Pennie

Hi Diana, You can celebrate this event in feb. or in oct. Some of you might want to check with the Dietary Manger and see which one they prefer. The places that I have been involved in usually celebrate this in October. Feb. 7th-11th PRIDE IN FOOD SERVICE WEEK An annual event honoring dietary managers and their employees to celebrate the important role they play in institutional food service. Dietary Managers Association http://www.dmaonline.org October NATIONAL HEALTHCARE FOOD SERVICE WEEK (first week) Honors employees who work behind the scenes preparing and serving food in healthcare facilities. Promotional materials are available. American Society for Healthcare Food Service http://jimcolemanltd.com/food/index.php I ma not sure if these websites are still good, should be, if not do a search. P

Hi, I use a form that sounds alot like the one described by Stacy. I made my up 10 or so years ago and it is really easy to use. The top of the form has the res. name, CP goal, a place for the approaches, res. 1:1 day to be visited. I also use these for my In-Room Visits. each res. has their own page. The form is done in columns, working from left to right, the 1st column on the left is a place for date of visit., then next column is what was done during the visit, 3rd column is what was the res. response. The entire page has lines so that you can write as much as needed in any of the columns. Then next time you visit you just start off with that date etc.. It is rare that you fill an entire page up in 30 days but if you do you can write on the back or start a second sheet. You can have the person sign at the end of each documented entry, if you wish. I keep the current month in a binder, in another binder I have 3 months worth. Anything beyond that is filed in the res. file in act. office. You should keep current year of act. records for each res. in your office. After that we send ours to medical records to be filed and kept . If a res. meets his/her goal and you are able to discharge them from 1:1's I write in yellow hi-lighter that res. D/Ced and the date. This must be documented in your activity progress notes & up date the CP if this happens before it is time to assessment them. Write the new plan & goal too. But you didn't ask about all of this did you, what can I say. Hope you can understand the directions :-? P :-)

Hi, Here are some things that you can let the res. make to share with who ever. If you already have something planned save these for another Valentiine's Day project. Smiling Hearts What you'll need: * 2 bags of your favorite Masterfoods USA candies, such as MILKY WAY® Brand Miniatures for Valentine's Day, STARBURST® Brand FRIENDSHIP HEARTS™, MILKY WAY® Brand Milk Chocolate Covered Caramels, SNICKERS® Brand Hearts Singles, and M&M'S® Brand Milk Chocolate Candies FUN SIZE® for Valentine's Day * 1 piece black construction paper or card stock * 2 pieces assorted colors construction paper or card stock * Hole puncher * 2 36-inch pieces thick yarn * Magic marker * Heart-shaped stickers * 2 googly eyes * Colorful feathers * 2 pom poms * 12 inches black fuzzy ribbon * Double-sided tape * Glue * Scissors * 1 piece red construction paper or card stock * Optional decorations, such as beads, ribbons, pipe cleaners, glitter, rhinestones and buttons What to do: 1. Cut four 8-inch hearts (two red hearts and two assorted color hearts) from the construction paper. Pair a red heart with one of the other hearts, and punch out 10 holes along the sides and bottom of the hearts. 2. Tightly lace the yarn through the holes, beginning on one side and ending up with extra yarn at the other side of the heart. Loop the extra yarn over the top of the heart, tying it to the top holes, forming a handle. 3. Decorate the hearts, one girl and one boy. To make the girl: Attach two heart-shaped stickers for the eyes. Then, using a magic marker, draw eyelashes. Using double-sided tape, tape on a yarn smile. Attach colorful feathers to the top. Tape it to the top, with a little tilt. Wrap it with fuzzy ribbon and feathers. Glue on the 2 googly eyes, draw a smile, and add 2 big, puffy pom poms for cheeks. For the boy's hat: Cut the black construction paper into a top hat. 4. Personalize the pouches with any other decorations (like beads, ribbons, glitter) you wish, then fill the pouches with your favorite Masterfoods USA candies. Makes 2 heart pouches. Love Bugs What you'll need: * Assortment of SNICKERS®, MILKY WAY®, TWIX® or 3 MUSKETEERS® Brand Miniatures for Valentine's Day * Sequins * Googly eyes * Small pom poms * Felt * Pipe cleaners * Glitter glue * White glue * Double-sided tape What to do: 1. Decorate SNICKERS®, TWIX®, 3 MUSKETEERS® or MILKY WAY® Brand Miniatures for Valentine's Day with felt, googly eyes and sequins to look like adorable Love Bugs using the steps below. 2. For antennas, glue small pom poms to the end of pipe cleaners and then glue onto a larger pom pom head. 3. Decorate the pom pom faces with colored glitter glue and googly eyes. 4. For the wings, cut out a wing shape out of felt and decorate with glitter glue and sequins. 5. Adhere all of the bug parts to the SNICKERS®, TWIX®, 3 MUSKETEERS® or MILKY WAY® Brand Miniatures for Valentine's Day by using white glue. 6. Adhere double-sided tape to the backside of the adorable Love Bugs and stick on a mirror, refrigerator, napkin ring or a large glass bowl filled with SNICKERS®, TWIX®, 3 MUSKETEERS® or MILKY WAY® Brand Miniatures. Valentine's Dau Guessing Game Who? You! What? This fun family game! Make it and play together. What you'll need: * Your choice of SNICKERS® Brand Miniatures Filled Plastic Hearts, M&M'S® Brand Milk Chocolate Candies Filled Plastic Hearts, or SKITTLES® Brand Bite Size Candies Filled Plastic Hearts (the amount of Plastic Hearts needed depends on the number of players) * 3 sheets colorful construction paper or card stock * Scissors * Felt pen * Double-sided tape * Heart-shaped Valentine's stickers, optional What to do: 1. Using scissors, cut the construction paper into ribbon-style strips, 8-1/2 x 2 inches. 2. Using double-sided tape, tape one strip to the bottom of each Plastic Heart, leaving just enough of the strip showing to write on. 3. Randomly decorate the strips with heart-shaped Valentine's stickers. With a felt pen, write a one-line description describing each member of your family on a strip of paper—have fun with your descriptions! 4. Place the various Plastic Hearts at the center of a table. One at a time, everyone chooses a heart and then tries to guess who is being described!

Cindy, I really love you're teddy bear val. ideal. What a great spin on this day. By crowning the bears instead of the res. I bet their are not as many hurt feelings. Any more special tricks up your sleeve do share please. P

Hi All, I am wondering if anyone knows this -- Is Activity Professionals Week always the same week or is it like a certain week in Jan. etc.. I can't seem to find any info. on this? Thanks for any help P

Hey Stacy, Welcome to the AD World. I worked in Cleburne for years, about 1 hr from Dallas. There was a college in Grapevine that offered AD courses. For seminars etc.. check out NCCAP go to your state & ciy. Look up the instructors in your area & give them a call, also they list meeting/seminars on the site, as we do. So be sure to check these out regularly. I would call some of the other homes in the area & introduce myself to the AD. Ask him/her about any seminars etc.. and ask that they please keep you posted of any they hear about. It would be nice to send them a note thanking them for their time along w/ your business card, just so that they keep you in mind. Maybe have a luch date with them. I always enjoyed meeting w/ other AD's, they understand what we are talking about & the networking is a good thing. You need help with other things, ie., paperwork, activites, calendars, newwsletters etc. lots of great people on the board to help you out ;-) P

Hey Diana, How about Luv Ya Valentine Bingo a craft project they might like Hershey's Kiss Rosebud Favor Lots of Valentine projects can be found here. Have you checked into having carnations to give out? Happy Val Day P

WHAT IS A VETERAN? You can't tell a veteran just by looking. He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating 2 gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel. He is the barroom loud-mouth whose frat-boy behavior is outweighed in the cosmic scales by four hours of unparalleled bravery near the 38th Parallel in Korea. She is the nurse who fought against futility in Da Nang and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years. He is the POW who went away one person and came back another. He is the white-haired old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket, aggravatingly slow, who helped liberate a Nazi death camp. A Veteran is an ordinary and extraordinary human being who offered his life's most vital years in the service of his country. He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known. We will never be able to repay the debt of gratitude we owe. Here's something about one of our greatest veterans. In fact, the most decorated soldier in the history of the United States! Remembering Audie Murphy - Our Country's Most Decorated Hero On this Veteran's Day, it would be appropriate to remember Our Country's Most Decorated Hero, Audie Murphy. Audie Leon Murphy, son of poor Texas sharecroppers, rose to national fame as the most decorated U.S. combat soldier of World War II. Among his 33 awards and decorations was the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest military award for bravery that can be given to any individual in the United States of America, for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." He also received every decoration for valor that his country had to offer, some of them more than once, including 5 decorations by France and Belgium. Credited with either killing over 240 of the enemy while wounding and capturing many others, he became a legend within the 3rd Infantry Division. Beginning his service as an Army Private, Audie quickly rose to the enlisted rank of Staff Sergeant, was given a "battle field" commission as 2nd Lieutenant, was wounded three times, fought in 9 major campaigns across the European Theater, and survived the war. During Murphy's 3 years active service as a combat soldier in World War II, Audie became one of the best fighting combat soldiers of this or any other century. What Audie accomplished during this period is most significant and probably will never be repeated by another soldier, given today's high-tech type of warfare. The U.S. Army has always declared that there will never be another Audie Murphy. After the war, Audie became a successful actor, starring in a number of major films, including "To Hell and Back", the true story of his military career, where he portrayed himself. VETERANS DAY (by Father Denis Edward O'Brien, USMC) It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.

Hi All, I had a request from a member from Iowa, an AD. She was trying to find out how many CEUs were required each year to stay in compliance... anyone have a number or a link where the information might be availabe. thank Pennie :-)

Hi Pat, Discrimination, getting old, rejection .... it all sucks. I didnt read the post where someone said you were bitter... but as you read the posts and the replies from all the members, you begin to feel that ... somehow you know them, their typed words have personality. When I read your posts, I feel that you have a sense of urgency, like there is a burr under your saddle that you wont remove, that you wont free yourself from. We are all growing older, none of us can figure out where the time went, we lost something extremely important and we must get it back... but the truth is we havent lost anything we actually gained a few things. Embrace your age, dont fight it, there is a place for you, someplace that will accept you for who you are. You are out there fighting for you place, you're not sitting in a sea of pitty, youve got gumption, spirit ... youre inteligent .... if you think your age is keeping you from getting certain jobs, choose you where you apply better, laugh in the face of adversity. A one armed man doesnt apply to be a typist, unless he wants an uphill battle. We are proud to have you as a member! Pennie....

Hi, Since Nat'l Volunteer Week is such a big event, it's in April, I know alot of us need to start now to get ready for it. The theme for 2005 is Inspire by Example. The PROMOTIONAL TOOLKIT has the logo and more. Future dates for National Volunteer Week: 2005 – April 17 to 23 2006 – April 23 to 29 2007 – April 15 to 21 2008 – April 27 to May 3 2009 – April 19 to 25 2010 – April 18 to 24

Hi Diana, Sorry about the mix-up. I was trying to do to many things at one time :-o I have reworded it. Hopefully it will make more sense now. On the Veternas info. It could be done then or any number of the dates listed. The reason I put Nat'l Nursing Home Wk is that it could be a good PR Tool for one of the days celebrated during that week. Go to the web link & they explain it much better. Let me know if it is still confusing, please. P

Hey, I guess alot of us have been in your shoes before & it is not plesant :-? I did as StacyO did. Every month I allowed time for, prior to me doing the calendar & newsletter, for us to go over & plan the following months calendar. Be sure to allow time on the calendar for you & you're staff to hold this monthly meeting. Also have you had a In-Service with your staff? This should also be done bring the Regs. with you & discuss them as well as the things you observe that they are doing wrong. You should also discuss this w/ your boss, the Administrator. The last thing to do, which I did do, it is you're dept. you are responsibe for it & all that goes on in it. So you should/probably have the responsiblity of hiring & firing. This means that you also have the responsiblity of determining their salary raisers & how much. Usually before you can fire someone you write them up & these are filed in their employee records: the first warning is verbal- This written on the apprioate form & sigend by both of you as are all of these write ups, if this fails then you go to Step 2 of the write up. If they get get written up 3 times then they get fired! Check with the Administrator or look in the companies policy & procedures manual for these forms & how they handle these problems. You hate to go to these measures but either State will come in & you get have to accept the responsibility or you just get to the point that you are just tired of fighting them & want them out! I reached the later first :cry: P

Hi All, Here are some things I thought I'd pass along to everyone. Share with the administrator: Evaluate the area where your staff takes a break. Is it a lounge or lunchroom? Is it a comfortable place to relax? Offer diversions such as books, magazines, comics, videos that are NOT long-term care related. Encourage employees to make decoration suggestions. These next two could be done by activities or dietary: Hold a contest to determine the best overall meal of the week, the best breakfast, lunch and dinner, the best entree, best salad, etc. Post the results and repeat the contest periodically. Initiate a Menu Committee and invite residents to participate. (I would do this with the Dietary Manger or let them do this themselves) Below be sure to check out this website, it has a really neat way to share you're Veteran's stories. This day can also be celebrated on Nat'l Nursing Home Week as well as a bunch of others. Check out all of the possible days to celebrate the veterans in your home, located at the end of this posting. ** The reason that I have Nat'l Nursing Home Wk is that it is a good PR Tool. When you go to the link they eill explain how. One activity that lends itself well to our theme of reflection is the Veterans History Project organized by The National Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. This projects aims to preserve the memories of our veterans from World War II. The project is collecting and preserving war-time memories and memorabilia of veterans and those whose supported their efforts. Collecting stories from nursing home residents is an excellent activity for National Nursing Home week and one residents and future generations benefit from. Vivid as if they happened yesterday, these heartfelt accounts make us laugh, cry and remember. The stories are not a formal history of war, but a treasure trove of individual feeling and personal recollections. Through stories, we can form a personal connection with the storyteller and begin to truly know and understand the human experience. Our primary focus is on first-hand accounts of U.S. Veterans from the following 20th Century wars: World War I (1914-1920) World War II (1939-1946) Korean War (1950-1955) Vietnam War (1961-1975) Persian Gulf War (1990-1995) In addition, those U.S. citizen civilians who Days to recognize: Feb 4 USO Birthday Founded on February 4, 1941, the USO was a collaborative effort of the Salvation Army, the YMCA, the YWCA, the National Jewish Welfare Board, and the National Catholic Community Service to provide recreation for on-leave members of the U.S. armed forces and their families. May National Military Appreciation Month Designated by Congress in 1999, the month is set aside to honor our military and acknowledge its history. 7 Military Spouse Day A day to honor military spouses for the support they give to their own and to other military families, to honor their contributions to their communities, and to acknowledge the sacrifices they make in support of their country. It was first observed in 1984. 8 V-E Day The anniversary of the German unconditional surrender in 1945, ending World War II in Europe. starts on Mother's Day National Nursing Home Week An annual event since 1967, the observance was created to focus attention on America's elderly population as well as the contributions of their caregivers. 15 Armed Forces Day In existence since 1947, this is a day of combined celebration and honor for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. 22 National Maritime Day The U.S. Congress approved in 1933 this annual day of tribute to the U.S. Merchant Marine. 24 The Day of Honor Established by joint resolution of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on May 23, 2000, the date is designated to honor the service of African-Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans in World War II. 27 - 30 World War II Reunion, Washington, D.C.One of the events coinciding with the dedication of the World War II Memorial will be the "Tribute to a Generation: National World War II Reunion," produced by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, in partnership with the American Battle Monuments Commission, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. 29 World War II Memorial Dedication, Washington, D.C.The Memorial will be dedicated in Washington, D.C. in a formal ceremony on the National Mall. The purpose of the Memorial is "to honor all military veterans of the war, the citizens on the home front, the nation at large, and the high moral purpose and idealism that motivated the nation's call to arms." 31 Memorial Day, Observed Originally titled Decoration Day, this annual observance dates back to May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery by the Grand Army of the Republic. June 6 D-Day Anniversary The anniversary of the World War II Allied invasion of Europe, 1944. 14 Flag Day The anniversary of the 1777 adoption by the Continental Congress of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States. 14 U.S. Army Birthday The Air Corps became the aviation branch of the U.S. Army in 1926. 27 National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day The anniversary of the 1953 signing of the armistice that ended the three-year Korean War. August 4 U.S. Coast Guard Birthday The forerunner of the service, the Revenue Cutter Service, was established on this date in 1790. 7 Purple Heart Day A day to remember and recognize Purple Heart recipients--members of the Armed services who have been wounded or killed, died as a result of a wound in battle, or otherwise designated by the President of the United States. Gen. George Washington first awarded this medal on August 7, 1782, as the Badge of Military Merit. 14 V-J Day Anniversary of the 1945 informal surrender of Japan, effectively ending World War II. September 17 National POW/MIA Recognition Day The date is observed to honor America's POW/MIAs who have returned or are missing and unaccounted for from our nation's wars. 18 U.S. Air Force Birthday The Air Force was established as a separate armed service on this date in 1947 by President Harry Truman. 26 Gold Star Mothers' Day Established by Presidential proclamation in 1936, the day is observed in tribute to American mothers of sons or daughters who died in service to their country. October 13 U.S. Navy Birthday The Continental Navy was established on October 13, 1775. Since 1972, this anniversary is observed as an internal activity for members of the active forces and reserves, as well as retirees and dependents in order to enhance a greater appreciation of Navy heritage. 27 Navy Day First observed in 1922, Navy Day is sponsored by the Navy League to give recognition to the naval service. November 10 U.S. Marine Corps Birthday The service was established as the Continental Marines by the Continental Congress on this date in 1775. 11 Veterans Day This observance, originally known as Armistice Day, became a national holiday in 1938 to commemorate the anniversary of the end of World War I. Renamed Veterans Day in 1954, it now honors the service and sacrifices of all U.S. veterans. December 7 National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Anniversary of the December 7, 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor. 13 National Guard Birthday The service was established on this date in 1636 in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Hi, It so funny that you posted this today. I was also going to post this up today. It is a possible way for Staff, Residents & Families to deal with the loss of a resident. These are suggestions from Ass't Living Adminnistrators. When a resident passes: When a resident passes and they are removed from their room, the bed is made and an angel is placed on the bed as a remembrance of the resident. This will usually remain in place for a day. We also have memorial services for residents that allow the family to attend as well as the staff. Timothy Hager, Elim - A Caring Community When a resident dies, leave white linens on the bed with a red rose and card that says "In memory of (name)." It will help staff and residents adjust. After a resident dies, a chaplain will have a brief bedside service with the family and any staff that are available to attend. This is usually a short scripture reading a time of sharing if staff and family wish and a brief prayer. Timothy Hager, Elim - A Caring Community When a resident is very ill and expected not to live, we have a special angel decoration we place near the door of the resident's room. This alerts staff to give special care to the family - offer meals, coffee, cookies, etc. Our chaplaincy team is in charge of this. Timoth Hager - Elim, A Caring Community We have a ante room outside our dining room. When a resident passes away, we will place a framed announcement of their passing next to a bouquet of flowers. Residents coming into the Dining Room will know that a resident has passeed. This idea came from our Resident Council. Pam Meriam - Nantucket When a resident passes away, we leave a rose with a ribbon on the bed for as long as possible. This allows the residents, staff and family to have a place to focus for prayers, meditation. Pam Meriam - Nantucket

Hi Have a night time act. or weekend one. A hot dog & music, Western Dance, Valentiine Dance etc. Again this is only going to get them there for that event but if you get them in & make it fun as well as maybe give a shorth speech about how much you & the res. really miss having them involved & this nite (or whatever) is really specail to them. Also put something in your newsletter. Offer suggestions of things that they can do while visiting their loved one. Gave a secert pal week with staff picking a res. this is a big one at the facility I worked at. Have competions between the units/halls on decorating. You could have a contest between the CNA's & Staff , res. get to watch. Have the nurses one from each hall make a bed w/ the CNA in it. W/C contest these along these lines. Even have a contest w/ balloons where they have to run to a chair sit on it & pop it. Relay type games. Have a pizza party for the staff or unit that brings most res. to an act over a week period. You can also do this as ind. contest between the aides. You will soon learn the ones who really believe in acts. Befriend them this will be a lasting relationship. I always let staff have cake or things from parties after the res. have been served. This get them to come see the act. status & food. Once you get them coming & trying to gt them involved in fun little ways it should improve. You need to be sure & do little things for them for no reason & offer to help them by answering a call light, when you see a CNA is busy & and another res is being diffcult offer to or just do it step in & help. This may show them you don't think you are any better or different than them & it will go along ways in them helping you out. hope this will get you going in the right direction. P

Hi , There is a listing in the message board about the Red Hat Society its at http://activitydirector.net/modules/ipboar...ct=ST&f=6&t=531 One of our members has a good Red Hat Society set up at her facility, (pm) gina, I did a search on the board for Red Hat and it came up with several posts, to use your Private Messager, click on inbox on you user menu, then click on compose, enter the members name , write them a message and check your inbox for messages each time you log in... thanks, Pennie :-)

Hi Terrie, I think that the downloads have all been fixed! Give em a try, If anyone is using PrintMaster for their calendars, than please checkout Ginas Listings in the download areas, she has some very good examples of Monthly Activity Calendars. let me know, Pennie :-)

Hi, Here is the download for the Activity Participation Calendar, They are in Print Master Format. There are 2 Calendars.. One is the monthly Calendar, the other is the same monthly calendar but with a participation header. http://activitydirector.net/modules/mydown...php?cid=2&lid=9 have fun! Pennie :-)

A distance relative sent me this. I really enjoyed it thought some of you & maybe some of your res. will too. Remember This? The following were some comments made in the year 1957: (1) "I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, its going to be impossible to buy a weeks groceries for $20.00." (2) "Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long when $5,000 will only buy a used one." (3) "If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous." (4) "Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter?" (5) "If they raise the minimum wage to $1, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store." (6) "When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage," (7) "Kids today are impossible. Those ducktail hair cuts make it impossible to stay groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as long as the girls," (8) "I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying damn in "Gone With The Wind", it seems every new movie has either hell or damn in it." (9) "I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas." (10) "Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday that they will be making more than the President." (11) "I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now" (12) "It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet." (13) "It won't be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work." (14) "I'm just afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business." (15) "Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes.. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to Congress." (16) "The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on." (17) "I guess taking a vacation is out of the question now days. It costs nearly $15.00 a night to stay in a hotel" (18) "No one can afford to be sick any more, $35.00 a day in the hospital is too rich for my blood."

This was in my email, another activity done by Audra. I really like this one and can see res. and staff getting involved with it. I bet more res. start eating in the dining room & your 1:1's could be cut down. Grat act. Audra "Audra" <gingerbee33@yahoo.com> Lunch Room Bingo. This is a simple bingo game played before a meal. All tables in the dining room have bingo cards. Each table of four has the same card, with each person seated at the table having the same card. We encourage all people at the same table to play and help one another. The first table to bingo wins a treat. All at that table get a reward. End of game! It generally takes about 15 minutes for a table to bingo. It is a perfect game before a meal. It is quick and easy. We Xerox bingo cards and use golf pencils for markers, so clean up is simple. We always get individuals to play along that otherwise would not have joined us in the activities room for a game. Sometimes residents will, after having played a game or two with us in the dining room, venture over to the activities room to check things out too. Audra

This was in my email. It is an act. done by Audra, the AD who does this activity with her res. It sounds like a winner. "Audra" <gingerbee33@yahoo.com> Morning Greetings. We greet residents and distribute activity/menu sheets, newspaper subscriptions in the morning before breakfast. The activity /menu sheets are simply the days activities and the days menu typed on an 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper, front and back. The activities are highlighted on one side and the menu of the day on the other. I use Printmaster to make the sheets. I also will add a note to the bottom of the activities sheet if one of the residents has a birthday that day, sometimes I also add a Did You Know? section and focus on one resident right. The residents I work with look forward to the activity/menu sheets daily. It is written in large print,, Xerox on colored paper and has a nice picture on it appropriate for the day. Also, the sheet can be thrown away once the day is complete, for a new one awaits them tomorrow.

This came in my email and it sounds like Bunny, the AD who posted it has a great party plan here. Source: "Bunny" <bunnyhopping@yahoo.com> Under the Sea Party I have served seafoam salad ( lime jello with pears and cream cheese) blue jello with gummy fish, goldfish crackers, sardine pate on crackers, salmon with cream cheese and dill molded in a fish shape and served on crackers. ( NOT ALL AT THE SAME PARTY THO!) Fun things to taste are seaweed ( comes in salted sheets at oriental supply stores), pickled herring, sardines, (there are many kinds of sardines) shrimp crisps or crackers ( oriental supply again!) Centerpieces vary from a pile of sand on a plate with shells and a candle, to a small fishbowl with a goldfish in it ( feeder goldfish are 10 for a dollar at a pet store, they are a good size, and brightly colored!) A fun favor is a large half shell with a small bar of soap and a sponge on it wrapped in nylon net and tied with a ribbon. You could also put a few swedish fish ( candy) on it and tie it up. Kitchen stores sell these large shells if you do not have any. Another favor, is chocolate in the shape of shells. You can buy it this way, but if you buy a shell mold and mold it your self, it is cheaper, and the residents might enjoy watching you make it even if they are unable to help. Your kitchen could bake some fish shaped sugar cookies, and iced and individually wrapped, they would make nice favors. A fun inexpensive craft is to use sea sponges to sponge paint on colored paper, and then cut large fish from it to add to your decorations. You can even sponge paint the unprinted sides of paper bags, cut fish out of these, and join with glue two together with some crushed newspaper between them for dimensional decor. Seashell Match is a good game, trying to dig up matching shells from a bin of sand. Another match game can be played with pictures of underwater creatures. Dover makes a great book of underwater life. I think Oriental Trading sells a blow up Octopus that you can throw rings onto the arms of ( cute and not too expensive) Some kind of a tossing game is fun, maybe "pearls" into an "Oyster", or small fish into the "mouth" of a larger one. Bean bags are easily and cheaply made for these kinds of games. Good luck with your party! Bunny

Hi Brennatori, Below is what I think you are asking about. Sep 11th-17th NATIONAL ASSISTED LIVING WEEK Sponsored by the National Center For Assisted Living, this week begins annually with Grandparents Day. National Assisted Living Week commemorates the staff and customers of our nation’s assisted living residences. National Center For Assisted Living, Attn: Amy Waye, National Assisted Living Week, 1201 L St. NW, Washington, DC 20005. (202) 898-6301 Nat'l AL Week If you go to the message board, Open Discussion, (same area hat you posted your question) back a few questions may be on the 2nd page, look for Special Rec. Days, or something close to that. You can find lots more days to clelbrate with links to help you plan the events. P

Hey All, I just wanted everyone to know the messages posted by the CNA I have deleted off. Since s/he would not register but signed in as guest goes to show that s/he is probably a very unhappy person on the job & probably in their home life. We have all gone to the break room or outside to have a cig. & there is someone mouthing off, trying to stir up stuff, petty things. Most people don't enjoy hearing this constant complaing it just makes for misable day & work enviroment. These negative vibes are felt by others, staff, family members, residents etc. It makes the facility look bad. I have very little time or patience for people like this. I know that just about all of us work as a team & respect each other no matter their postion. So now AD's let carry on with the orignal topic here of money, money, money ;-) P