring potatoes) • Several pints of blood (cherry punch) Instructions : • Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Serve the punch as a refreshment. This is a good choice for a Halloween snack! Edible Eyes Description : -A tasty Halloween treat! Ingredients : • Donuts holes -store bought or hand made • Gummy lifesavers • White icing • Red food coloring • Chocolate Chips Instructions : • You may want to make your own donut holes as part of the activity. • First, make red icing using white frosting and red food coloring. • Give each resident a powdered donut hole. Have the resident glue on the gummy lifesaver with the red frosting. • Then, have the residents glue in a chocolate chip in the center of the gummy lifesaver! Allow to set for no longer then 24 hours. --- Halloween Decorations (Oct) --- Face Make-up Description : -Easy paint or make-up for face Materials : • bowl • Tablespoons • measuring cup • paper cups • tissue paper • paint • soap & water • cold cream • paint brush or cotton swab Ingredients : • cornstarch • food coloring • flour • light corn syrup • puffed wheat cereal Instructions : by Margo Letourneau. • FACE MAKEUP: In a bowl, mix 3 tablespoons cornstarch and 1 tablespoon flour. Stir in 3/4 cup light corn syrup and 1/4 cup water until smooth. Divide mixture into 4 paper cups; add food coloring to 3 of them. For a makeover, use tissue paper torn lengthwise into 2-inch strips. Paint untinted mixture onto a section of the face. Place strips of tissue paper over it. Cover with more untinted mixture. Continue covering face, one area at a time. For warts, stick puffed wheat cereal to the untinted mixture; cover with tissue paper. When dry, use the color mixtures to paint the face. To remove, wet the face and peel tissue away. Wash with soap and water. • FACE PAINT: For each color, use 1 teaspoon cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon cold cream, 1/2 teaspoon water, and 1 to 2 drops food coloring. In a paper cup, mix the cornstarch and cold cream. Add the water and food coloring; stir. Use a paintbrush or cotton swab to apply paint. Remove with soap and water. Boo-ti-ful Bushes Description : -Easy way to decorate the bushes around the facility Materials : • White Sheet or White Trash Bags • Black Craft Paint • Paint Brush • Clothes Pins • Newspaper Instructions : Spread the newspaper to protect the work area. Place the sheet or trash bag on top of the newspaper. Paint a ghost face on the lower part of the sheet or trash bag. Let dry. Lay the sheet or trash bag over the bush & use the clothes pins to gather sheet in the back to hold it on. If using a trash bag tighten the drawstring to hold in place. --- Halloween Games --- Halloween Games (Oct) Pumpkin Bowling Description : -Play this fun game for Halloween and maybe even get some exercise out of it! Materials : • Plastic bowling pins or empty 1 liter bottles • 3 Small pumpkin gourds or very small pumpkins Instructions : • Select several small pumpkins about 4-6" in diameter. Be sure to have extras available in case a few split or break. • Place the pins in an open area on a lawn or floor. Measure several feet away as your starting point. • Give each resident two to three tries to knock down the pins. 1 strike is worth 2 points and spare is worth 1 point. • Buy orange or black pool noodles then lay them out on each side of the lane as gutters or bumpers. Pumpkin Pennies Materials : • 5-6 Plastic pumpkins (the ones the children go trick or treating with) • 20 Pennies for each resident Instructions : • Place the pumpkins a couple of feet away from you starting point. • Have the residents take turns tossing one penny into the pumpkin. • Each penny that makes it is one point. • The game continues until all residents are out of pennies. Pumpkin Bocce Description : -Roll in the month of ghosts and goblins with pumpkins! Materials : • 1 Large pumpkin • Small pumpkins (one per resident) • Maker Instructions : • Place the large pumpkin several feet away from your starting point. • Give each resident their own small pumpkin and have them write their names somewhere on them. • Have residents take turns rolling their pumpkins towards the large pumpkin, with the goal of landing nearest to it. • The next player then rolls and either tries to get closest to it or tries to push the other small pumpkin out of the way. • After each resident has rolled a pumpkin, the name on the pumpkin closest to the large pumpkin is the winner! Have fun with it.. and just let it happen.. things never go according to plan.. so stay flexible.. Pennie

Interesting question.. Its hard to align the woes to a industry made up of so many different types of business structures.. as the money and the economy puts a pinch on the individual family.. the families may be more inclined to move an elder from their household to a facility or retirement community earlier than expected.. medicare / medicaid facility.. better for that type of nursing care.. but as Wall Street devalues peoples retirement savings.. they may be more inclined to work longer or opt a different life style than a Retirement Community .. maybe seek the RV lifestyle or overseas / down south housing to stretch their retirement dollars. As a whole it seems that most retirement, assisted, nursing and daycare facilities have been conglomerated by big corporations.. and even though the stock drop has devalued their corporations the fact that most of these eldercare corps have a very stable client.. the US Goverment with Medicare and Medicaid providing a steady cash flow.. and rest assured that if there needs to be any budget cutting they will be sure to pass it on down .... good luck to us all... Pennie

Independent Living facility located in Arlington Texas is looking for a experienced Activity Director. Please contact Lou Brewster 817-457-9710 arlingtonET.AVC@sunriseseniorliving.com

Hi You need to only be certified per the FTAG 249 to work in a facility. Which means by doing the MEPAP 1 course you are OK. Now you do need to take the MEPAP 2 & do the other things required by your state &/or NCCAP.org to get certified. If you aren't certified then you need another dept head (a DON, SW ADON etc) or a Activity Consultant or another ADC to sign off on the chart paperwork. Hope this answers the questiuons you had. Your instructor should be able to answer the questions for you & explain things, I kno wthat it can be really confusing.

Hi When we did cooking related activities we wore gloves & followed all of the sanitary guidelines in cleaning etc. but we did not wear the hairnets. But I suppose it would depend on the surveyor that you get if this is the activity going on at that time. but you could try to argue the point. Activities are suppose to be personalized, home like etc. Hey AD's what are some of your tohughts ? has it ever been a problem for anyone?

Hi Sheila I really like your board & weekly resident recognition. A DON had told me years ago about how she took pictures of each resident & wrote a short story about thier life. Like what you are doing. Then she put this into a photo album & set the book on a podium in the sitting area. Family members would look/read book when they would visit. It was something for them to discuss during the visits plus it made all of the residents feel so proud. I know that I love to hear the residents share their stories & life with me, I think that other feel the same way. You have already done the hard part by taking pictures & doing a story, now all you need is the book.

Hi As you said it is a change in season & old man winter is going to be setting in. If you keep the residents busy with indoor projects that will take thier minds off of this. I beleive they use to find projects to do when they lived in their own home. It is a time to start thinking of cooking soups, making hot chocolate etc. So see if you can get the residents intersted in writing a small cook book with some of their favorite receips. (Add a short story to some of these receips, ie. I remember when I was small & my grandmother would make this soup every year.) These can be sold to raise money or they can make them for a real great Christmas gift(s) for their family. If a cook book is not your residents thing then start planning a big Trick or Treat event at the facility. Decorating for it, planning a spooke house, having a carnaival, hot cider, treats to give out etc. Have a talent show, be creative & see if you can get rsidents involved in planning this project. Of course their is always the family Thanksgiving & Christmas things that the faciltiy does. It is never to early to start planning these. Lastly check & see when resdients need to start working on getting their fall garden ready & what they will want to plant. Just a few things off top of my head.

I always do as much as I can on company time. There are of course things I just can't get away from the office to do. But usually once or twice a month I plan my errands to be done.. i.e. go to dollar store restock supplies, Sam's for soda's etc. But there are times I needed to leave for something I have forgotten or unexpected things. Usually facilities have a budget for gas, it covers staff gas for going to meetings, seminars, store etc. They usually pay so much per mile. So be sure you ask the accounting dept or admin about this. When I am out on my own time & I see something I decide to buy at a garage sale or on clearance etc... I spend my own money then I turn this it in and get a reimbursement check from the company. I usually save all of these receipts until I get about $100 worth then turn them in. I was told along time back, that facilities get money for these items, as well as money for activities for food etc. If you don't use it then another dept is using it (example if dietary goes over their monthly budget they use yours & you never know this, same w/ nursing) So be sure you are asking about all this in your budget, read the policy manual too. We don't get paid enough to be using our own money for supplies, gas & decorations etc. This may not always be true but every facility I worked in had more budgets that they orginally tell you about. Another way to help is see if a volunteer can make a monthly or bi-weekly store run. Be sure to have the money & list ready for him/her when they show up. Of course if you have your own dept credit card ordering online is really nice. One other bonus I was able to work out with my admin was a paid day at home to do my calendars and Newsletter.. if you are paying a service to do your Newsletters.. a paid day at home would be a money saving request.. good luck.. Pennie

Hi.... this a link to an article I wrote to help with ADs and Admins , either preparing for an interview or conducting one. its located in the Activity Articles section /.// you can click the AD Network Homepage menu above or use this direct link.. hope this helps.. thanks, Pennie "How to Conduct and Interview"

Here is a link to the Safeway.Com promotional coupon for delivery.. Safeway Delivery Coupon ... Pennie

We have on the membership web-site http://members.activitydirector.com MS Word & we now do a monthly sample calendar (that you can edit) 11x17. Since it is pre -made you shouldn't have the problems of trying to blow it up to 11X17 size. Of course you will lneed to be able to print it from a print onto the size of paper. Something to consider. Another bonus is if you have a problem with this & are a member one of our Tech guys can work with you.

Hi Someone sent me this short story via email. I fell in love with it. I do not know who the Author is. I thought that some of you might also enjoy it & want to share it with your resident's. Pennie Rose The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned round to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?' I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze. 'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked. She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...' 'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. 'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and expe rience with me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropp ed her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.' As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, 'We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do any thing I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those withregrets.' She concluded her speech by courageously singing 'The Rose.' She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be

Upcoming events and important September Holidays Save the dates for the following celebrations: September starts.. National Hispanic Heritage Month 9/15-10/15 9/07- Grandparents Day Starts 3rd Sunday- National Adult Day Care Center Week 9/14-9/20- National Healthcare Environmental Services and Housekeeping Week 9/09-9/15- National Assisted Living Week