Miguel

OOps I just realized that I put the incorrect e-mail address.. If you are still interested in recieving my participation log e mail me at msarasa@thevillagehealthhemet.com Thank You! -Miguel Sarasa, ADPC "The most desirable thing in life after health and modest means is leisure with dignity" -Cicero

Well.. I cant remember if I ever filled this out and have some time so I figured I would introduce myself. My name is Miguel Sarasa I am an Activity Director in Hemet California and have been in the Activity field a little over 3 years. I have made a committment to the Activities profession and am currently working towards both my Rec. Therapy and ADC with the hopes of some day becoming an Activity Professional Educator. I am the President of the new California State Association called APLEA and am really looking forward to seeing APLEA's success and the advancement of the Activity Profession in California and I am currently the NAAP Awards chair. I have 2 dogs and enjoy computer's and spending time with friends when I have the free time! -Miguel

Additionally at times I hear of Activity Professioanls who say.. Getting NCCAP doesnt get you any more money...... I have a bachelors degree in ......... well.... Why dont you become a consultant and make another contribution to the profession! Consult in facilities and share your vast knowledge and expereince with new and up-coming activity professionals. or Why not become Nationally Certified so that others will know that you belong to a profession!

Each profession sets its own standards of education. The NCCAP is our professions Certifying/Credentialing body and for Activity professionals not to recognize its own Certifying/Credentialing body is kind of a slap in the face. Yea sure you can be a COTA or a Rec. Therapist, but both of those professions are a different profession than that of Activties, that would be like saying an Activity Professional can do a COTA's job without any formal training. Its not within your scope of your profession. Recreational Therapists are physican ordered services and yes a Rec. Therapist may work as an activity professional, where do you think the basic activity professional education came from.......? THE NCCAP! Experience gets a person a long way and thats great, however every professional, regardless of what profession they are in needs to know the field they are working in. -Miguel

Does anyone have any creative ways that they have been able to bridge the communication and encourage Nursing Involvement with Care Planned Activities?? -Miguel

So this year I have decided along with my residents to hold a craft Bazaar in an attempt to raise some funds as I love going over budget.. :-D Has anyone ever held something of this nature? If so do you have any tips and information that I may have to really have a great expereince.. THank You, -Miguel

Good Evening All! I have seen numerious posts on the Chat Room. As an assistant moderator I would like to invite you to the new.... Saturday Night Chat Group Every Saturday at 8pm PST Bring your ideas... This Saturday's Topic Lower Functioning Activity Programming Come with all your ideas and get ready to get some new ones! -Miguel

Good Evening All! I have seen numerious posts on the Chat Room. As an assistant moderator I would like to invite you to the new.... Saturday Night Chat Group Every Saturday at 8pm PST Bring your ideas... This Saturday's Topic Lower Functioning Activity Programming Come with all your ideas and get ready to get some new ones! -Miguel

Welcome to the profession Debbie, as a California Activity Professional the only college that I know of that offer's the activity director course is American River College in Sacramento. The Northern California Council of Activity Coordinators will host its annual conference October 13 & 14th in Visalia California. I fyou would like any more information dont hesitate to contact me via e mail or office (951) 492-2817 -Miguel Sarasa SCAAP 2005 Believing is Achieving" Celebrating 25 Years! 25th Educational Conference October 20-22 Pala, CA.

I use mine for x-mas gifts. One to go with the gift donated from our local hgh school.

I use Microsoft Word for my Calendars and enlarge them to 11 X 17. I am able to fit all programs and times into the cells and still have room for extras. If you would like me to e mail you a copy that you can adjust let me know. -Miguel

My Skilled Nursing Residents work out every morning! my exercise programs are liket his Monday-Wednesday- Friday- Weight Training- We do a 30 minute work out with a 15 minutes weight lifting (old sparkletts water bottles wiht various food colors, glues dhut. Tuesday- Thursday is morning stretch to some very upbeat music! Saturday & Sunday is ball balloon Toss. -Miguel

Hmm I have offered in the past to host Wednesday Night Chat.. JUST ANY FYI.. NCCAP HAS A CHAT ON MONDAY and WEDNESDAY's ACTIVITY LEADERSHIP FOR SENIORS CHAT ON MONDAY's LETS DO A TUESDAY NIGHT CHAT AT 7PM PST. Let me know. -Miguel

I already posted this but I thought I would post in this section. Last week we started a new fundraiser, A woman who sells nursing uniforms scrubs would constantly come to my facility and struggled to get nursing to purchase scrubs from her, I approached her and told her that if I made flyers and talked her up to nursing staff, gave her a table on pay day she would have to give me a percentage, Well to make a long story short the Activities Department rasied $140.00 and we really did not have to work that hard. WALLA!

Hey Gang, Got a new fundraiser idea. I am sure thoe of you who work in LTC or ALU have a person that comes in and sell Scrubs to the Nursing Staff right? If not find one and... What we are going to do this year is the Activity Staff and our Scrub/Uniform seller have teamed up. She brings the Scrubs, I make sure that I have flyers posted and a space where she can sell her scrubs,I talk it up to the nursing staff, I do all the marketing and she makes a profit. The agreement is that I get 30% of her profit for my Activities Department. Even if you make a few extra bucks for your department its something! Make changes to meet your wants. -Miguel

In order to be recognized as a "professional" you should have sufficiant training and education in a particular field, In order for Activity Professinals to be a recognized profession all Activity Director's should be ADC, Activity Assistants should be AAC, and all Activity Consultants should be ACC. How do you do this? NCCAP.org. Some states do not recognize NCCAP educational standards and only require a state approved hours course, the NCCAP Mepap courses are the correct Activity Professional Curriculum. In California all that is required is a 36 hour course, I am now taking the Mepap training in order to do my job properly. I have the experience but what was taught did not meet my needs. State courses are the minimum, NCCAP standards raise the profession.. hmm if all activity professionals were NCCAP certified...... More PAY! Just so that you are all aware! -Miguel

KINGS FAN E MAIL ME OR IM ME IF YOU CAN AT sarasa_miguel@yahoo.com I am in California and I am trying to contect with all Activity Professionals in California. -Miguel

Hey All, Those Activity Professionals who are NAAP Member's I urge you to nominate at least one of the following to be recognized for their outstanding service to you or our profession. Volunteer of the Year Junior Volunteer of the Year Administrator of the Year Activity Assistant of the Year If you would like more information on NAAP and the NAAP Awards please feel free to e mail me at sarasa_miguel@yahoo.com Thank You -Miguel Sarasa

What is your name? Miguel Sarasa What is your occupation? AD, with that comes 2 million other occupations! What are you listening to right now? My dog snoring! What was the last thing you ate? Hmmmmm Chicken Do you wish on stars? When I see one falling! If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Yellow How is the weather right now? Well it has been very hot with various rain storms, very odd for California. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My Best Friend How old are you today? hmmmmmmmmm 22 Favorite drink? Non-alcohol: HA HA Sex no the Beach, Thanks to the wonder Bryan Rife, AD in North Carolina. Favorite sport(s) to watch? Swimming Have you ever dyed your hair? Once and it came out yellow! Do you wear contacts or glasses? I am getting contacts very soon! Pets? 1 Dog Favorite month? December, I love the holiday's Favorite food? Ice Cream What was the last movie you watched? "Devils Rejects" Favorite day of the year? Saturday's When was the last time you cried? When one of my favorite Residents passed. What did you do last night? Worked on my Mepap Course work. What inspires you? Activity Professionals and Residents What are you afraid of? Snakes Favorite car? Trucks Favorite dog breed? Pugs How many years at your current job? 1.5 years How many states have you lived in? – 1, California How many cities/towns have you lived in? 2, Hemet and Stockton

Just a question to everyone? Where do you feel we as a profession are today? Discussion? Comments? :-)

Paul Graham, Activities Director in Sacramento California gave me the idea o f STARBUCKS! I am sure that everyone has at lease 5 starbucks (lol) in their City, What you do is. 1. Contact your Local Starbucks and inform them you want their day old pastries/Coffee 2. Be sure to pick up the pastry's/Coffee 3. Sell to your staff at 1-2 dollars a cup and 1- dollars a pastry. WALLA! -MIguel

HELLO California Peeps! The State of California only requires 36 hours to be a State Certified Activity Director. I encourage all activity Professionals to pursue the NCCAP certifiaction. The only areas (That I can remember after living in Northern California) are American River College in Sacramento California, and A facility in Modesto, Cant really remember the name. I will soon have informaiton on The Northern California Association of Activity Professionals. In LA County The 36 hour course is offerd at the following locations.... Consultants Extaordinare.. September Call 1-800-6101 Donna Glenn- Rec Therapist Offered 2 x a year, Fall and Spring Santa Barbara and Ventura County (805) 654-1122 Long Beach City College Offered 2 x a year Fall and Spring Long Beach Cypress College Offered 3X a year, Cypress CAlifornia (714) 484-7000 HealthCare Educators Offered 2X a year, FAll and Springg Culver City (323) 663-4035 Hope this all helps.. -Miguel Sarasa Southern California Association of Activity Professionals-SCAAP Secretary/ By-Laws Chair/ Newsletter Editor

I suggest that you not spend money if you have a computer available, U can design decent looking newsletters and calendars on a simple program as Microsoft Word and Publisher. If your facility allows the money to be spent on something that can be done on a computer than fine, if you are not completely knowledgeble on computers maybe that can be a class you can take, But realize with today's budget cuts you can utilize those funds on programs. I have heard of Activity Professionals paying Printers and having calendars/newsletters created, I cant believe that people would spend the time and waste money on such things that you should be doing as part of your job. Just my thoughts -Miguel

Greetings, I am an Activity Director in a 57 bed Skilled Nursing Facility, my programs start at 10am and some end at 6:00pm, Every Activity Professional does something different I have learned and a great way to get an idea is to ask for calendars, this allows the shareing of ideas. if you would like visit my yahoo group and I post all my calendars. -Miguel Sarasa, AD

For more information on SCAAP visit www.SCAAP.net ThanK You -Miguel Sarasa SCAAP Secretary/By-Laws Chair