Pennie

July is National Ice Cream Month!!!!!! Did You Know... ... some studies have shown that people buy and consume more ice cream on a Sunday than any other day of the week? Ice cream is an easy summer fundraiser that always draws a crowd of willing consumers. Now is the time to raise money for those items you are needing for your department. Take advantage of the hot days and Ice Cream Month by hosting a couple of events starring ice cream. Ice Cream Bar Fundraiser Ingredients: Ice Cream Strawberry/Pineapple/Chocolate/Caramel Ice Cream Topping Cherries, to top off the sundae with Nuts Whipping Cream, in can Cups Spoons Napkins Ice Cream Scoops Directions: Pick a day to hold this fundraiser that falls on or just after payday. Make up lots of flyers and post them around the facility, especially the break room and main entrances to your facility. Your target market should be staff, residents, volunteers and family members so consider where they me come into contact with your flyers. Note on the flyer what the sundae sales will be used for i.e. a good cause. Include all pertinent information about the event and what the charge will be per sundae. Ask residents to help you prepare and serve for this special fundraiser. Ice Cream Competition Have staff and family members make “Homemade Ice Cream” and bring it in on a weekend for this competition. Ask residents to participate by hosting a tasting and judging on their favorite flavor. Prior to the event create flyers and a newsletter write up. Ask individuals willing to make ice cream to sign up and also request participants RSVP so you have an idea of how much ice cream will be needed. NOTE: When I did this I found that family was not willing to make ice cream, however they were happy to donate money for the event. I then borrowed as many ice cream makers as I could find and made different flavors up in the Activity Department all week long and stored them in the freezer until the event. FYI, Coffee was our winner! Side Note: If you serve Banana Splits or coke floats at your Resident Council meetings, attendance will surely rise! The Scoop on Ice Cream Before milk based ice creams were introduced in 10th century, this summer treat was indeed made from ice. Industrial production of ice cream begun in 1851 in Boston, United States. The largest worldwide consumption of ice cream is in United States. There, one average person consumes 48 pints of ice cream per year. The most popular flavor of ice cream is vanilla. After it come chocolates, strawberry, cookies n’ cream, and others. Ice cream cones were invented during 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, when large demand forced ice cream vendor to find help from nearby waffle vendors. Together they made history. One of the most unusual ice cream flavors is hot dog flavored ice-cream that was created in Arizona, US. Continental Europe was introduced with ice cream in late 13th century with Marko Polo returned to Italy with his tales of travel in China. Historians remember that Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) loved to eat snow flavored with nectar and honey. Hawaii is a home to an “ice cream bean”, fruit that tastes like vanilla ice cream. In United States, July is deemed to be "National Ice Cream Month". Most favorite ice cream topping is chocolate syrup. One cone of ice cream can be finished off in 50 licks. California is the larger producer of ice cream in United States. During 2003 they alone made 121 million gallons of this cold treat. It takes 12 gallons of milk to create one gallon of ice cream. Ice cream “Brain Freeze” effect is triggered when cold ice touches the roof of your mouth, which causes blood vessels in the head to dilate. End of the World War II was celebrated by eating ice cream. Source: http://www.icecreamhistory.net/ice-cream-facts/interesting-facts-about-ice-cream/ Enroll Now Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. Activity Directors are the key to creating environments that we ourselves would be excited to live in. We envision facilities that feel like homes, not institutions. Facilities that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe providing the best education available, with the most talented teachers we can find, is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of The Network. Copyright © 2019 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351

I Am Bored: Brainstorming to Alleviate Resident Boredom by Kathleen Hughes, ADC There are lots of postings lately on the numerous Facebook pages for Activity Professionals about how the residents do not like their activities or that residents, families and other staff are bored with the activities offered. There are other comments about how residents ask for specific activities and then do not attend or ignore requests for preferences or suggestions. We also have “younger” residents looking for activities that they are interested in and do not want to be with the “older” residents. Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions and not empowering the residents to make their own calendar of events to encourage them to participate actively or to buy into the activity and have some stake in the game. The residents who actively participate in the planning and implementation of the activity would be more likely to attend and encourage others to attend. During a Brainstorming Workshop my coworkers and I learned a technique that allowed for the free flow of ideas and encouraged the participants to give ideas they may not have thought of. Using these techniques on a quarterly basis at the facility we created new activities, different activities and our activity calendar changed every single month. The only constant was the time of the programs, but the activity itself changed and always changed for the good. Brainstorming follows a specific path that you would need to use to be successful. First, you will need flip charts, markers and tape. These tools will assist with the flow of ideas and staff can help with the process so that they can be a part of it and see what the residents are thinking of. Appoint an Activities Committee as part of your Resident Council if you have one. If you do not have one, then invite all of the residents. Serve a snack and beverage and have them in a circle where they can see all that is being written down. Make sure that the people writing down the ideas write in large print so all can see. Each quarter you would ask the following questions (substitute the season for each question on a quarterly basis): What did you do as a kid in the summer? What did you do with your family in the summer? What is your fondest memory of a summer vacation? What is the best thing you ever did in the summer? Ask one question at a time and give the residents time to respond and reminisce. There are no “bad” answers as the point is to get as many ideas as possible. Do not discourage any of the ideas or thoughts. Write down everything that the residents say. Each idea builds on the other so having the ideas written on the flip chart paper will encourage them to expand upon other’s ideas. For example, we had residents discuss having a lemonade booth, going to the fair, swimming in the lakes, fishing, playing kick the can, making a tree house, renting a cottage on a lake, playing hopscotch, listening to music, sleeping in a tent in their backyard with the kids from the neighborhood, riding their bikes all through town, going to a drive in theater, learning how to hula hoop, clambakes, catching frogs, catching lighting bugs in a jar, campfires, cooking on an open fire, eating vegetables off the vine from their garden, spitting watermelon seeds and running through a sprinkler. We then took the 17 pieces of paper and hung them in the activities office so that we could all generate ideas. Then a week later we gathered a group of residents again and asked them which ideas we could use to plan activities for the summer. Please, remember we did this in April so that we could plan out the summer. We reconvened in August to plan for the Fall. Planning ahead is extremely important to the process. The group then looked over the memories and ideas and placed the activities on an extra-large calendar for the months of June, July and August. We went through all of the listed activities and some were accepted and some were placed on hold. The residents and the activities staff went through the planning process for each month. Keeping the activities we could not change such as religious services and Resident Council. The rest of our days and evenings were up for grabs. Each participant was given a copy of a completed calendar to take with them and asked to talk to other residents about what we had come up with and then get back to the activities staff if anyone had any other ideas. A week later we then had the entire summer schedule completed and ready to implement. Many of the ideas were incorporated into the calendar, including all of the above ideas. Our lemonade stand made $200 that summer and we had a campfire with our neighborhood fire department in our parking lot. We also had residents make the decorations for the events, they made invitations for residents and families, they would also make handouts and door prizes for those that attended and participated so that they could share memories about the programs. When the residents made the table decorations they were very proud of what they created and could not wait to learn who would win them when the event was over. Involving the residents in the brainstorming session and implementation of their ideas encourages creativity and enthusiasm. The staff also became more creative and tried new ideas for activities. The residents got used to the process and would talk among themselves for the upcoming season. Younger residents got to have some innovative activities and the older residents would attend just to see what was up! Give it a try, the key to the entire process is to look at the possibilities and do not have any negative interjections. Each thought, memory and idea should be considered and adapted for the residents. You can also acknowledge the residents that participated and helped plan the activities. Everyone has to be positive and encourage participation in the process. Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. Activity Directors are the key to creating environments that we ourselves would be excited to live in. We envision facilities that feel like homes, not institutions. Facilities that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe providing the best education available, with the most talented teachers we can find, is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of Our Network. Proud Members Copyright © 2019 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351

Resolving Resident Conflict – Combative Behavior [Part I] Residents in long-term care may experience chronic cognitive impairment or confusion which may manifest into combative behavior. It is imperative to recognize that a resident’s combativeness could be the residents’ effort to communicate need for care. Healthcare professionals must always be mindful that the behavior is not personal in nature; as in emotional feelings of dislike or misplaced, unwarranted fear. Communication issues can occur when a resident has limited (receptive) abilities that fail to translate to a normal dialog appropriately. Reduced information processing speed and capacity can be attributed to problems with comprehension. Even simplified sentences can put a strain on residents’ brain processing resources to assimilate more information than he/she is capable of understanding. Aging adults may also be (expressively) compromised with less ability to form comprehensible sentence structures, largely due to declining working memory capacity. The healthcare professionals’ ability to assess, understand and take action to prevent combative behavior “before it occurs” will significantly reduce communication breakdowns and help the resident to be more fully accepting of his/her personal care. What is Combative Behavior? Any physically aggressive act that causes or is intended to cause hurt or damage to another person or object and even to self may be an indicator of combative behavior. Some types typically encountered in long-term care may include: Physical acts- punches, fighting, kicks to endanger others Resisting care- aggressively hampering efforts to accomplish ADL’s (bathing or dressing) Verbal aggression- arguing, cursing, threatening or accusing Catastrophic reaction- sudden mood swings, outbursts, or lack of self-control What may cause combative behavior? Psycho-social: Resident feels threatened by life changes and frustrated at a perceived loss of control. Unable to communicate adequately, a resident may misinterpret efforts to provide care or may be unable to control his/her feelings, or may withdraw from interaction due to conflicting thought processing. Environmental: Room lighting that is either too bright or too dim, blaring radios, television, intrusive central facility intercom announcements, clutter or constant staff traffic distractions, unanticipated room changes or routine changes, lack of consideration for how the resident likes his/her belongings arranged or reorganizing without resident involvement. Other areas that should be respected include the halls, nursing stations, dining rooms and any and all locations residents can easily navigate as part of their daily living. Dementia: A declining brain disorder affecting both personality and thought processing. It is an organic brain disease caused by a number of illnesses (including Alzheimer’s) that is considered progressive in which the afflicted individual begins to lose touch with reality and is unable to understand the world they have found themselves surrounded by. Unskilled care-giving: Staff unknowingly contribute to behavior issues when they take a position of authority, display gestures that startle or frighten, administer care roughly or in hurried fashion, display impatience, or speak in loud or demeaning conversation. Multi-faceted underlying illness: A comprehensive assessment must be done to determine the probability of other underlying medical illnesses that further contributing to aggressive behavior; and may include non-organic external elements such as alcohol or drugs abuse, medication interactions and lack of sleep. Interventions – The 'Never List' for Resident Agitation 101 NEVER enter a residents’ room in numbers of two or more staff members as it may put the resident in defensive mode. If safety is a concern, ask a supporting staff member to wait outside the room NEVER wear a stethoscope, hanging earrings or shiny jewelry around your neck. NEVER ask the resident to do more than two or more tasks at once; keep your instructions to one-step at a time. NEVER approach a resident quietly by surprise. Allow him/her to see you coming. NEVER forget to introduce yourself every time with a smile; even when your resident knows you. NEVER display your emotions through body posture; emotions are easily expressed non-verbally in body language. NEVER speak to your resident while competing with multiple stimulus such as a radio, television or music. NEVER take action to do something before explaining what you are about to do it in simple terms; ascertain that he/she understands. NEVER approach a wheelchair bound resident face on for your own safety. NEVER underestimate that the resident may also be just as confused and surprised by his/her own behavior as you are. NEVER correct or point out word usage errors expressed by your resident; use visual cues at this time Never, never instruct or state limits when dealing with an agitated resident. Be particularly mindful of certain command statements in the heat of the moment as they only tend to escalate the level of resident transgression: NO – STOP THAT DON’T DO THIS DON’T DO THAT PUT IT DOWN NOW LEAVE IT ALONE STOP GETTING UP While it is impossible to anticipate how one resident may interact with another resident and or staff member, each facility must be prepared to handle difficult interpersonal or behavioral issues. The goal is to prevent escalation from resulting into physical altercations. Behavior modification techniques and strategies must be a standard in-service education for all staff members to develop expertise in dealing with conflict and/ or other related issues involving safety and well being. When aggressive behavior is mismanaged, it affects families, staff and disrupts other residents. But when handled in a respectful, positive way, conflict can be quickly dissipated and restore peaceful harmony within the community. QUIZ 1. TRUE or FALSE A resident’s combative behavior is often a sign that he or she does not like you or is afraid of you. 2. TRUE or FALSE Resisting care, verbal aggression, fighting and catastrophic reactions are common forms of combative behavior. 3. TRUE or FALSE Dementia, the type seen in organic brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s, is the only true medical cause of combative behavior. 4. TRUE or FALSE Combative behavior often occurs when a resident is unable to communicate adequately, misinterprets efforts to provide care or is unable to control feelings. 5. TRUE or FALSE Loud television, speakers or people coming and going, and very bright light do not really trigger combative behavior. 6. TRUE or FALSE Unanticipated room or routine changes can trigger combative behavior. (ANSWERS: T, F, T, F, T, F) Next Week: Part II – Discover Patterns That Lead to Outbursts Have a topic request or question for Celeste? Send them over to celestechase@activitydirector.org Join the Activity Consultants Help Desk or Share the Link with a Friend.. BUY Now Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. We envision facilities that feel like homes and that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe the exchange of education and wisdom between the most talented teachers and passionate students is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of The Network. Copyright © 2019 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351

Senior Comedy Afternoon is an excellent Activity for any Senior Group.. Plan to attend and make a day of it.. 3 Course Meal, a Show .. all presented by Bonnie and her bunch of Misfits.. if you haven't experienced one of these "Afternoons" you're missing Out. the Event is in LA... near LAX ..the recently refurbished The Proud Bird Restaurant and Event Center (Tuskegee Room) Starts at Noon, Lunch at noon-thirty and the show is at 1:30.. and a guided tour of the Air Park can be enjoyed after the show. 3:15 July 14th, plenty of time to plan and reserve your buses.. dontmissthis Have Fun! Pennie

The Consultants Help Desk is delivered to your Inbox every month. The Newsletter covers a variety of topics all designed for Today's busy Activity Director. SignUp Creating Effective Flyers Why should you invest your time and attention to creating flyers? Consider a flyer as a blank canvas where you can explore your creative abilities while getting the word out about your upcoming event. What could be better? Oh yes, flyers are read, passed along, reproduced, posted up on bulletin boards , mailed or sent electronically to reach the intended audience. Thus, multiplying the success rate of reaching its intended audience. Flyers can vary in themes from — advertisements, announcements, invitations, updates and welcome notices. Additionally, flyers will promote musical events, fundraiser, craft shows or any other event that has potential to be of public inquisitiveness and enjoyment. What characterizes an effective flyer? Ingredients of a Good Design If you’re new to the design process, it can be tough figuring out what kinds of design choices work together to create an attractive yet effective final product. Why do certain fonts go together? How did the great color scheme come into play? Here are some basic qualities you’ll want to get right on your flyer. Eye-Catching: If it does not have visual interest no one will be persuaded to investigate what that flyer contains. Clear Focal Point: Simply put, this is the part of the layout that draws viewers into the design and subsequently into its message. It could be an image or graphic, a headline or promotion, or other text/lettering — but the focal point of a design is usually the thing people notice first. HINT: make sure your focal point directs viewers to the most important information you have to communicate. Relevant Imagery: Simple graphics like shapes or icons, a photograph in the background, or something fancier like a custom illustration or hand-drawn typography. HINT: A visual component that is relevant to the purpose or theme of the flyer will help viewers immediately get a grasp on what the flyer is all about before reading the fine print. Appropriate Fonts: Typography plays an immensely important role in pretty much any text document, particularly as it relates to flyers. However, in the same way that choosing images requires consideration of a flyer’s purpose, context, and audience, picking fonts calls for just as much care. Because fonts alone can give a design a distinct look or mood, you’ll want to make sure any typeface you choose matches up with the overall style and intent of your design. Color Considerations We are visual creatures and nothing’s attracts our attention quite like a splash of color. Colors evoke and engage our feelings and emotions. It creates flyer impact. For instance, warm colors like red and orange are thought to communicate warmth, energy, and excitement, while cool colors like blue and green are considered more calming, nature-inspired, and conservative. Use these qualities to enhance your flyer’s message. HINT: Colors are known to have tremendous impact and reactive powers and are selectively used to promote mood for those afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. Bonus Tip: If color printing isn’t an option, you can still infuse some color into your design by using black ink on colored paper. Being limited to one color ink doesn’t mean your flyer has to look plain. Use imagery in the form of drawings, text fonts, decorative designs, bold borders and pictures to create interest. Find A Balance Incorporate strategic use of white or blank space in the layout without text or graphics to direct the eye to the focal point relevant to flyer content. Think of those blank areas as a roadmap that viewers use to navigate visual mapping with ease. Your mission is to lay the intended message out in plain sight without the reader having to take time to decide what the flyer is all about. The more time the reader spends in this way, the lower your success rate will be and the anticipated following. HINT: The flyer should make its intended communication “crystal clear” at a glance. Too much information crammed onto one page will discourage the reader’s interests. If creativity is not one of your strong points, you can source your imagery elsewhere rather than creating it yourself, but be selective in this approach as this may likely increase your initial costs. Make sure to search out high-quality options both in terms of form (i.e., no clip art, matches mood/purpose of flyer) and function (high enough resolution for printing, etc.). A quick Google search turned up the following “free” flyer maker sites: https://spark.adobe.com/make/flyer-maker https://www.postermywall.com/index.php/l/online-flyer-maker https://crello.com/create/flyers/ Here are a few basics tips to keep in mind while creating your own successful flyers: 1. Keep your flyer content brief- Look at the overall design and the size of your flyer and the areas where want to leave blank to map the contents out for your readers. Don’t overwhelm your reader by squeezing in a lot of information. Write your content in a concise way. Include only the essentials. 2. Divide your copy into digestible sections- Divide your content into sections with headings to make it pleasing to the eye. At first glance, long paragraphs require more reading time that could turn off your reader. 4. Create a captivating headline- Your headline will always be the first line of text that your recipients will read. Try to make it catchy in order to hook them to read further. 5. Add a call-to-action– Tell your readers what you need. The most important component of your flyer will be to tell your reader what you need them to do after reading the information. “Call Us” or “Order Now” are common examples, but feel free to be creative. 6. Highlight directions & contact information– Make the location and contact information to your event easy to find on your flyer. Directions and contact information needs to be visually bold so as not to get lost in the text nor graphic design of your flyer. The bottom section of your flyer is usually the ideal placement because it is the last text it makes it easier for your reader to reference that information. 7. Proofread your content- Mistakes in your content could be translated as lack of invested time on your part and thus, lack of importance of the information within your flyer. After you proofread ask someone else to review it. The author of the content may easily overlook his/her own mistakes. 8. Limit the font choices- Select no more than two or three different fonts. Using multiple fonts often makes your design visually cluttered. Two to three typefaces are ideal when creating flyers. Additionally, choose fonts that are easy to read, even from a distance. 9. Choose the right paper stock- Flyers may be handled numerous times so choose paper stock that is durable and good quality. When flyers take on a tattered appearance they fail to give the event the feel of “NEW” – “UP AND COMING” attraction that you want to be communicated to your readers. 10. Use high-resolution photos- Low-resolution images equates to unprofessional flyers and lack of attention to details. Additionally, printing multiple copies of the original can take a toll on the quality of the original photo resolution. This is not likely to be a problem, however, when you use professional printing services. 11. Incorporate your logo with the design– If your facility has a particular logo be sure to include that image in your flyer as it represents brand recognition and supports the credibility of your flyer. Distribution: 1. Think of places where people frequently go and stand idle. 2. Think of your target audience and where you might find them. Rental car, subway or bus transportation locations– Many of us use public transportation to commute to our destinations throughout the day. Where do they go to pick up a ride? Local coffee shop- A flyer with a cup of coffee is a perfect match. School bulletin boards- Ask permission to put flyers in student gathering areas. This is particularly a great location if your target audience are children or parents. Checkout counters and reception areas- Anyplace where you find a physical counter where people wait is a great place for your flyer. Community bulletin boards- Chamber of Commerce, town hall, grocery stores, libraries, community organizations Laundromats- People waiting for laundry will be drawn to read – why not read your flyer? Show off your creativity and get the word out about your event in a flyer!!! The Consultants Help Desk is delivered to your Inbox every month. The Newsletter covers a variety of topics all designed for Today's busy Activity Director. SignUp Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. Activity Directors are the key to creating environments that we ourselves would be excited to live in. We envision facilities that feel like homes, not institutions. Facilities that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe providing the best education available, with the most talented teachers we can find, is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of Our Network. Copyright © 2019 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351

An important topic of conversation amongst Activity Directors is the hesitancy of other departments within our facilities to help out with activities. At Activity Directors Network we are constantly getting inquiries about the rules regarding this sensitive and unique subject. For this reason, I thought it would be helpful to introduce you to the CMS Critical Pathways form which is designed to help you determine compliance. Critical Path Methodology has been around awhile. It has been used in every industry to help build processes and procedures using measurable statistics to determine the best route to achieve success and determine where and when failure occurs. This is why it is such a useful tool for Activity Directors to utilize. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have published documents related to the new State Survey process that went into effect 2017, and are being enforced as of 2018. The survey process combines the traditional survey and the QIS survey investigation methods. These new methods include Critical Element Pathways to help surveyors determine compliance, and you can use it to help your programs shine! Here is the link to the form: CMS-20065_ActivitiesCriticalPathways.pdf http://www.activitydirector.net/images/CMS-20065_ActivitiesCriticalPathways.pdf Use this form to determine if your facility activities are in compliance. Create a worksheet for your Activity Program that will help you to identify factors that may contribute to failure and/or deficiencies. It’s been my experience that facility procedures need to be updated and that the entire facility would benefit from better education in this area. It can be hard to bring this matter up to the other departments and creating tension from opposing viewpoints would only be counterproductive. This is how the form can help substantiate and legitimize your goal. Use the form to identify any potential deficiencies and then create an in-service to educate the staff. Presenting a well-researched plan to your Administrator and fellow department heads increases your potential for making a difference and solving any issues that have arisen out of an outdated approach. Hopefully, this form will help to bolster your confidence moving forward. Thanks for being a part of The Network, Pennie Bacon, Resource Director Activity Directors Network

Hi Alexisl Welcome to the site

One year I had purchased several gold coins (chocolate ones) & hide them one at a time around the facility. Then we had a treasure hunt. Clues were written & provided to the residents. Every hour 1 clue was given out & read over the PA System. As they were found the person would bring it to activities & get a prize. Then the coin was hidden again. Let everyone know that one was found and a new set up clues are now being given out. Resident enjoyed the fun & you will notice how they start to interact with each other during this activity.

Hi Vanna For Easter one of the things that I always did was invite the staff & local community to come in & do a Easter Egg Hunt. I would have a bunny for pictures. There would be a few carnival type games set up. Food & drinks were made available -- for sale. Use as many residents as you can to man the booths & help with the sale of the food & drinks. You could also sell tickets for the games. Just be sure to let everyone know that the monies raised would be going towards a big ticket item that residents want. Like maybe a popcorn machine etc.

I was always told that this week is to let the community know about the facility, invite them in. So with that being said this is planned by the entire facility. Each department head plans a event for 1 day. This is paid for by the facility. Not sure what budget pays for this but it is not activities. The events vary from day to day. One might be a garage sale hosted by facility and everyone is invited to set up a table to sell at including the community. The facility (or dept head doing this activity will be responsible for putting it in newspaper, posting signs & flyers, setting up tables, etc.). Another day might be a open house, planned by a different dept head. If this isn't the plans for your facility maybe you should talk to the Admin & PR person about this. Residents can be involved too.

MEPAP 1 & 2 Starts the 1st Tuesday of the Month --------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Great news from Lisa Drew (ME1&2 alumna) Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2019 15:41:27 +0000 (UTC) Dear Kathy-- I finished my MEPAP2 this past November and I'm moved to write and tell you that before I've even had a chance to take my NCCAP exam, I've been offered an amazing job! I will be opening and running the Life Enrichment Department at a new AL & Memory Care facility opening in the Spring here in the Nashville, TN area. It was absolutely a direct result of the work I did and the information and knowledge I got in your two courses that I was able to step up and demonstrate how prepared I was to run a department. I had forms and lists and ideas and plans and even a job summary for hiring an assistant I was able to present on my very first interview. More importantly, finishing the courses gave me a tremendous amount of confidence. Where I am today from where I was a year ago before starting the course is incredible. You gave me what I needed to get the job of my dreams. And even though it's not a regulation that I be an ADC for this position, I am sending in all my paperwork this weekend and will sit for the exam as soon as I can arrange it. Thank you again for the life-changing classes. Please feel free to use this letter as a testimonial for the course if you wish. Sincerely, Lisa ............................................... Subject: Re: Great news from Lisa Drew (ME1&2 alumna) Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2019 16:13:34 -0800 Hello Lisa, Congratulations! I am so proud of you. Let us know how the new job is going!Kathy

The value of what you do …. by M. Celeste Chase, ACC, CDP Activity Directors Network Not everyone is cut out for a career in the healthcare field. Those that pursue this career path come to the educational table with innate characteristics some of which can’t be learned or earned but rather are an intrinsic natural properties within their chemical makeup. Such are the qualities of today’s activity professional. Today’s activity professionals is tasked with undertaking the ability of building a program framework that offers emotional support and cognitive stimulation to an elderly population that may include those individuals that are op-positional, uncommunicative and in overall poor health. Not an easy do . . . . The foundation of the activity professionals’ program development for senior care facilities must incorporate several layers of pursuits that speak to a diverse range of elderly population. The program must appeal to those that remain present in time and able to gravitate towards independent leisure interests to those that are “in their own world” and challenge the activity professional to elicit a response. The “body of knowledge” study topics for these healthcare professionals are in-depth. Curriculum is comprehensive and includes but is not limited to regulations, management/personnel, legal and ethical issues to human development, spirituality, biology, sociology and psychology of the aging and the education links the undeniable connection between clinical and emotional management to improve well being. Published studies continue to substantiate that better emotional health significantly contributes to internal positivity and thus, improves the individuals overall health. The combination of characteristic qualities and educational knowledge are essential ingredients to the success of the activity professional. These professionals effectively devise daily affirmation programs that acknowledge the individuals’ history, family, contributions, and activities of preference for a wide range of ages, needs, interests and cultural diversity and value each individual’s life story. Ultimately healthcare professionals often have great responsibility placed upon their shoulders and the Activity Professional takes this in their stride, never underestimating the importance of the work they do. The measure of value cannot be measured through statistics – but there is no greater reward than the measure of value, gratitude and thankfulness that comes from the families and loved ones served by the Activity Professional. “Activity professionals actively seek to discover diversified ways to create and offer programs that support the unique individuality of our elderly population and the days past in a celebratory way.”

Our Online MEPAP Classes start next Tuesday Aug 7th 2018 We are now enrolling! ActivityDirector.org 1.888.238.0444 Activity Directors in Long Term Care, Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Adult Daycare , Our MEPAP 1 is the most widely accepted Activity Director Training course in the US. Make sure you Activity Staff is qualified before your next Survey, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (cms.gov) State Survey of Senior Care Facilities, Federal Regulation F680-F679, Surveyors Guidelines. Be sure and use our "Military Family Discount" $100 off any Military family Download a Enrollment Packet, fill out the forms, fax it to us. 855-405-5724 Pass it along to your employer for all the details about the class, the topics covered and to assure them they are making the Right Choice. NCCAP Certification . Click HERE for the MEPAP1 Enrollment Packet or Click HERE to have the Enrollment Packet emailed to you. Be sure and use our "Military Family Discount" $100 off any Military family Payment Plans Available Taking a course online is a very interactive way to learn. Not only do you benefit from a professional Activity Director Instructor, you also share the knowledge and networking with your entire class. Our Classroom Lead Instructor Kathy Hughes ADC has over 25yrs of NCCAP Certification experience, as one of the original MEPAP Certification Training Course Authors, Kathy has the know how, the experience and resources to train you and your staff to have a Deficiency Free Career! Class Consultants, Consulting our Students since 2011 - Swing-Bed Consultant, Ruth Martanis - Adult-Day Health Consultant, Celeste Chase ACC CDP - Assisted Living Consultant, Karyn Brinkley ADC CDP CADDCT Once you experience the Online Classroom setting you'll wonder why you didnt try this sooner. The 24/7 Chatroom and the Class Forum are just two of the ways each and every Student can reach out to the entire class to either ask for help, offer some advice or share their particular journey with the class. Our online class lasts 4 months, a 180hr course, 90hrs Class Study/90hrs of Practicum (Fieldwork). Cost is $600- a payment plan is available and if your facility is paying, simply sign our Purchase Order Agreement and begin immediately. Ask about our "Self Paced Course" to help accommodate a busy life..... To Get Started . visit ActivityDirector.org and download the MEPAP 1 Enrollment Packet . fill out the enrollment forms, fax them in and you're ready to go. As A Bonus, Choose any 2 CEU Courses located on the homepage, ActivityDirector.Org , to jumpstart your journey towards "yourname, ADC" Call Activity Directors Network at 1.888.238.0444 for more details. ActivityDirector.org Application Click HERE for the MEPAP1 Enrollment Packet or Click HERE to have the Enrollment Packet emailed to you. Be sure and use our "Military Family Discount" $100 off any Military family Payment plans available

Resident Caregiver HCR ManorCare Inc.- Monroeville, PA 15146 HCR ManorCare provides a range of services, including skilled nursing care, assisted living, post-acute medical and rehabilitation care, hospice care, home health care and rehabilitation therapy. The Resident Caregiver assist residents in all aspects of their daily life as indicated in the resident service plan, including: personal care, food service, housekeeping, laundry, behavior management, socialization, activities, orientation and information needs. This position requires tact, sensitivity, and professionalism due to the constant interaction with residents and families to guarantee their satisfaction. As a Resident Caregiver, you are a member of the Wellness Team, led by the Wellness Director. You and your team are responsible for supporting the organization Mission, values, and achieving its goals. In return for your expertise, you will enjoy excellent training, industry-leading benefits and unlimited opportunities to learn and grow. Be a part of the team leading the nation in healthcare. High School diploma. Must successfully complete the required training. Knowledge and experience in working with elderly required, preferred dementia experience. Job Specific Details: Full-time and Partime shifts available for all shifts Apply Now

Hi. Just an FYI.. One of Members just went through their Survey, he was tagged for not making his careplans more individualize, in particular he did not list the activities, and materials he used for his 1 on 1 visit. Documentation is a picture painted with words. The Assessment should provide a clear representation of who your resident is, by the time you finish anyone finishes reading the Assessment they should know just about everything about the person, and have a good understanding of the person from deduction of the facts. Your careplans and your progress notes should paint the same type of picture. Anyone should be able to pick up your notes and find out if your resident was happy or sad, disappointing or complaining, just from your notes. In the case above the One On One visit could have been followed by your one on one cart offerings i.e. Cards, Music, Message, Writing, Emails or computer time.. Adding his or her reactions ( sigh, smile, eye movement, hand gesters, participation, enjoying , singing, and the outcomes. Share your Survey Visits with the group, who knows you may need a suggestion someday... later Pennie thanks for being a part of our network. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anyone want a Free Adult Coloring Book Perfect for the New Behavioral Health Regs. 18pgs I am Not Defined by My Scars (normally $9.95 reproducable) Post something on our Twitter Page or Our Facebook page (Share with the community about your Activity Director experiences. Surveys, 1on1, Volunteers, Group Activities, Field Trips or any Activity Director Working Place subject. The 5 Posts and the 5 Tweets that get the most likes and comments wins a Free Copy. Contest ends June 7th. I will post the winners. Send your submission link to admin@activitydirector.net, include the link, your name and a email. I will email you if you win If you want to just buy a copy of Adult Coloring Book , send me an email. admin@activitydirector.net

Look at these guys, from the Facility Entertainers Listing for GA One More Time .. a comedy review Their Schedule looks like they will be in your area in May http://www.omtmusic.com/homepage.html Here are some of their comments... "I've been in the business over ten years and this is THE most entertaining show I've seen." Carla Molina, Activities, Commonwealth Senior Living at the West End, Richmond, VA "Your show today was GREAT! So many memories raced through my head -- thank you so much. Y'all come!" Ronnie Beasley, Resident, Veterans Victory House, Walterboro, SC "You two totally exceeded my expectations. You were amazing! You will definitely be coming back." Pam Gossett, Activities Director, Brookdale Lake Wellington, Wichita Falls, TX “We heard nothing but great comments, again. Can’t wait to have you back in March.” Dave Engstrand, Activities, Southern Charm RV Resort, Zephyrhills, FL “The audience loved this … delightful … adorable … great impressions and costumes!” Gwendolyn Walker, Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre, Westminster College of Fine Arts at Rider University "That was amazing!" Lisa Williams, Activities Director, Arbor House, Wichita Falls, TX "I had residents coming up to me afterwards and saying, 'Why didn't you tell me there was gonna be a show show? We're used to [entertainers] just getting up there and singing!" Tomm Wilson, Lifestyle Director, Brookdale Brandon, Brandon, MS

Continuing Education Unit Workshop Why We Do What We Do as an Activity Professional! Saturday June 2, 2018 9:00am – 4:00pm at: Presenter: Victoria Salter M.A., TRS-TXC Cost: 60.00 with lunch provided. RSVP TO: Vicky Salter at vsalter44@gmail.com or call 361-510-1633. For Location please call Christina Petruska at the number listed above. Please RSVP no latter than Wednesday May 30, 2018 Avanti Senior Living at Towne Lake 17808 Lakecrest View Drive Cypress, TX 77433 Main: 832-653-4260

Our Online MEPAP Classes start next Tuesday May 1st Activity Directors in Long Term Care, Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Adult Daycare , Our MEPAP 1 is a State Approved Training course. Approved thru Federal Regulation F679 that governs the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (cms.gov) during their State Survey of Senior Care Facilities with regard to the Activity Director. Download a Enrollment Packet to pass along to your employer Click HERE for the MEPAP1 Enrollment Packet Taking a course online is a very interactive way to learn. Not only do you benefit from a professional Activity Director Instructor, you also share the knowledge and networking with your entire class. Our Classroom Staff , Lead Instructor, Kathy Hughes - Swing-Bed Consultant, Ruth Martanis - Adult-Day Health Consultant, Celeste Chase Once you experience the Online Classroom setting you'll wonder why you didnt try this sooner. The 24/7 Chatroom and the Class Forum are just two of the ways each and every Student can reach out to the entire class to either ask for help, offer some advice or share their particular journey with the class. Our online class lasts 4 months, a 180hr course, 90hrs Class Study/90hrs of Practicum (Fieldwork). Cost is $600- a payment plan is available and if your facility is paying, simply sign our Purchase Order Agreement and begin immediately. To Get Started . visit ActivityDirector.org and download the MEPAP 1 Enrollment Packet . fill out the enrollment forms, fax them in and you're ready to go. Call Activity Directors Network at 1.888.238.0444 for more details. Click HERE for the MEPAP1 Enrollment Packet

The Museum of Juggling History Main menu Home About David Cain – Juggling Shows For Seniors David Cain is a world champion and Guinness World Record holding juggler who has been performing professionally all over the world for over 35 years. He has appeared on television numerous times, including performing on NBC’s Today Show and on ABC’s The Gong Show. He now specializes in performing for senior adults. David presents a very entertaining show that includes juggling, indoor boomerangs, ball spinning, lasso spinning, balancing, Chinese yo-yo, plate spinning, comedy, and many other wonderful elements. David’s program is perfect for: Retirement Communities Nursing Homes Adult Daycare David is based in Middletown, Ohio, just north of Cincinnati, but is available to perform anywhere. Please feel free to contact David Cain at davidcainjuggler@hotmail.com or 513-658-1120 if you have any questions or to book a date to have him come to your library. http://historicaljugglingprops.com/david-cain-library-shows/

California here they come... it's the craziness from SeniorComedyAfternoons.com Bonnie and her bunch have put together a Mothers Day Event like no other.. Mark your Calendars for May 13th 2018 . Get the Bus reserved and make your way to the Palos Verdes Golf Course Vista Ballroom for an afternoon of Funny! Here's a little Sample https://youtu.be/qz0W1HVWU18 Download this Flyer for the Details. Download this Flyer for a Pass Around Flyer to Share.

One of the most frustrating things about growing older and being blind or having low vision is the loss of access to newspapers. Now there is a free service that provides access to newspapers for the blind and print-disabled. It’s called NFB-NEWSLINE and its very easy to use. All that’s needed to use NFB-NEWSLINE is the ability to dial a telephone! To learn more about NFB-NEWSLINE and how to sign up, visit www.nfbnewsline.org, or call (866)504-7300. Or you can email Scott White, Director of NFB-NEWSLINE, at swhite@nfb.org. NFB-NEWSLINE is a free service available to anyone who is blind, has low vision or is print-disabled. It offers over 500 publications to choose from, including fourteen national newspapers like the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and USA Today, twenty-six breaking news sources such as CNN, Fox News, BBC and ESPN Online, seventeen international newspapers including Financial Times and Vancouver Sun, and countless state newspapers, as well as over sixty magazines like Family Circle, Time, Smithsonian, Reader’s Digest and more. NFB-NEWSLINE has today’s news today. Read local state newspapers. Read newspapers from other states you’ve lived in. Read newspapers in states family and friends live in. And it’s convenient – subscribers can read whatever they like, whenever they feel like it. Subscribers choose the newspaper, section and article, and can skip what doesn’t interest them, or reread anything they’d like. All they need to do is just press a few buttons on the phone and find what they like to read, anytime. NFB-NEWSLINE also has TV Listings so subscribers can keep track of favorite shows. Another feature of NFB-NEWSLINE is the localized weather alerts. A person who is blind or has low vision can hear the emergency alert tones on the television but will be unable to read the message scrolling on the screen. NFB-NEWSINE subscribers can simply sign into NFB-NEWSLINE and the weather alert will be read to him or her on the spot. Any available weather alerts will be provided as soon as the subscriber signs into NFB-NEWSLINE. NFB-NEWSLINE’s wide array of publications and announcements can be accessed anytime, on the subscribers’ schedule, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are a variety of ways to access. Subscribers can use their touch-tone telephone; they can access the service via the website, On Demand emails, using portable players like a Victor Reader Stream 2nd Generation or the NLS Talking Book Player, or even via their iPhone, iPad or iPod! And it’s always free. To learn more about NFB-NEWSLINE and how to sign up, visit www.nfbnewsline.org, or call (866)504-7300. Or you can email Scott White, Director of NFB-NEWSLINE, at swhite@nfb.org. Below is a list of magazines popular with our senior subscribers: AARP Magazine AARP Bulletin Consumer Reports Diabetes Forecast Diabetic Living Web MD the Magazine Reader’s Digest Guideposts NARFE Magazine TIME Magazine Lion Magazine Spry Living Stars and Stripes Of course we have now over 60 magazines and more are being added all the time! Here are a few quotes from some of our senior subscribers: Jim in Georgia, “I’m 97 years old and I just think this service is great and you guys are great. I use NFB NEWSLINE to read my local papers and find the information to be current, and best of all, it’s free!!” Ron in Indiana, “One of the things that NFB-NEWSLINE has done for me in my daily life is that it's given me the opportunity to read the daily news again. I am totally blind and I have been now for over 30 years. And it gave me the opportunity to go out and pick up the daily paper and read it like I used to do. Only now, I do it via my telephone. It gave me a good opportunity to keep up with what's going on nationally, locally as well as the sports. I love to read the sports section! NFB-NEWSLINE is a great opportunity, not only for young adult blind, for students in college, but also for seniors. When seniors lose their vision, one of the things they miss most is going out and picking up their daily paper. So now they have an opportunity to read the newspaper again. It changes daily, and they get to read different papers, and they also get to read magazines. I think this gives senior citizens another lease on life when it comes to their own independence. They can sip on their cup of coffee, they can put NFB-NEWSLINE on their home landline, or via their cell phone, and listen to the newspaper every day. I think that's a good thing for senior citizens and all blind people to have, but mostly the senior citizens because they miss reading the paper on a daily basis.” Gus in Florida, “I am 70 years old, a retired manager for a major computer company. This service has provided me not only with a change in the quality of my life, but it has given me the opportunity to keep up to date with different subject matter, that before was very hard for me to be up to date. It’s a great service, not only for me, but I think for every blind who wants to keep him or herself informed. Congratulations and thank you so much. “ Joe in Michigan, “Oh yeah, I love NFB-NEWSLINE! I really enjoy reading the Stars and Stripes. I’m an old blind veteran and never grow tired of checking in on Army matters… I like to read my newspaper too. I always loved getting the care packages from home when I was overseas and finding my hometown newspaper. I really missed that when I lost my sight, but now thanks to you guys, I can have it again. I think I’m really going to like this iPhone mobile app.” To learn more about NFB-NEWSLINE and how to sign up, visit www.nfbnewsline.org, or call (866)504-7300. Or you can email Scott White, Director of NFB-NEWSLINE, at swhite@nfb.org.

One thing I always tried to do was include the staff in all the activities functions.. Craft shows, Halloween contests, secret word, intercom bingo, find the groundhogs contest, employee of the month contest (as per the residents, I tried to get paid time off for the winner, admin went bananas, he gave in a little, it worked out) I would include the staff and families in all food and family get together, We kept forms that allowed the staff to log after hour activities among the residents so they were familiar friends, reminders in the room that helped visiting staff find common topics of discussion. When it came time to hold an In-Service, to ask the entire facility to participate in the care and well being of everyone , especially when activities needed help.. everyone felt they were part family and it wasnt such a battle about job descriptions.. hope this helps..

From Facebook.. Cindy Dahn-Liukkoneny posted on NCCAP.org If you have anything to add to the conversation please chime in. We all would like to hear how the the New Survey Process is impacting everyone... thanks pennie

Jan 22-27, 2018 -- How will you & your staff celebrate this event?