Diana

I am trying not to freak out! But let me air my concerns...... I spent a few weeks discussing my new opening for Activity Assistant in my building with a lady I knew. I hired her, it took her another week to actually get to work. Then after the first day, she had to take the next two days off (her sons were sick). Then, by her 3rd day of work, she said that she no longer could work at our facility. Valentine's Day was her 4th and last day at work. I have waited YEARS to be allowed to have an assistant and it ended up being a bad hire. I am just frustrated!!!!!! And I have been trying to get hold of another lady who was a good option, but she won't return my phone calls! I am so overwhelmed!!!!!!!!! Diana

I wish I could understand your facility arrangement better. As nice as it would be to have a "party for all," perhaps one solution would be to have smaller, more intimate socials with those involved. Delegate your staff to help out in the appropriate places, so that your parties/socials can happen on the same day. How blessed you are that you have so much help! Diana

I know just where you are coming from! My first job as an AD - the "Bad Day" lasted a good 9 months, till we moved to a different town - come to find out it really was just the facility! Hang in there - we'll be praying for you! Till you get the hang of the job and get a little heartfelt training, have patience and carry a box of Kleenex - it'll help instead of the paper towels!

Hi Tinki I am planning on being there! So far the plan is to arrive Sunday night! Hope to meet you there! Diana, San Antonio

HMMMM, been thinking of this since you posted and it's such a toss up! Did the person have behaviors before? Prone to violence? Previous murderer? Insane but never diagnosed? Had roommate problems and they were never addressed? The fact that she/he tried to cover up indicates a sense of right and wrong. I certainly wouldn't want to be on the jury if it ever goes to court - wonder what probable cause would be. Just because the person is a nursing home resident does not automatically exclude them from the consequences of murder, especially if premeditated and planned. Keep us posted about the issue - very interesting! Diana

"browse through the times" "morning outlook" "coupon specials" or "prices - then and now" just a few diana

I know what you are going through. All I could come up with was volunteers or family members to assist. Or, have one department a day work the cookies - all to benefit resident council. yes, you may have to prove to your boss through action (manning the cookies 5 days a week) that it is unrealistic, but that is part of our jobs. Good luck! Diana

I was so fortunate that I had someone create a calendar off of Microsoft Excel for me 6 years ago and I have been using it ever since! Diana

I actually just typed up and passed out a little one page questionaire to my staff inquiring what they believe they do activitywise with the residents on any given day. I am still waiting to hear their response. Then I am planning on leading the facilitywide inservice on payday, touching on the new regs and implementing specific activity carts for each of my 4 units - so that it is fully accessible for all staff when I am not available. I hope this helps! Getting staff aware of the fact that State will ask them what THEY do to help will be so important! One of my questions specifically asked if a member of the floor staff had in the past 3 months provided an activity to a resident who had a recent behavior (needing redirection), stated they were "bored," or were up late at night (unable to sleep). And then I asked what it was that they provided. Realizing they cannot rely on the activity director to be everything to everyone will be so important!!! Diana OH, for ACTPRO, I am at Memorial Medical Nursing Center in San Antonio - been here for 5 years and still feel like I don't do enough!

ACTPRO, where in Texas are you? I am in SAn Antonio - just wanted to touch base with you more on their visit! Diana

It depends on my week. I usually do the MDS then my progress note, but if it is busy, then I just do the MDS and write my progress note during Care Plans. If it is a PPS assessment, then I usually need my progress note for verification of the information submitted.

the website is donotcall.gov you have to call from the phone number you are wanting to block. the website is also the site if you want to complain about a company that was still able to call through after putting your number on the Do Not Call list.

I know what you are saying about being in the place that God wants you right now! I still feel like right now, God needs me here, but my daughter is 2 years old now and I want to be able to be there for her on vacations and holidays, and teaching is the way to go. So I have roughly 2-3 years to plan my next stage of life. My current boss is all for me furthering my education and if it leads me to teaching, he is okay with that! As long as I don't go to another Nursing HOme! Diana

Just to throw this out there - if you had a choice of what else you would be if you weren't an activity director at this point in your life, what career choice would you go with? I have been thinking about teaching, but have been doing this for a long time - transition would be hard!

I go by Life Enrichment Coordinator as well. I still fall into the trap of saying Activity Director when I get funny looks from people about what LEC means! Then it is almost as though a lightbulb goes on in their heads about LEC and they usually shake their head and agree with the title. LEC says so much more about what we do! WE aren't just entertaining, but Enriching!

HI Elby, I was in a 101 bed facility and was only making $9 an hour. In comparison to what I am doing now, I am in a 131 bed facility, with extremely high turn over rate each week (about 20 - 25 ins and outs total) due to our Rehab department and Medicare, along with lots of managed care patients who are only alotted 20 days or less) with no Activity Assistant. YOU are doing fine! I know it may seem unfair and that we ALL deserve to be paid the same as the highest paid floor nurse (I could argue that till I am blue in the face - won't get me that type of raise). I have been at this facility 5 years, with the company 6 and I still have not been deemed worthy of an assistant! Take each day as it comes and utilize your volunteers wisely and you'll be fine! Then, when you are ready, take your experience and look for a larger facility with a bigger chance of getting paid more. Good luck!

Hi Jennie, Type up a geneneral letter and mail it in bulk to as many organizations (churches, schools, VFW's, etc) and keep mailing every 6 months to a year. I noticed that for churches, direct your letter to the Ladies Bible Class, Youth Minister, Involvment Coordinator or Men's Prayer Group for specific responses. That way, when you follow up with a call, you can direct yourself to a specific person, instead of asking for anyone in general. Even with schools, direct your letter to specific teachers who are interested in taking their kids to schools for outings regularly - that will cut down on a lot of middle man. When it comes to volunteering, I just spoke with one of my volunteers this morning and we were amazed with how God has blessed her and the ministry she has from church to visit the past three years! How quickly time flies. But you have to find people who WANT to volunteer - if they are needy, YOU don't need them! If you are a praying person, pray about it - God will send the right people your way! I know He did when he sent me this volunteer! Having a system in place for orientation when you get someone who is interested, and having a name tag for them to be recognized as a volunteer gives them a sense of recognition and need. And whatever you do, when it comes to volunteers, treat them extra special - if it is between talking to them or a staff member, give the volunteer priority! They feel respected that way! I've learned, too, don't overwhelm them! Then they get burned out and leave quickly! HOpe this helps!

We have drastically reduced our restraints, so at any given time, I only have a small handful of people in an activity with an actual restraint on. I have always understood that restraints are to be released during activities, but if I am not there, I do not release due to safety of resident (such as if volunteers are conducting an activity). But yes, if State comes in and sees a resident in an activity and a restraint is preventing that resident from properly participating, that is a State tag. If the amount of residents who are on restraints is too much, your facility might consider a restraint reduction committee - which is probably the purpose of your Rehab Director for observing the activity to see how feasable it is to actually have the AD release all restraints during any specific activity. I hope this helps!

HI Cassandra, Click on your profile, and you will see an option for clicking on an Avatar - search for a picture you like and apply it. I tried finding exactly how I did mine, and almost deleted Kermit the Frog! Oops! I don't know if you noticed my earlier eentry to you, but I used to work at CI of Abilene as AD! Wanted to know how my old stomping ground is doing! Diana

I have to admit, the lollipops, due to cost and resident participation!

I can not even begin to tell you how many other AD's began their careers in the exact same way! I didn't think I was going to make it! I had negative feedback coming from all directions - including myself! But I made it. and you will, too! Have faith and a fun spirit and you WILL make it! Either stay in touch with the outgoing Activity Director, or get in contact with others in your area for ideas and support. Please, email me if you'd like to vent and be reassured! djcast@satx.rr.com Good Luck and Welcome to ADing!

Here are a few ideas : Call up Otis Spunkmeyer - they will give you an oven for free with purchase of 2 boxes of cookies a month - all proceeds go towards whatever you want when you sell the cookies - Great, ongoing fundraiser idea. Have a Cake Auction - have families, staff, and vendors all make or donate cakes and either have a silent auction (have lists with pictures of cakes in central location and have everyone bid by simply writing down their name and bid amount) or an actual auction with a "loud mouth" for the auctioneer. One of our vendors donated a cake from Nadlers, a really nice bakery in town. That cake went for $40! How bout a plate sale? Get everyone involved with having this large sale that can get you approx $400-$500. oh, and for those families and staff worried about the "same old thing" they need to get a life or get involved with ideas - people are too opinionated for their own good That's my two cents! Hmmmm... That's it. My office mate needs the computer now. Diana

HI Cassandra! What a small world! I was at CI of Abilene 5 years ago! Is Janet still your administrator? I'd love to chat more with you!!!!!!!!! Please email me at djcast@satx.rr.com I moved to San Antonio 5 years ago and still come by Abilene! Please, please, email me! Diana

I love what that person wrote! When I took my AD course, we realized that our goal was to "provide Opportunities" not force attendance or participation, especially when therapy tires them out! Let them realize that the calendar is for their convenience and purposes a well as for long term residents. I have a dear lady who is on our SNF unit who says that she won't even accept visitors on MWF's (even therapists) due to her dialysis schedule, and on TR's she is in therapy, both of which exaust her energy and she only has time and energy to visit with family. That doesn't mean that she is active "little time awake," it means she is active when she is awake and not in therapy, dialysis etc. The "powers that be" need to get a grip and realize the resident's needs come above all else!

can't find the site- typed it in and it didn't work.