Pennie

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The chat room is available only from the home page. Press the Home link either on the top bar or on the left main menu. Once on the home page, arrow down on the left side menu to the Chat Room Block, Press the Enter button. A seperate window will open displaying the chat room Lounge, from here you may create a seperate room or click on the Lounge to enter the main room. Important: you must be a registered member to chat.. registeration is free Plus it opens up alot of neat features on this site, Picture Uploads, Downloads, Email Notifications when your Questions are answered, Member Messenger ... etc Have Fun! :-)

Hi, Have you tried to have a party related to the customs, holidays related to residents culture? You seem to have tried the American holidays so maybe if you found out how the Chiense celebrated Spring. The next time do a Russian thems. How about you get a few of your more alert res. involved with helping you plan this event. If you seem to have no luck this way call upon fami;y members to help you out. Once you have them involved they in turn will drag their loved one (res) into helping & make alot of lot noise about this celcbration. Build it up several weeks in advance & especially few days before. Also making res. curious about it by giving them some info but also adding a little mystery will have even the most recultant want to attend. Letting them res/family members be a major part of the planning may have a bigger impact on your attendance. Do you send out a newsletter? If so ask for family members, community, volunteers etc help any suggestions/help. Let us know how this goes.

Have you ever wanted to find a catalogue or a magazine but had no luck doing this? Well here is one of the best resources for find just about any catalogue or magazine you could possible want. Go to their website once there don't forget to bookmark it. Catalogues & LTC Magazines

Quality Indicators: Nursing Homes Quality Indicators (QIs) developed by CHSRA researchers are markers that indicate either the presence or absence of potentially poor nursing home care practices or outcomes. QIs represent the first known systematic attempt to longitudinally record the clinical and psychosocial profile of nursing home residents in a standardized, relatively inexpensive and regular manner requiring the expertise of only in-house staff. To see the list check out website: QIs for LTC

Glossary Abbreviated Standard Survey - An on-site Federal survey that focuses on specific complaints or specific provider issues related to change of provider ownership, management or Director of Nursing. The abbreviated survey does not cover all the aspects contained in the standard survey, but rather concentrates on a particular area(s) of concern. An abbreviated standard survey may be conducted to substantiate a complaint. Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) - Individual self-performance skills needed in everyday life such as ambulation/locomotion, eating, toileting, grooming/personal hygiene, and bathing. Activity Therapist (AT) - An allied health professional trained to develop and provide leisure time activities for facility residents (patients). Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) - A registered nurse who acts as the assistant to the Director of a facility's nursing services. To see the full list check out the website: Abbrevation Glossary

Hey Randy, Why is Dietary not fixing the lunches? Do you not have a dietary in your setting? I would speak with the administrator or who ever is the boss. Explain to them that your dept. is already over loaded. May a tipcal daily calander along with the time it takes to do each of the programs on the calendar. Don't short your dept. on the time, account from beging to end. ie., starting with getting the supplied, set-up for the program getting people to the program as well as taking them back & every thing in between. Show this to your boss. Be sure that you have a possible solution to offer your boss ie Dietary could make the lunches & other depts could do whatever is would fall under their dept. description. As far as the hours you work, are you on salary? If so is it a flat rate or do you get 40 hours plus overtime? If you get a flat salary then I suggest that you work the 8 hours that they are paying you for & no more. :-o Do not every take your work home & do it. I know that you are saying "She's crazy, she does not understand I can't get everything done in 8 hours." I know that you want to get everything done & noone but you can do it all. You don't want to add any more workload onto our staff, they are already strecthed to the limit, right? Trust me Randy I have been in your shoes many times. I have learned that it is not worth it. As long as you do all of the work & everything gets done then they don't see a problem & they will con't to add more, unless you say "NO" You are letting them do this & you need to speak up ASAP. It is not fair to you, your staff, your family & especially to the residents. From reading your post I see that you are fixing to have a major burn-out :-x I have had these myself -- 10/12 hrs a day, plus 2/3 at home, work all holidays, & dream of the work all spells Stress/Burn-out. You will eventually get to the point that you will hate the job & want to quit. So before this happens you must talk to your boss before it's to late. If you have tried this & it gets you no where then I suggest that you start looking for another job. Because you will eventually quit. I know that you care deeply for the residents, your staff & take pride in work so you will never do it half-a****, right. Remember this -- It is just a job. You are giving them 150% of yourself but if you mess up or do a bad job they will not have any problem firing you. The company is not as devoted to you as you are to them, this I promise! So slow down, be fair to yourself & your family. In the end this is what matters the most. You & your family will be together for the rest of your life, but will this facility/job be a life long commitment ? I hope that I have helped you because I really do know how you feel so please take my advise, or at least some of it. We only 1 life to live & our time on eath is very short. Please feel free to email me or post on the board for any help you may need OK Let us know how this turns out. I will now get off my soap box 8-)

I have done "Intercom Bingo" for years as a way to earn extra money for our department. I also have shared this with other AD's that I have consulted with, they loved it. This is for residents, staff, family members basically anyone who has a $1.00 & wants to buy a card! (Do not allow the activity staff to purchase cards, if they win then you opening your self up to trouble) This game also gets noticed by my residents that are bedbound or self-isolated. It great way to get them involved. Here is how it works: I bought a pad of Bingo Cards that have 4 per page, but I can't remember from who. It was from one of the many catalogues we get. Or you could take your Bingo cards & Xerox them & sell 1 card. Only activity staff should be allowed to sell the cards. As the cards are being bought I suggest that you &/or your staff record this information on a sheet a paper; write down the name of the person buying or who will playing off of this card, how many cards they purchased & how much they paid. (We had residents coming up with missing cards &/or saying they lost them) You may even want to write a number on the cards & on the sheet of paper, as well have your staff or whoever is selling the card inital the card too. When you have a winner cross check the card(s) with your sheet (records). How to play the game: Mon thru Fri; after the morning annoucements are done 1 bingo number is called out over the PA System (Intercom Bingo). The number is also posted on the bullentin board after it is called & will remain up until the game is over. This game can last for several days or even for 2 to 3 weeks. Once someone has a bingo the card is checked out by activity staff. Then over the PA system we announce that we have a winner. ** The money you make from selling the cards will be split between the winner(s) & activity department ** Now don't give out the money as soon as you have a winner, learn from my hard earned mistake. Post the winning card along with the winning persons name on it on the bullentin board. Allow about 2 days to pass before you give them the money. The reson behind this is that you could possible have more winners. A staff person who bought a card may not be at work when you announce that you have a winner d/t shift they work, moght be off etc. Or a Family member could have won & they may not visit daily. (you get the ideal) If you do have more than 1 winner then the pot will be split by the number of winners & your department. Example: You have 2 winners so the pot will be split 3 ways. After we play this game I usually wait a month or so before we play it again. This keeps the game exciting, popular & no-one gets burned out. Intercom Bingo is a great way to earn some pretty good money, plus it fun & you also know that your morning annoucements are being listened to. ;-)

:-D Hi Miguel, we have family members donate floral/flower arrangements to the facility. They bring them to the facility & call the Act. Office for us to come get them. The Administrator hates the arrangements, she thinks they are not appopriate for the residents to see. So we take the flowers apart & use them in vases, table center pieces, pass out in a bud vase to a resident(s) who is maybe ill, depressed or as a Thank You for all you do This is a nice way to brighten up the place & a few faces.

Description: This course can help to fulfill HIPAA's requirement for HIPAA privacy training for nonclinical staff. The course is intended to provide a basic understanding for nonclinical staff or others in the facility of the key privacy provisions in the HIPAA rule. For HIPAA staff training courses intended for those with greater interactions with the medical record, or for clinical staff, please see our course catalog and the HIPAA training series. This course is up to date, reflecting the recent finalization of the HIPAA privacy regulations. Learners will be tested on their understanding of the course content with final exam questions related to the course content. The course is available for organizational site licenses or bulk purchase for training, and customization is also an option. This course can also be purchased as part of an organizational license for the complete HIPAA Training Series. For a free preview of the course for volume purchase, or information about volume pricing, please email DMiller@hcpro.com, or call 781-639-1872, X3286 Copyright 2002, HCPro, Inc. Objective: Intended audience: Contracted staff CNAs Housekeeping staff Volunteers Vendors Administrative staff Students Those working in or with healthcare organizations requiring a basic introduction to the HIPAA privacy rule and its impact on healthcare practices. Category: 03. HIPAA Availability: Open Credit Hours: NA Designation: NA Price: $59.00 For more infor: http://www.hcprofessor.com/home/

:-o Does instant messaging compromise HIPAA security? Published March 2004 Some of our employees would like to use instant messaging (IM) to communicate at work and from home with team members or other managers. Is that an acceptable practice under HIPAA? The HIPAA regulations do not and are not likely to ever specify technologies that are permissible and prohibited. IM may be easy to use and it will let others know when you're "online," which is sometimes a business convenience. However, permitting use of IM, especially for transmitting confidential information, when an organization is still struggling to control e-mail use is not prudent. Many e-mail concerns also apply to IM. For example, is the transmission encrypted if off the local network? Is the authentication of sender and receiver adequate? Where are copies of messages stored at the source, the destination, and "along the way"? And how are those stored copies purged? How is message integrity ensured? If messages are relevant to a given patient, how is the message linked to the patient's electronic record, if at all? IM is also subject to its own set of technical vulnerabilities and attacks, so its use presents the security team with the additional burdens of technically securing IM and training the work force on protective measures. Hence, it appears that today most healthcare organizations prohibit or severely limit IM use, and with good reason. Editor's note: Kate Borten, CISSP, formed The Marblehead Group, Inc., a national security and privacy consulting firm focused on the healthcare industry. If you have a question for her, write to Briefings on HIPAA, P.O. Box 1168, Marblehead, MA 01945, or e-mail Briefings on HIPAA Managing Editor John Leonard at jleonard@hcpro.com. This is not legal advice. Be sure to consult with your facility's legal counsel for legal matters

Item Type: Appointment Start Date: 03/30/2004 04:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (Tuesday) Duration: 1 Hour Place: HHH Bldg.- Rm 325A (Wash., D.C. ) The next SNF/Long-Term Care open door forum is scheduled for MAR 30th. Please read invitation and instructions below. Date: Mar 30, 2004 Start Time: 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) Conference Leader(s): Tim Trysla/David Dupre/Rich Lawlor There are 2 ways to participate, by phone or "In-person". 1. To participate by phone: Dial: 1-800-837-1935 & Reference Conference ID: 4382005 TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired. For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880 and for Internet Relay services click here http://www.consumer.att.com/relay/which/index.html . A Relay Communications Assistant will help. 2. To participate "In-person" at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building: RSVP is required!!! (See RSVP link and Map & Directions link below. Please arrive no later than 1:50 PM ET. Persons participating by phone are not required to RSVP. To RSVP, click on this link SNF_LTCODF-L.CO5.BALT5@cms.hhs.gov , or simply reply to this message and send us your name along with the name of your organization. RSVP Deadline is Mar 26, 2004, 2:00 PM (ET). ADDRESS: Hubert H. Humphrey Bldg. Conference Room 325A 200 Independence Avenue S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201 Map & Directions: http://www.hhs.gov/about/hhhmap.html ENCORE: 1-800-642-1687; Conf. ID# 4382005 Encore is a recording of this call that can be accessed by dialing 1-800-642-1687 and entering the Conf. ID., beginning 2 hrs after the call has ended. The recording expires after 3 full days. For Forum Schedule updates, Listserv registration and Frequently Asked Questions please visit our website at www.cms.hhs.gov/opendoor/ Thank you.

Hi, Here are a few jokes you share with your residents. How Much Is it Worth? WHILE HELPING his father build a deck, 5-year-old Kolin hit his thumb with a hammer. A couple of weeks later, his blackened thumbnail fell off. Kolin took it to his mother and asked, "Mommy, can I put this under my pillow for the fingernail fairy?" Batteries Not Included MOM developed a bad case of laryngitis, much to the confusion of her 2-year-old son. He climbed into her lap, pulled her mouth open and peered inside, saying, "What's wrong, Mommy--did someone steal your batteries?" She Saw the Light THE DOCTOR put Mom on a liquid diet. Explaining to her small daughter, Mom said that she could eat anything she could hold up to the light and see through. The youngster nodded knowingly and said, "How about a doughnut?" A Helping Hand FOUR-YEAR-OLD Tommy spilled some milk on the clean kitchen floor. His grandma smiled and said, "It's okay, Tommy, just go get the mop off the back porch and we'll clean it up." Tommy walked to the back door and stared out into the dark night. He said shyly, "Grandma, it's dark outside, and I'm afraid to go out there." Grandma told him that God was out there and would take care of him. Tommy then pushed the door open slightly and said, "God, since you're already out there, will you please hand me the mop?"

"The Stellar Unit in Concert" 2:00 P.M. Monday, April 26th Showroom of The Laff Spott-Willowbrook at the Centrum. Call information Houston Texas for phone number. Please RSVP to the Centrum with the number of persons that will be attending. They will hold your tickets at the Box Office. (Staff counted not sure if they are charged or not, be sure to ask).

"Romantic Rhapsody" with Stephanie Northcutt, Soprano 3:00 P.M., Tuesday, April 20th at the Centrum. Call information Houston Texas for phone number. Acclaimed for her outstanding acting and charismatic presence, the Centrum is pleased to present Stephanie Northcutt performing romantic favorites. Please RSVP to the Centrum with the number of persons that will be attending. They will hold your tickets at the Box Office. (Staff counted but not charged)

:hammer: Please plan to join us. All AD's, AA, are welcome to attend. CEU's will be given out at the end of the meeting. This is held monthly and is growing by leaps and bounds. Wednesday, April 7th from 11:00-1:00 at Park Place Cy-Fair, 11500 FallbrookDr. (between Jones Road and 1960), Houston, Texas, 77065. Their phone number is 281.970.6688. Pilar has arranged for a speaker on Time Management. Our speaker will be Reverend Mildred Henry. She is a National Family/Community Advocate for quality long-term health care for the elderly and the disabled. She has been a Family/Community Advocate for over 3 decades. She is the CEO and founder of GO FORWARD, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides family literacy and addresses social concerns. She shared with me that her presentation will enrich and enhance our time management skills.

Randy Needs Our Help..... Please Click Here to View Topic http://activitydirector.net/modules/ipboar...p?showtopic=70# thanks, Pennie :-)

Hi Beth W. are you the same beth w that could not get registered. you had a posting on the old message board.. If you will email me at pbacon@activitydirector.com I will set you up an account so that you may use all the features of this site... thanks, Pennie

Hi Kim, when do you get the message, when you start the download or when you open the zip file? Is it a virus protection program warning or a Microsoft warning? You may have the firewall enabled or the security set to high on your browser... PM me Pennie (click the PM icon at the bottom of my post or click on the MY CONTROLS on the top of the message board header, go to compose message, and send to Pennie thanks ;-)

Hi Elish, Welcome... its nice to hear from Canada, I haven't added any "out of States" listings in the Job Board, What would be the proper terminology for listing Jobs for Canadian Members, What are some of the major cities, and "States" (what is the proper term for "State" in Canada) I like the term Volunteer Coordinator... thats a job position we could incorporate in the states.... I'm sure some facilities already have it, but it would be nice if it were more wide spread. Most of the facilities I have worked with have had 50-200 residents, with one Director and one maybe two Assistants, it is always long hours, understaffed, and hard work. Its the kinship between the residents and the Activity Staff that keep it worth your time. Again, Welcome to the Board Pennie ;-)

Hi go to the job board and post a "Jobless in Indiana" under the Indiana Category... Click here for the AD JobBoard good luck, Pennie ;-)

The Activity Director has more power than any other dept. in the facility.. Much like the most popular kids in school...everyone wanted to be in the popular crowd...why because there was always something going on, it was fun, it was the place to be.. the activity dept should be busy, with volunteers, with visitors, with residents just hangin out, it is the only place they can go to be safe from the meds and the bathing and the hoarding and the feeling of confinment. Your newslettler should be your weapon and your address list your reach. Churches, schools (anyone in charge of school Clubs), Grocery stores, womens clubs, mens clubs, Ambulance Companies (huge contributors, alot of time to volunteer) City Hall, Sheriffs precinct planning commitee (they are always looking for groups and activities to host in their halls, they will provide buses for outings keep em mentioned in your newsletter) Newpapers,.... give evertyone a quick listing and mention any local organization and send em a Newletter. Always mention in the news you are look for help and volunteers for upcoming events, please Call.... Have business cards made to hand out to the local florists, grocery store, dept stores, bakerys, doughnut shops... make your dept the place to be, not from your bragging but because you are the most popular kid in the school.... The familiy members will come to you first, the residents will regard you as their best friend, the closest thing they have to the way life used to be. The power will come in the power to fill the beds, keep the facility full, the enrollement on a waiting list. All from word of mouth throughout the community, your Administrator will be praised by corporate, and you will be the most valuable dept in the facility, your budget will increase, your work force will be adjusted, things will be as you deserve. Trust me... I have worked as a consultant for 11yrs and I have taught this, preached this and seen the results. ... When you are good at something, you wont have to tell a sole... good luck Pennie ;-)

Gardening is always a great activity, there a several designs for planting carts that a wheel chair will pull right up to. Call your local school and see if you can get the shop class to build you one,or maybe a Church, what about a planter box for outside the window of a bedfast resident. Be sure and run by Wal-Mart and the local nursery and let them know that they can donate any less than perfect plants to your facility. Make sure you have business cards to pass out to everyone. The State Enviroment Protection Agency will usually send you free bird houses. Coated Cardboard that can be decorated... Spring is in the air, good weather is coming.... people are feeling fun... ;-)

First:: You must be a member - Register on the HomePage. Once your a member you will have a User Menu in the left hand column. Click on View Account, than click on Avatar Options. There you can choose an Avatar from one of the Galleries or you can upload your own from your computer. To Upload: First create an Avatar on your computer from a photo, clip-art, whatever you like... The following file types are allowed: gif .jpeg .jpg .swf .png Save it to a directory/folder that is easy to remember. Your avatar must be no bigger than 64 pixels by 64 pixels in size. Click on Upload and Browse to the folder on your computer where the Avatar is saved, Select it and press OK. It will Upload and appear in your Avatar cell of your Account Screen Any Questions "PM" me username: pennie ;-) (PM private message is located at the top orf the Message Board) FYI: You may alternately use your My Controls option located at the top of the message board to change your Avatar or any of your user information.

Hi Everyone, Thanks so much for helping bring this site to life. ActivityDirector.Com ActivityDirector.Net and ActivityDirector.Org will all be redesigned to become the Activity Directors Network. We have a programmer redesigning our sites to help share information and resources in a more productive and organized way. ActivityDirector.Com will have a month by month project planner feel that will let everyone add activities, Theme ideas, calendar / newsletter layouts and much more to a particular month page, thus creating a programming planner for Activity Directors. ActivityDirector.Net will be what you see here, a Directors helping Directors Network, Chat, Message Boards, Uploads / Downloads, and lots of experienced help... anyone interested in moderating please email pbacon@activitydirector.com ActivityDirector.Org will be the online courses, ceu courses, self study etc... anyone with teaching Certificates that would like to develop an Online Classroom ... please email pbacon@activitydirector.com Again Thanks so much for all your support, our moderators Miguel and gina are doing a wonderful job, send them a Private Message say hi! Pennie ;-)