Pennie

Dealing With Elderly Anger Outbursts & Hostility As healthcare professionals many of us if not all has encountered a resident that is not having a good day. It is not all that unexpected however, in our line of work to experience outbursts and hostility mood swings. They may result from dissatisfaction, poor health, stress, pain, and a loss of dignity can easily lead to surprising and potentially harmful behaviors cause undue emotional hardships on both staff and residents alike. These scenarios are emotionally stressful for all parties and may need a considerable amount of energy, patience and empathy, to redirect. Research studies report that “mood disorders are frequent in old age and their prevalence is increasing with population aging.” https://companionsforseniors.com/2019/04/mood-swings-elderly-seniors/#:~:text=Another%20prominent%20research%20study%20notes,therapy%2C%20or%20a%20medication%20regimen Getting older can magnify our unique character traits, often in undesirable ways. Someone who was crabby in their younger years may be prone to full-on bouts of range in the aging years. Unfortunately, fellow residents and our professional staff members often are the target of these outbursts, and although in many cases it may seem at times as though there was no apparent clinical “trigger” such as a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or prolonged chronic pain that may be attributed to the root cause; these behaviors are non-the-less and often enough, the most challenging to overcome. Know Your Resident That said, there are tried and true strategies and techniques that you will need to master to turn around a bad day into a pleasant (uneventful) good day. Below you can learn about several well described options that offer alternatives to reduce the tension and redirect even the most “crankiest of crannies” and help preserve your own mental wellbeing in the process. Simply stated, one of the most effective “tried and true” strategies is to know your resident. A thorough and comprehensive understanding of the elements that have potential to trigger your resident long before it leads down that unwanted behavior rabbit hole will always save the day. Clearly, this is not going to happen as quickly as one would hope for but with consistent observation/evaluation and comprehensive documentation such as Behavior Logs, will greatly identify the root cause of the problem be implemented in the resident Care Plan as Behavioral Interventions. Most importantly, be mindful to ensure that every staff member (all shifts and disciplines) are aware of these triggers. Communication and consistent unilateral Interdisciplinary staff support are major factors to this success story. Note that is can take up to “TWO” weeks for a resident to give up unwanted behavior because the behavior has become a coping pattern and is all the resident knows to find comfort. How to Handle Elderly Anger Outbursts The first step to dealing with these problems is to understand that these negative emotions are not personal. Pain and disease has an undeniably strong potential to cause very inappropriate behavior. The best strategy when dealing with difficult elders has a great deal to do with (Four C’s) - communication, clarity, consistency and compassion. Be mindful that optimum communication breakdowns between staff and resident may be further compounded by receptive and expressive resident impairments. Be consistent, repetition will enforce the concept of desired change. Cursing and Abusive Language Verbal abuse and harsh language can be an even more complicated story. Profanities that are “out-of-character” are often the result of Alzheimer’s disease, which can make it particularly difficult to manage. While there’s no cure for some conditions that present cursing and abusive language, mitigating the behavior can often be achieved by using distractions in the form of redirection. For example, divert your residents swearing bout by introducing another scenario that you are certain will be well received as more desirable and enticing by your resident. Example: “Mary I need your help today to make your favorite dessert – let’s go to the kitchen to get the ingredients ready.” Paranoia and Hallucinations Residents may believe that others want to cause them personal harm. In some instances the clinical team has already noted that the resident suffers from paranoia or hallucinations or another disorder that is a known root cause. It is not uncommon for paranoid behavior to be associated with a diagnosed disease such as Alzheimer’s disease but there are other illnesses that will also lead to paranoia. In these cases, the best solution to the problem of paranoid behavior is to try and use relaxation and validation techniques. Additionally, this may need to be combined with medication management. You generally won’t be able to convince someone what they’re experiencing is unreal, and doing so may increase the residents’ frustration or anger. Note that it is reasonable to go along with the residents’ allusion when the experience in of itself is clearly pleasant and does not have the potential to cause harm to self or others. Attentive patience and consistent caring oversight has everything to do with your residents’ success story and yours. “Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” -Walter Elliot https://www.agingcare.com/articles/how-to-handle-an-elderly-parents-bad-behavior-138673.htm https://www.griswoldhomecare.com/blog/2015/july/dealing-with-elderly-anger-outbursts-hostility/ Have a topic request or question for Celeste? Send them over to celestechase@activitydirector.org 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 © 2022 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2810 US HWY 190 W Ste 100-A9 Livingston, Texas 77351

View this email in your browser Dehydration and the Elderly A widespread blanket of increasing rising temperatures is expanding across much of the country. . . . And of course, hot weather always increases the risk of dehydration. Older aging populations are vulnerable to climate change-related health impacts for a number of reasons. The body’s normal aging process causes the body’s systems mechanisms that are meant to protect us from dehydration work less efficiently as we age. The elderly population does not have the same internal thirst signals with age progression and consequently do not take action to reach out for that much needed liquid consumption. Experts generally recommend that older adults consume at least 57.5 fluid ounces or 7.1 cups within a 24 hour period. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12603-009-0023-z NOTE: Elderly people should not be encouraged to consume large amounts of fluids at once but rather small amounts throughout the day. Factors that put older adults at risk for dehydration include (includes but not limited to): Chronic problems with urinary continence, which can make older adults reluctant to drink a lot of fluids. Memory problems, which can cause older adults to forget to drink often or forget to ask others for something to drink - even mild dehydration, can cause noticeable worsening in confusion or thinking skills. Mobility problems associated with aging, such as muscle and bone loss, which can make it harder for older adults to get something to drink. Older adults are more likely to be taking medications that increase the risk of dehydration, such as diuretic medications, which are often prescribed to treat high blood pressure or heart failure. Dehydration can also be brought on by an acute illness. Older adults are also more likely to have a chronic health condition, such as diabetes, that requires medications for treatment. Vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and infection are all problems that can cause people to lose a lot of fluid and become dehydrated. Dehydration also often causes the kidneys to work less well, and in severe cases may even cause acute kidney failure. Additionally, chronic mild dehydration may further exacerbate constipation problems. Physical signs of dehydration may include: high heart rate (usually over 100 beats per minute) low systolic blood pressure dizziness dry mouth and/or dry skin in the armpit less frequent urination dark-colored urine weakness delirium (new or worse-than-usual confusion) sunken eyes Caffeine and Dehydration Coffee or Tea please! We all know only too well how important it is for our seniors to enjoy a nice cup of coffee or tea while gathering in morning socials to shake off those morning cobwebs and get ready for the day’s events. Is there any other way to start the day? Technically caffeine is considered a weak diuretic. By definition, a diuretic is a product that increases the body’s production of urine. Hence water, or any drink consumed in large volumes, is a diuretic. It should be noted that urinating more does not inevitably lead to dehydration (excessive loss of body water). http://theconversation.com/health-check-does-caffeine-cause-dehydration-73965 Current studies suggest that caffeinated coffee or tea is not proven to be particularly dehydrating in people who drink them regularly. Caffeine, however, may worsen overactive bladder symptoms, so there may be other reasons to be careful about fluids containing caffeine for our senior population. Feel free to offer decaffeinated drinks but if an older person particularly loves her/his morning cup of (caffeinated) coffee, there is no reason why they cannot partake unless it is physician ordered to avoid such liquids. Help Them Stay Hydrated Here are some reasonable approaches to help your seniors remain hydrated during current rising temperatures: Identify continence issues that may make the older person reluctant to drink. Consider a toileting schedule, which means helping the older person get to the bathroom on a regular schedule. This can be very helpful for people with memory problems or mobility difficulties. Offer fluids in small amounts throughout the day; consider doing so on a schedule. Ensuring the appeal of the beverages you offer – they will drink more if they enjoy it. Determine if your senior prefers drinking through a straw. Enlist interdisciplinary staff in your efforts. Track in a journal how much the person is drinking; be sure to note when you try something new to improve fluid intake. Offer more fluids when the senior is ill (seek nursing oversight). Reducing Swallowing Problems by Making Liquids Thicker While you focus on actions to prevent dehydration issues be mindful of anyone with a swallowing disorder, often experienced in the elderly. Normal aging causes reduced muscle tone in the pharynx and esophagus and other changes that affect swallowing. Thickened drinks are normal drinks that have a thickener added to make them thicker. They are often recommended for people who can no longer swallow normal fluids safely, because normal drinks go into their lungs, causing coughing, choking or more serious risks such as chest infections and aspiration pneumonia (seek nursing oversight). More Ways to Keep Seniors Cool in Hot Weather Offer cooling snacks, like popsicles (use cupcake liner to catch drips). Place a cool washcloth on the back of the neck and a pan of cool water close by to periodically re-cool the towel. Meals should be cold like chicken or pasta salad instead of heavy hot dishes like pot roast. Encourage clothing that is lightweight and in light colored cotton so it’s easy to adjust to the temperature throughout the day by removing layers of clothing. https://dailycaring.com/10-tips-to-keep-seniors-cool-in-hot-weather/ Calendar Programs Older people can have a tough time dealing with heat and humidity. The temperature inside or outside does not have to reach 100°F (38°C) to put them at risk for a heat-related illness. Be mindful of the temperatures when planning programs. Restrict your events to locations that offer cool environments. For outings (when applicable), seek senior-friendly places that offer air conditioning (restaurants, shopping malls or stores, public library, art museums, movie theaters). Senior exercise programs may need to be shortened in duration and restricted to easy and simple range of motion programs to prevent over- exhaustion. Do not forget the hydrating liquids! Stay Cool! Have a topic request or question for Celeste? Send them over to celestechase@activitydirector.org This course takes you through the Activity Departments required documentation process from the Baseline Care Plan through the final creation of the Comprehensive Care Plan. Particularly focus is tailored to the individuality of the resident and that care plans are in no way intended to be “cookie cutter” care plans. An appropriate and useful care plan begins with an effective and complete individualized assessment. When designing a care plan for each resident the professional must ensure that multiple sources within the Interdisciplinary Team assessments are considered to address the resident’s specific needs. The care plan you write must address these issues. The care plan is a representation of the accumulation of the facility’s assessment process. It is the final compilation of the individual resident’s problems, needs, and strengths. The care plan definitively scopes the resident’s care treatment process, describing conditions to be treated, expected outcomes, and the specific customized care services to be rendered. This course is intended to help you to become more proficient and savvy when it comes to realistic and relevant care plan development. Workshop Objectives: Understand care plan relevance relating to resident treatment Learn how care plans have evolved historically Understand the development process leading to the care plan creation Understand how to implement SMART care plan goals Utilizing IDT assessment tools data for care planning Understanding resident rights in care planning participation Recognize the progress notes and care plan relationship Recognize the initial assessment and monthly calendar relationship Revising the care plan – why or why not Merging care plans – consolidate IDT members contributions When to use short term care plans Understand Rehabilitation care plans Workshop Content: Care Plan Overview – What is this document? The History of Care Plan Development Understanding SMART Goals The Process – Baseline Care Plan to Comprehensive Care Planning Reporting Timeliness Common Care Plan Mistakes Care Plan Examples General Documentation Principles Documentation Corrections About Your Instructor Celeste was involved in the startup of a medical adult day center in the role of Activity Director and worked closely with the Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts Chapter during to develop program modules to serve the Alzheimer’s diagnosed participants. She was exclusively instrumental in the successfully implementation of the center’s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP); working with the state to create the centers reporting structure and standards for compliance to state specified regulations. Celeste was recognized for her business development contributions and was became the Centers’ Program Director. Celeste has served as consultant and “Guest Instructor” for Activity Directors Network since 2011- supporting the student educational experience in pursuit of Activity Director Certification. She is currently lead instructor for Activity Directors Network and author of the National Activity Professional Training Course (NAPT). Celeste continues to support educational opportunities as the author of The Activity Consultant’s Help Desk since its inception in 2018. This Activity Directors Network newsletter reaches a readership with interest in further developing of their professional knowledge base as senior care industry professionals. She has also written Continuing Education (CEU) courses and has authored the “Behavioral Health Programming Guide for Skilled Nursing Facilities”. 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 © 2020 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351

New Mandated Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) PDPM is one of the initiatives resulting from the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (the IMPACT Act). In July 2018, CMS finalized a new case-mix classification model, the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) which is the proposed new Medicare payment rule for skilled nursing facilities. This model is intended to replace the current Resource Utilization Group (RUG-IV) system with a completely new way of calculating reimbursement and is slated to go into effect beginning October 1, 2019. Under PDPM, therapy minutes are removed as the basis for payment in favor of resident classifications and anticipated resource needs during the course of a resident’s stay. PDPM assigns every resident a case-mix classification that drives the daily reimbursement rate for that individual. The currently utilized Resource Utilization Group, Version IV (RUG-IV) billing will end on September 30, 2019. PDPM will be a significant shift in how SNFs are paid, and facilities need to start preparing for the change. PDPM: Removes therapy minutes as a determinant of payment and creates a new model where payment is linked to differences in clinical characteristics. Creates a separate payment component for Non-Therapy Ancillaries (NTA), using resident characteristics to predict utilization of these services Focuses on clinically relevant factors and ICD-10 diagnosis codes to determine payment The implementation of PDPM will be one more step towards moving reimbursement for care from volume to value. As payment shifts from therapy focus to clinical characteristics focus, there will need to be more detailed documentation to support the medical condition. Under currently utilized RUGs, there are approximately 20 items on the MDS which impact reimbursement. Under PDPM, there will be approximately 160 items which impact reimbursement. MDS Implications - Patients over Paperwork PDPM emphasizes patients over paperwork, as it eliminates the current (MDS) schedule. MDS assessments will be more streamlined under the PDPM model. Only two required assessments: the five-day assessment and the discharge assessment. The five-day assessment must be completed between: Days one and eight and will be effective for the entire length of stay unless an optional assessment is performed. Each facility may need to revise the systems currently in place to make sure that the information critical to reimbursement is recorded accurately on the five-day assessment. Missing an item on the five-day MDS will impact reimbursement for the entire resident stay. Note: Current 14-day, 30-day, 60-day and 90-day assessments will be discontinued. Discharge assessments will not impact reimbursement―however; this is where therapy notes will be reported. If a resident leaves the facility and is away from the facility for less than three days, then the stay is considered the same admission. If the resident is away for more than three days, the admission is considered a new admission, and the Non-Therapy Ancillaries (NTAs) and therapy payments are returned to day one payment. HINT: NTA’s are a long list of diagnostic categories and clinical support services needed to care for those patients that may be more medically complex or demonstrate a higher acuity. NTA’s are calculated, upon admission, by assessing a patient’s clinical profile. Facilities will have the option to perform an Interim Payment Assessment (IPA) should the resident’s clinical characteristics change. This assessment must be completed within 14 days of the change in characteristics and can affect reimbursement. This assessment is similar to a significant change and will only be used as such. Under PDPM, cognitive testing will become more important. Specifically, the Brief Instrument for Mental Status, or (BIMs) which is completed in order to satisfy Section C: Cognitive Patterns on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) to effectively guide care planning for residents with confusion or a cognitive impairment. Knowing whether a resident has a mild-to-severe cognitive impairment will truly impact: Care planning and the interdisciplinary team’s approach, and SNF revenue – by increasing the Case Mix Index related to the SLP component under PDPM. NOTE: A cognitive impairment requires more resources; thus it will pay more in the new system. The MDS has been an important tool in driving resident care over that last 30 years, and continues to be relied upon for quality data but it has primarily been utilized as an assessment tool to drive the plan of care with little impact to reimbursement. However, with the implementation of PDPM and the shift from therapy-driven reimbursement to clinical characteristics as the basis for reimbursement; the MDS will become vital data to obtaining proper reimbursement. The Activity Department The elimination of 14-day, 30-day, 60-day and 90-day assessments will alleviate some documentation stress and allow all interdisciplinary departments to spend more quality time in resident interactions. However, with this change, the Activity Department will need to spend more time on the daily documentation process. The daily progress notes need to more clearly detail how the resident pursues activity interests and their level of engagement. Surveyors will be looking for more details in this new process, especially with one-to-one documentation. The new PDPM revised reporting is said to fit into a broader push by CMS toward “patient-centered” reimbursement models that more accurately measures and matches payment rates to the residents’ needs. Remember, it is critical for services to be driven by patient need, not administrative or payer mandates. The Nursing Department Under the soon-to-be retired Resource Utilization Group (RUG) system, therapists often dictated a resident’s overall care plan, as their services formed the backbone of Medicare reimbursements. But with therapy no longer driving the reimbursement narrative, nurses will once again return to clinical characteristics of the resident’s individual needs. Nurses may also become individual facilities’ point people for handling the new reimbursement paperwork burdens. Accurately recording residents’ diagnoses and specific medical issues will be vital to receiving the proper compensation for the services — and while experts are split over the exact coding expertise needed to get the job done — front-line nurses and Minimum Data Set (MDS) coordinators will need to be perfect when performing initial assessments. Summary In short, therapy hours will no longer drive reimbursements. Providers will receive Medicare payments based on their patients’ care needs, bringing the focus back on individual residents and away from meeting volume benchmarks. The same story is playing out across the industry to realign incentives around patient characteristics rather than running up the tab on the volume and intensity of services. Resources: https://skillednursingnews.com/2019/03/pdpm-101-what-skilled-nursing-providers-need-to-know-now/ https://avalere.com/insights/strategic-imperatives-for-skilled-nursing-facilities-preparing-for-new-payment-system https://www.ahcancal.org/facility_operations/medicare/Pages/PDPM-Resource-Center.aspx https://electronichealthreporter.com/what-is-the-patient-driven-payment-model-how-skilled-nursing-providers-can-get-ahead-of-pdpm/ https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/SNFPPS/Downloads/MLN_CalL_PDPM_Presentation_508.pdf https://www.berrydunn.com/blog/is-your-revenue-cycle-team-ready-for-medicares-patient-driven-payment-model-pdpm https://www.berrydunn.com/blog/new-patient-driven-payment-model-from-cmswhat-to-expect-and-what-to-do Have a topic request or question for Celeste? ---------------------------------------------------- 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. 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. --------------------------------------------------------------

ActivityDirectorJobs.com Featured Jobs Full-Time 11 Sep 2014 Life Enrichment Wellness Director Needed – San Angelo, Texas Senior Care Centers – San Angelo Texas, United States Full-Time 11 Sep 2014 Wellness / Activity Director Needed – Rowlett, Texas Senior Care Centers – Rowlett Texas, United States Full-Time 5 Sep 2014 Activity Director/Life Enrichment Coordinator – Navasota Texas Lifetime Wellness – Navasota Texas, United States Full-Time 5 Sep 2014 Wellness Director / Recreation Therapist – Tyler Texas Lifetime Wellness – Tyler Texas, United States Full-Time Recreation Coordinator Needed Mechanicsburg, PA Susan Crossley/Bethany village -

Happy National Activity Professional Week From ADN January 19-24, 2014 This years theme is: “Gateway to Activities”.

Everyone should watch this! Wish I had the means to open a place like this! Wouldn't you prefer this way of life?

Hello Everyone, I had to return a call today to a AD. My call call was screened & was told that staff is not allowed personnel calls. After explaining that it was a in fact a business call I was finally allowed to be transferred to thew activity office. This is not the first time I have ran up against this. I have also had AD's tell me they are not allowed to get calls at work. Now what I am wondering is how in the world do you run you department if you can't get calls? I mean we are to get volunteers in the facility, plan entertainment, do special events, don't even get me going on the people that want to come in during Christmas. So how are you expected to run a activity department if you can't receive calls? This is a policy that should be addressed & changed, don't you think? So are you allowed to get calls at your facility? How do you run your department, if you can't get them?

Activity Director – Senior Living – San Jose This is the BEST JOB in town – come be the FUN MEISTER! Our Upscale Senior Living Community in San Jose, CA is seeking a high energy, self motivated, hands-on Activity Director to plan, coordinate and facilitate activities. Use your solid experience to create a variety of [...] The post Full Time Activity Director needed Senior Living – San Jose, CA appeared first on Activity Director Jobs Official Site for Activity Directors Network, llc. View the full article

Hi, my name is Roxanne Wilson, Executive Director of Rosewood Assisted Living and Memory Care. and we are seeking candidates for Life Enrichment and Volunteer Coordinator. Full-time Activities Director Flower Mound, Texas 75028. Great atmosphere in a community only 6 months old. Creative, organized, team cheerleader, motivator, team player, attentive to details, passion to serve [...] The post Activity Director Life Enrichment & Volunteer Coordinator. appeared first on Activity Director Jobs Official Site for Activity Directors Network, llc. View the full article

Please help us find a fantastic Activity Director! ***We are seeking a full time Activity Director Activity Director – Dementia (Katy, Texas) At Sundance Premier Memory Care, our mission is to glorify God and to provide local communities access to premier memory care services and state-of-the art care facilities which incorporate the newest, most innovative [...] The post Activity Director Full Time Needed – Katy, Texas appeared first on Activity Director Jobs Official Site for Activity Directors Network, llc. View the full article

Please help us find a fantastic Activity Director! ***We are seeking a full time Activity Director Activity Director – Dementia (Katy, Texas) At Sundance Premier Memory Care, our mission is to glorify God and to provide local communities access to premier memory care services and state-of-the art care facilities which incorporate the newest, most innovative [...] The post Activity Director Full Time Needed – Katy, Texas appeared first on Activity Director Jobs Official Site for Activity Directors Network, llc. View the full article

Colleen Moody Full time Activity Director at Parsons House La Porte Assisted Living Community in La Porte, Texas. The post Full Time Activity Director La Porte Texas appeared first on Activity Director Jobs Official Site for Activity Directors Network, llc. View the full article

Activity Director and Activity Assistant required for Assisted Living Community in Las Vegas Nevada. Experience with Seniors required, and looking for experience also with memory care residents. Please contact June Ann Tye 3890 North Buffalo Drive Las Vegas NV 89129 The post Activity Director and Assistant Needed Las Vegas appeared first on Activity Director Jobs Official Site for Activity Directors Network, llc. View the full article

Looking to fill a position for an activities director in Northern NJ. Please let me know if you know anyone that would be interested. Thank you, Hadassah Wilhelm Community Relations Sunshine Adult Day Care Center 201-387-8500 (O) 201-600-4547 © hwilhelm@sunshineadhcc.com The post Activity Director Needed New Jersey appeared first on Activity Director Jobs Official Site for Activity Directors Network, llc. View the full article

Activities Assistant NeededQualifications:* Education: High school diploma, GED or educational equivalentrequired.* Experience: Previous experience working with older adults and/orpersons with memory-impairing diseases is desirable.* Other: Must have valid driver license, good driving record, andcurrent auto insurance. Ability to read, write and speak English. Mustbe comfortable working in an environment with pets and assisting in thecare of community pets, including, but not limited to, dogs, cats, andbirds. Willing to demonstrate passion and ability to work with peoplewith Alzheimer's disease and other dementia-related disease. The post Activity Assistant Kingwood TX appeared first on Activity Director Jobs Official Site for Activity Directors Network, llc. View the full article

Westminster Village is looking for a new Activity Director! We would love to have someone is as excited about Activities and ready to for something new and exciting. The position will primarily focus on the Health Care Center. It is a full time position and will be a salary position. If you know of anyone that is certified as an Activity Director and would be interesting in the position please have them contact our HR Manager, Tony Wilber. He can be reached at 480.451.2019 or tony@wmvillage.com.

JOB OPENING - RECREATION DIRECTOR (NJ) LTC/Sub-Acute Nursing Home in Jersey City (Hudson County), NJ is looking for a new Director for its Therapeutic Recreation Program. Director of Therapeutic Recreation - Full Time M-F 8:30-4:30pm (req. 1 late night per month and approx. 2 weekends per year) DESCRIPTION • Reports to Administrator. • Responsible for management and scheduling of all Recreation staff and volunteers, including evaluations and training. • Attend Interdisciplinary, Department, Administrative and Quality Council meetings as required. • Must have a high level of resourcefulness and creativity in planning and creating stimulating recreational programs which meet the various needs of the geriatric population. • Knowledge of MS Word necessary to plan and coordinate monthly recreation calendars. • Maintain age-appropriate group and individual programs that foster and encourage optimum psycho-social functioning, address social, educational, spiritual and entertainment needs of all residents. • Responsible for assessments and interviews, client care plans, clinical charting and other required documentation on one long-term care unit. • Oversee all necessary departmental documentation for all units. • Familiarity with MDS 3.0 required. • Knowledge of Electronic Medical Records preferred. • Purchase and maintain all department equipment and supplies within budgetary guidelines including dispersal of petty cash. JOB REQUIREMENTS BA/BS in Therapeutic Recreation or other related field (preference for the creative arts therapies) and have at least 2 years of recreation experience in a long-term care setting. Certification in accordance with the NCCAP - National Certification Council of Activity Professionals (AP-BC or ADC) or the National Council of Therapeutic Recreation Certification (CTRS) is preferred. Please submit resume and cover letter, including salary requirements via email to danielle.braxton@hamiltonpark.com or fax ATTN: Danielle Braxton at 201-653-3074.

Part-time activity director needed for 20-bed Alzheimer's community. Hours 9am to 4:30pm. Experience preferred but will train if needed. Please contact by phone or e-mail: carol.foreman@atriaseniorliving.com. Carol Foreman Life Guidance Program Director Atria Westchase 11424 Richmond Ave Houston, TX 77082 281-759-7900 (Office) 281-759-5868 (Fax) 713-518-5288 (Cell)

New Activity Director CE Workshop "Therapeutically Enhanced Group Activities" - 8 CE NCCAP NCCDP & CTRAC pre-approved Activity Directors Network welcomes a New CE Author Dr. Alison Ward to our Online Classroom. Dr. Alison is a licensed clinical psychologist in Arizona. Dr. Ward's professional Workshops provide a very in depth understanding of person-centered psychology and a Clinical perspective into Activities and Therapeutic Programs Visit the Online Classroom at www.activitydirector.org for a listing of CE Workshops available. Nov 02, 2010 MEPAP 1 & 2 now in enrolling for December 7th class. Our Online Activity Director training meets the Federal 249 Regulations for State Qualified Activity Directors conducting actitity and therapeutic programs with the elderly 55+ and older. Instructor : Kathleen Hughes 1.888.238.0444 Cheryl

Age well ~ live well If you live in Texas you may have heard of Texercise. Here is some info on it. If you don't live in Texas maybe you can get it started wher you live by asking for more info from Silver Lining or Texercise program. Need to get volunteers into the facility? Read the article below: From Senior News (newspaper) Silver Lining, a volunteer outreach program of the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), provides companionship & meaningful connections for people living in long-term care settings (LTC). The programs core message is to improve quality of life by improving social connections. Silver Lining works with volunteers by assisting with locating a facility partner, providing program resources & providing recognition incentives to enhance the volunteer project. A great way to get involved is to host a 12 week Texercise program for residents, as one of Silver Lining planned activities at a facility Texercise is a statewide health promotions program that supports people & communities in making healthy lifestyle choices. Silver Lining & Texercise work hand & hand to support volunteers & the residents they serve. Silver Lining volunteers can start a Texercise 12-Week "Fit for the Health of It! Challenge" with residents to encourage wellness through increased physical activity. Program resources include a free exercise DVD, pedometers, calorie converters, resitance bands, pledge sheets, & a Texercise 12-week program daily fitness log (incentives are provided to participants 45 & older & vary depending on availability). Program volunteers implement the 12-week Texercise "Fit for the Health of It! Challenge" to help residents be more physical activity. It is important to note that the facility (volunteer location) is ultimately responsible for the activities conducted on its premises & for the health & safety of its residents. All activity details must be approved by & coordinated with the facility. For more info, call 1-800-889-8595 or visit www.volunteer-atdads.org (links are provided for both Silver Lining & Texercise program).

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

A ratio of activities staff per number of residents is mandated by regulations in these states: For Illinois Activity personnel shall be provided to meet the needs of the residents and the program. Activity staff time each week shall total not less than 45 minutes multiplied by the number of residents in the facility. This time shall be spent in providing activity programming as well as planning and directing the program. The time spent in the performance of other duties not related to the activity program shall not be counted as part of the required activity staff time. For Indiana An activities program shall be provided on a daily basis, including evenings and weekends. At least thirty (30) minutes of staff time shall be provided per resident per week for activities duties. Participation shall be encouraged, although the final option remains with the resident. For Iowa Staffing for the activity program shall be provided on the minimum basis of 35 minutes per licensed bed per week For Kansas The nursing facility shall employ activities personnel at a minimum weekly average of .09 hours per resident per day. For Maine The Activities Coordinator's hours per week and those of the Assistant Activities Coordinator, if applicable, are in accordance with bed capacity as follows: 0-30 beds = 20 hours per week 91-120 Beds = 60 hours per week 31-60 beds = 30 hours per week 121-150 Beds = 70 hours per week 61-90 beds = 40 hours per week 151-180 Beds = 80 hours per week For New Jersey Mandatory staffing amounts and availability for activities . An average of 45 minutes of resident activities staff time per resident per week shall be devoted to resident activities, which requires at least one full-time equivalent staff member for every 53 residents. For Wisconsin activities staff shall be employed to provide at least .46 total hours of activities staff time per resident each week: Note: The required hours are the total time that activities staff must be on duty serving residents each week, not the time directed towards each resident. If I have missed any or your facility requires a certain number please share.

This is a virtual tour that anyone working with elders who have dememntia/Alzheimers should watch. What a great in-service this would be for staff & even family members!! Check it out & let hear your feed back. http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/Alzheimers...1176&page=1 It is so sad to watch but was very in sightful. Especially about the noise, I didn't know that some residents hear that 24/7!!