lllucas

Hi, Renka! :-) Hey! I wonder if it would be possible for me to work in New York and still live in Indiana? :-o Or maybe I could just approach my boss about New York wages. :pint: Just goes to show the great cost-of-living disparity across the nation. Best wishes, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Nette10566! :-D I'm from Indiana so I don't know much about Texas. However, Pennie Bacon, the administrator of this site, posted a reply to another AD looking for Texas certification. I copied and pasted it below. Best wishes, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) The Activity Director's Office http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com ____________________________ To be national certified you should go to the NCCAP.org site You can just be certified in Texas, if you prefer. Either way you will need to still sit in on the exam. To learn when it will be and anything else about being certified and activities contact the "Guru of activities" Pam Sanders. She has more knowledge, personialty, connections than anyone I know. I am sending 2 email addresses for her. I forget which one is her good one. When you find out which one is the correct one would you mind letting me know? Tell her that I gave it to you & that I said "Hi" Thanks Pennie ernestejones@msn.com ernestejones@hotmail.com

Hi, Pennie! :-D I checked out those Hanukkah sites and they are really terrific. Thanks for the tip. Best wishes, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Rhonda! :-D May I suggest that you download the document, Alzheimer/Dementia Activity Ideas from my web site. It is a 9 page document I received premission to offer in PDF format from Alternative Solutions in Long Term Care ( http://www.activitytherapy.com ). Click on my site address below and go to the Free Downloads page. Wishing you the very best, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) The Activity Director's Office http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Linda! :-D My facility has some assisted living apartments. Those residents are provided an activity calendar and have a standing invitation to participate in any of the activities of the general population. So I usually see them at Bingo and special functions like Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas party, Volunteer Awards, etc. I do not have a special calendar for them alone. I agree with Diana. Because of their high functioning level you may be able to work them into you program as volunteers. Lots of luck with your AL folks Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Christee! :-D You are in an envious position with volunteers. Most of us would kill to have college students in abundance. Many years ago I was the Activity Director at an Adult Day Care Center near a state college. I had regular college student volunteers as well as activity therapy students who needed to complete their practicum. Let me pass on to you some ideas for putting them to work for you... As far as I know, in most states the students are capable of doing 1-to-1's, passing the mail and decorating the facility. I'm guessing that you already have them doing some of these things. If you have a facility newsletter you can let them do the typing for you; fold, stamp and address them; prepare them for mailing. (If you don't have a facility newsletter please visit my husband's site, Newsletter-Express.com at http://www.newsletter-express.com .) If your students are friends of one another, assign them, as a group, a day each month for them to plan all of the activities (let them be creative) with your approval and guidance. Maybe they can select one of this site's "Wacky Days" and work from there. If you are close to campus, and they can drive, if you have a facility vehicle availabe, you might let them take any younger residents (only 2 or 3) to a local coffee shop or to the campus game rooms. Perhaps they can bring in computers and show the residents how they work...or some great games...or whatever. One of our most popular activities was when one of the students got his fraternity to dress up in tuxes and brought them in to dance with our ladies. Hope this helps you keep your college kids active. Best Wishes Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Sue G & LindyinPA! :-D This is without a doubt the hottest AD site on the net! Since I joined it has really provided a lot of resources and help for me. It's great to have a place where you can get a bunch of help as well as emotional support. We all understand what each other is going through. I have included the attached message for both of you; and I hope it will help you in your AD'ing. Welcome! Sincerely, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com _____________________________________ Dear Activity Director, This is an invitation for you to visit my new site for Activity Directors. The name of the site is The Activity Director’s Office and can be found at http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com . I have added a monthly newsletter to the site and you can sign up now and not miss the first edition which comes out in December 2004. The newsletter will be written as an Adobe PDF file. The link will be e-mailed to you each month so you can either read the newsletter online or print out a copy for yourself. It requires that you have the industry standard Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. Most computers come with that software factory installed. However, if you need to load it into your computer, you may get it for free at this address: http://www.download.com/3120-20-0.html?qt=...ader&tg=dl-2001 . I will include this address in your e-mail announcement about the newsletter. Thanks to all of you who have helped me get my website up and running. Special thanks go to Pennie and Chip Bacon of The Activity Director Network at http://www.activitydirector.net ; Gina Salazar of Activity Ideas That Work at http://pages.ivillage.com/ginasalazar2004/ and Activity Chat at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Activ...?yguid=32256940 ; and my husband Bob Lucas of Newsletter-Express.com at http://www.newsletter-express.com . Sincerely yours, Linda Lucas, AD The Activity Director's Office http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com PS: You are more than welcome to submit articles of interest, poems, humor, photos and just about anything else for insertion into my newsletter. The only compensation I can offer you is the credit for the submission. All submissions are subject to editing. I cannot guarantee that all submissions will be published. However, they definitely can't be published if you don't send them to me. So be brave and fire your e-mail to me at admin@theactivitydirectorsoffice.com. Or you can mail your information to me at: Attention: Linda Lucas The Activity Director’s Office 103 Tami Lane Williamsport, Indiana 47993 Main topic interests include: anything that will benefit Activity Directors; items which can be used in facility newsletters (i.e. original and/or public domain items); personal Activity Director/resident experiences. This letter was sent to people who are members of The Activity Director Network at http://www.activitynetwork.com ; and who have listed their e-mail address with that site. It is submitted to you with permission given by that site’s administrator, Pennie Bacon.

Hi, Rhonda! :-) I'm from Indiana. I don't know how many responses you will get, but this site has quite a few members from Canada. Glad you could join us and looking forward to your comments about the posts. Linda Lucas, AD ;-) The Activity Director's Office http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Thanks, Pat8231! :-D And thanks to all of you who sent us personal e-mails. We had a really great day and are now starting year #35. (For those of you who are doing the math, we were both just 5 years old when we were married (ha, ha!)) 8-) Have a good one :pint: Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com P.S.: Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter at The Activity Director's Office. :hammer:

Hi, Everybody! :-D This is just a brief announcement to all of our AD friends. Bob and I are celebrating our 34th wedding anniversary today. If you would like to, drop us an e-mail to rdlucas@insightbb.com. We love you all! Linda Lucas, AD (and proud of it!) ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com http://newsletter-express.com

Hi, Blake! :-) I'm not from Oklahoma, but I would simply visit a nearby nursing home and ask the Activity Director. Just a thought. Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Sue! :-) Welcome to Activity Directors Network. You're right! This is a great site to visit. It is constantly changing and contains some great resources. Best wishes to you, Linda Lucas, AD http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com PS: Many years ago we lived in Knoxville, TN and did a lot of visiting around the Johnson City area. Are you near there? ;-)

Hi, Bobbie! :-) We do pretty much the same thing as you do. I have assembled several kits (e.g. scents, textures, sounds etc.). We have to be a bit careful about massages but provide those also. If there are more ideas out there I would certainly be interested in hearing about them. Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com http://newsletter-express.com

Hi, Sheli! :-) Welcome to Activity Directors Network. You're gonna love this site. It's quite active. Be sure to check back often. Best wishes, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com http://newsletter-express.com

Hi, Pennie! :-) I visited the "story crops" site last night. It truly is a great source for generating questions for interviewing someone. I don't think I would ever use the site itself, but I sure will borrow the questions. Also, it provided a quick print out of the generated questions. Thanks for pointing it out to us. Sincerely, Linda Lucas, AD http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com ;-)

Hi, Hope! :-) Sorry to say, even if you have a 4 year degree you are required by law to complete the two week activity directors course for certification. There is no way around it. Even if a facility hires you, it be a requirement that you get that certificate within a short period of time. It's the law. Best wishes on your AD future, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Hope! :-) I'm with you. The VFW does an excellent observance for us. It is wonderful to watch our elderly veterans take great efforts to stand and salute the flag. You can see the pride in their eyes. Give the VFW a call. Linda Lucas, AD http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com ;-)

Hi, everybody! :hammer: OK, let's act like adults here. :-o I've discovered lately that the average age of residents in our facility is getting younger. We have several residents under the age of 50 who need a regular supply of tampons. The other day one of the younger females asked me if she and a younger male resident could kiss and hold hands, etc. I said it was their right, although they should use some tact and not upset the others. She said that was fine and that they would limit it to evening hours after the older folks had gone to bed. Later she asked me if it was alright if they had sex. :pint: OK Activity Directors, I know what my answer was. What's yours and how would you chart it? Goin' nuts :hammer: , Linda Lucas, AD http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Bobbie! :-D You and Pennie have hit the nail on the head. It seems to me there will be times when attendance is down (e.g. the day after a big celebration like the Christmas party; days when it is rainy and everyone is feeling it in their arthritic joints; when there is flu in the building and the nurses are fighting a losing battle with vomit and b.m.; when there has been a significant change in a resident). However, a properly run activity program staffed by caring and motivated AD's and volunteers (this is a huge factor), and with the positive assistance of the nursing staff (sometimes this can be a battle), will always generate attendance. Princess, I've often been told by consultants that if you have at least 10% of the total census in attendance at your activity...you have a successful activity. It is our personal desire to see attendance figures approach the 80% to 90% range. But that is totaly unrealistic. So shoot for 10% and rejoice when an activity exceeds that number. You go, girl! Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Everybody! :-D Let me add a great big “AMEN!” to Diana's message. AD's are terribly underpaid for the amount of responsibility and volume of work expected from them. Don't get me started, Sister! You all know as well as I do that the activity department is as important as any other, especially when it comes to resident psycho/social needs. Not only that, it is one of the greatest marketing points of any facility and provides a means of family and community action through its volunteer opportunities. And activities, volunteerism and the newsletter you write help attract clients as much as a marketing rep...if not more. Good care, good food, cleanliness and a vibrant activity department will always attract clients. Therefore, AD's should be paid at least as much as LPN's. Don't you think? When I win the lottery I'm going to build a nursing home that pays AD's what they are worth and has a large activity department budget! Hallelujah, Sister! Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Pennie! :-D RE: your post. This sounds all too familiar, so it must be a characteristic of the aging process. I just wanted to add that the attitudes and disruptivenrss of the residents often change with turnover. That is, it always seems that at least one resident gets on everybody's nerves. When that resident cannot attend, or is no longer in the census, the whole atmosphere will change (for a while). Also, significant change in a resident (which happens often) will trigger outbursts, attitude change and social dysfunction problems. I have also noticed that, sometines, long-time residents often tolerate the significant changes of another by saying something like, "Poor thing...she can't help it...she didn"t used to be that way." They show some tolerance. But many times relatively new residents, who don't have the familiarity with the changed resident, are intolerant and either complain or mistreat (verbaly and physically) the resident who has changed. I think the problem is pretty much unsolvable, but we must be aware of the pattern of aging in some people and prepare accordingly. Don't get discouraged. Don't blame the residents, blame the physical and mental deterioration that often occurs with aging. Happy Bingoing, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice. P.S.: Oh yeah, by the way, some people have always been "horses patoots" and will never change.

Hi, Lecinsa! :-) I'm in Indiana and really don't who to contact there. I'm sure one of the other members from Texas can answer that for you. However, a good place to start looking would be The National Certification Council for Activity Professionals (NCCAP), at http://www.nccap.org/certification/certifi...evels/adpc.shtm. Best wishes to you, Linda Lucas, AD http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com ;-)

Hi, Princess! :-) May I recommend that you download a free mega-search program? Copernic Agent Basic searchs the net with some 17 powerful search engines. It picks the top 50 sites or so and provides you with a description and a link. It is really wonderful and will help you find internet resources in a matter of minutes. To get it go to: http://www.copernic.com/en/products/agent/download.html . Just download and install. I use it all of the time and just love it. If you search for Christmas you will come up with all sorts of ideas for arts & crafts, cooking, info etc. Best wishes, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Diana! :-) Thanks for your comment about my site. December will be the first edition of my newsletter. I'm wondering what other newsletters you are talking about. Happy ADing, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectosoffice.com

Hi, Again! :-D Hey! I should have attached a P.S. to my message. Here it is.... PS: You are more than welcome to submit articles of interest, poems, humor, photos and just about anything else for insertion into my newsletter. The only compensation I can offer you is the credit for the submission. All submissions are subject to editing. I cannot guarantee that all submissions will be published. However, they definatey can't be published if you don't send them to me. So be brave and fire your e-mail to me at rdlucas@insightbb.com. Main topic interests include: anything that will benefit Activity Directors; items which can be used in facility newsletters (i.e. original and/or public domain items); personal Activity Director experiences. Thanks again, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) The Activity Director's Office http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com