lllucas

Hi, AD's :-) Just a note to let you know that the March 2005 edition of Activity Director Monthly is ready. If you haven't already subscribed you may do so at The Activity Director's Office ( http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com ). March 2005 items are now posted on The Activity Director's Office web site. This month begins the "Debbie's AD Tips" page. It is written by Activity Consultant Debbie Hommel, Executive Director of DH Special Services. The March 2005 free edition of Health Care Express is now available at Newsletter-Express.com ( http://www.newsletter-express.com ). You may use it as your facility newsletter. Also, you can have this newsletter personalized for your facility for a small fee. Be sure to check it out. Best Wishes,

Hi, Folks! :-) I just received this in my E-mail. Thought I'd pass it on to you all. The whole story (if you're brave enough to read it) can be found at Suddenly Senior ( http://www.suddenlysenior.com/ ) :pint: ________________________________ Nine Oldsters Booted Out of Nursing Home - For Trying to Have an Orgy! Seems that a bunch of old goats, ranging in age from 73 to 98, schemed a secret sex party to celebrate the 90th birthday of one of the "girls." As a British newspaper reported, "The let-it-all-hang-out party took place just after midnight on October 28. The three wrinkly Romeos and six sagging seductresses gathered together in the rec room and stripped to the buff." Well, you can imagine the staff's alarm and embarrassment when orderlies investigated rumba rumbling from the rec room. There, surrounded by candles and dressed in birthday suits slathered with baby oil, the horny nine were wing-dinging to lay canes in dusty corners. "They hadn't got too far," a staffer was reported to say. "I guess it was taking some of the gents a while to get started. But they were all naked. Believe me, it was the scariest thing I've ever seen." ____________________________________ Best wishes,

Dear AD's, :-) I am pleased to announce a new page to The Activity Director's Office. We wanted to be able to offer "nuts & bolts" information to you to help you run your entire department better. Therefore I invited Debbie Hommel, BA, CRA, ACC, Executive Director of DH Special Services ( http://www.dhspecialservices.com/home.htm ) to write a monthly page for this site. "Debbie's AD Tips" is dedicated to helping Activity Professionals with the daily operation of their department. Also, if you have any questions you would like to ask a Professional Activity Director Consultant, please submit them to Debbie through "Dear Debbie" on her web page. Be sure to check out our News Page which is new to the site. If you have any suggestions as to how we may better serve your needs, please drop me an e-mail to admin@theactivitydirectorsoffice.com. My door is always open. Sincerely, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) Site Owner: The Activity Director's Office Site Address: http:/www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com ---

Hi, Gina! :-) Welcome to Activity Director Network. This is the most active AD message board on the net. Many of the members are from Canada. We are looking forward to sharing ideas with you. Be sure to check out some of the other AD sites, too. Look at this site's web links page located in the upper left hand corner of this page. Best wishes in AD'ing :hammer: Linda Lucas, Ad ;-) Owner: The Activity Director's Office Address: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com P.S.: The owner of the board is Pennie Bacon. You can reach her by clicking on "contact us" in the upper left hand box on this page.

HI, FOLKS!!!!!! :-) TONIGHT IS CHAT NIGHT!!! Check out the Message Board, Open Discussion, Chat Night for details... LINDA LUCAS, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

HI, FOLKS!!!!!! :-) TONIGHT IS CHAT NIGHT!!! FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS ABOVE...SEE YOU THERE! LINDA LUCAS, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, heavenstar! :-) I think you have hit upon a problem that plagues all Activity Directors. Last minute volunteers hardly ever work out. I think, as far as the corporation that brings the 100 barbeque meals is concerned...while their willingness to participate in an activity for the residents is a wonderful idea , unless ALL residents are considered and included in their activity, then there should be no activity at all. Or, perhaps they could find another activity that will enable ALL residents to participate. I know you don't want to lose volunteers, but you also have to live with the upset residents who could not attend. I think the problem belongs to the corporation...not you. :hammer: And, yes, if you can get an active Resident Council established they can help you share the burden of creating, planning and executing meaningful activities for everyone. In fact, this is the best way to solve (or at least relieve) your problems. Happy AD'ing, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) The Activity Director's Office http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Folks! :-) Our Scheduled Chat Nite is Tuesday at the following time zone times: Eastern.....8:00 - 9:00 pm Central......7:00 - 8:00 pm Mountain....6:00 - 7:00 pm Pacific.......5:00 - 6:00 pm The Chat Room info box is located just below the Shout Box on the Activity Director Network home page. Enter you name and click on the "Enter Chat Room" button. The Chat Room opens into another window so that you may minimize it while referencing the home page. Please remember: The Shout Box is to get someone's attention. The Chat Room is to talk (and it interacts a lot faster than the Shout Box). See you all on Tuesday, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) Owner: The Activity Director's Office Address: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com ...

Hi, iwendland! :-) Our residents love our St. Patrick's Day Irish Potato Party. We back a bunch of potatos and lay out a large variety of topping ingredients. It really is a popular party/activity. We also invite a group of entertainers who play traditional Celtic music on hammered dulcimer, violin, guitar and ancient Celtic percussion instruments. Lots of fun!!!! :pint: Best Wishes, :hammer: Linda Lucas, AD ;-) Owner: The Activity Director's Office Address: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, MrsFun! :-) Welcome to Activity Director Network. This is the most active AD message board on the net. We are looking forward to sharing ideas with you. Be sure to check out some of the other AD sites, too. Look at this site's web links page located in the upper left hand corner of this page. Best wishes in AD'ing :hammer: Linda Lucas, Ad ;-) Owner: The Activity Director's Office Address: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com .

Hi, Southwind! :-) Welcome to Activity Director Network. This is the most active AD message board on the net. We are looking forward to sharing ideas with you. Be sure to check out some of the other AD sites, too. Look at this site's web links page located in the upper left hand corner of this page. Best wishes in AD'ing :hammer: Linda Lucas, Ad ;-) Owner: The Activity Director's Office Address: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com .

Hi, Darlene! :-) Welcome to Activity Director Network. This is the most active AD message board on the net. We are looking forward to sharing ideas with you. Be sure to check out some of the other AD sites, too. Look at this site's web links page located in the upper left hand corner of this page. Best wishes in AD'ing :hammer: Linda Lucas, Ad ;-) Owner: The Activity Director's Office Address: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com .

Hi, j-l01971! :-) Welcome to Activity Director Network. This is the most active AD message board on the net. We are looking forward to sharing ideas with you. Be sure to check out some of the other AD sites, too. Look at this site's web links page located in the upper left hand corner of this page. Best wishes in AD'ing :hammer: Linda Lucas, Ad ;-) Owner: The Activity Director's Office Address: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com .

Hi, Dasa! :-) Welcome to Activity Director Network. This is the most active AD message board on the net. We are looking forward to sharing ideas with you. Be sure to check out some of the other AD sites, too. Look at this site's web links page located in the upper left hand corner of this page. Best wishes in AD'ing :hammer: Linda Lucas, Ad ;-) Owner: The Activity Director's Office Address: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com .

Hi, Sherry! :-) Welcome to Activity Director Network. This is the most active AD message board on the net. We are looking forward to sharing ideas with you. Be sure to check out some of the other AD sites, too. Look at this site's web links page located in the upper left hand corner of this page. Best wishes in AD'ing Linda Lucas, Ad ;-) Owner: The Activity Director's Office Address: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com .

Hi, ActPro! :-) Welcome to Activity Director Network, the best AD message board on the net. Check out the Web Links page. It is located in the upper left corner of this page. Looking forward to sharing with you in the months to come. Best wishes, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) Owner: The Activity Director's Office Address: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com P.S.: I'm from Indiana. .

Hi, Sherry & Emily! :-) Welcome to Activity Director Network, the best AD message board on the net. Check out the Web Links page. It is located in the upper left corner of this page. Looking forward to sharing with you in the months to come. Best wishes, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) Owner: The Activity Director's Office Address: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com P.S.: I'm from Indiana.

Hi, Stacy274! :-) Welcome to Activity Director Network, the best AD message board on the net. Check out the Web Links page. It is located in the upper left corner of this page. Looking forward to sharing with you in the months to come. Best wishes, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) Owner: The Activity Director's Office Address: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com P.S.: I'm from Indiana.

Hi, Folks! :-) Welcome to Activity Director Network, the best AD message board on the net. Check out the Web Links page. It is located in the upper left corner of this page. Looking forward to sharing with you in the months to come. Best wishes, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) Owner: The Activity Director's Office Address: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com P.S.: I'm from Indiana.

Hi, Angie! :-) Welcome to Activity Director Network, the best AD message board on the net. Check out the Web Links page. It is located in the upper left corner of this page. Looking forward to sharing with you in the months to come. Best wishes, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) Owner: The Activity Director's Office Address: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com P.S.: I'm from Indiana. .

Hi, Wilkesrose! :-) Welcome to Activity Director Network. This is the most active AD message board on the net. We are looking forward to sharing ideas with you. Be sure to check out some of the other AD sites, too. Look at this site's web links page located in the upper left hand corner of this page. Best wishes in AD'ing :hammer: Linda Lucas, Ad ;-) Owner: The Activity Director's Office Address: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Millman! :-) Welcome back to AD'ing. :hammer: Another site to look at is The Activity Director's Office at http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com . It features activity ideas from Gina, a free newsletter for your facility and lots of other items. Also, be sure to sign up for my free monthly newsletter for AD's, Activity Director Monthly. Wishing you the best. Linda Lucas, AD ;-) Owner: The Activity Director's Office Address: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

YAHOO!!!!!!!!! Hi, AD's :-D The residents, volunteers and staff pulled a suprise party for my department during the afternoon ice cream social. Flowers, balloons, cake and certificates were given to everyone in the department (3 of us). :-D :-D :-D What a wonderful and welcomed suprise. No more moping around for me!!!!! :hammer: Somebody loves us. :pint: Have a great Activity Professionals Week!!! Linda Lucas, AD ;-) The Activity Director's Office http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Lynette! :-) For Pictionary, my husband, who is an artist, comes in once or twice a month and draws for the residents. It's a lot of fun to hear them trying to figure out "I'm the only little petunia in the onion patch" and "chew Mail Pouch Tobacco." Also, I have a lot of luck with Hangman. Like Diana, I use a dry erase board (or a chalk board). It's amazing the amount of participation I get from the residents. People who ordinarily are quiet and seem non-responsive suddenly are calling out letters and blurting out answers. I try to use common phrases rather than single words. Amazing! Best Wishes, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) The Activity Director's Office http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Denise! :-) Sadly for me :cry: (and probably many AD's), Activity Professionals Week is one of those events that just silently slips by with no special recognition. It seems that everyone else gets some kind of recognition for their discipline's week; but AD's, for the most part, don't. I've often wondered why that happens. Sometimes it really gets under my skin...but I keep on working. I think the problem lies in the AD's. We are great horn tooters for the facility, residents, staff, families. We're the ones who are on top of things and come up with ideas to celebrate for others' recognitions. But when it comes to our little department...we just feel uncomfortable putting the trumpet to our lips and blowing our own fanfare. Also, January is a really gloomy month for most of us. We're the Activity Department. We're fun and games...the goodtime, party people of the facility. I think we should be recognized during National Nursing Home Week when everybody is happy and we are swamped with special activities. At that time we are at our busiest best. What a great time that would be to receive appreciation from the rest of the facility. Dream on! :pint: Any how, to you and to all of our fellow AD's, HAPPY ACTIVITY PROFESSIONALS WEEK. Know this, if the residents had to depend upon the rest of the staff for activities, they would be totally bored. We are life givers...we are the fizzy in the 7-up...we are the sparkle in the resident's day... and we can be proud of that. We are truly needed and appreciated. (Yeah, team...rah! rah! rah!!!!) :hammer: Happy AD'ing, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) The Activity Director's Office http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com