lllucas

Hi, Everybody! :-D I am regularly scheduled to work Monday-Friday. However, like Miguel, I participate in quite a few weekend activities. Many times the Resident Council has some fundraising project going on that I take part in (e.g. operating a food booth at the annual horse show at the county fairgrounds; supervising the annual dog show for the local spay/neuter people; also, parties and special events). Like Miguel said, be sure you get comp time for your weekend efforts. All AD's need adequate rest :pint: . I also work as the weekend supervisor (we call ourselves the "idiot of the weekend" :hammer: ) one weekend every two to three months. Those days are usually 4 hours each from 10:00 to 2:00. Often my husband comes in and volunteers for one or both days. Have fun with your job, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Miguel! :-) I'm glad you brought this up. We've been using the Chicken Soup books for several years now...and they are all wonderful! The residents really enjoy the stories. Great suggestion! Thanks, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://theactivitydirectorsoffice.com

Hi, Alley! :-D Welcome to the Internet world of Activity Directors. You will find that this job is one of the most frustrating :hammer: , yet rewarding :pint: careers in the world. I'm so glad you have chosen it. This site, Activity Directors Network, is one of the very best for Activity Directors. Be sure to check out their web links and feel free to stay in contact through the message board. Two other great sites are Gina Salazar's sites, Activity Ideas That Work and Activity Chat. Also, I invite you to visit my new site, The Activity Director's Office at http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com. It offers activity ideas, some newsletter help as well as many web link resources. If you need some help writing your monthly newsletter, take a look at my husband's site, Newsletter-Express.com. He offers free facility newsletters to AD's and will personalize it for a small fee (great for marketing). His address is http://www.newsletter-express.com. I wish you the very best, Sincerely, Linda Lucas, AD ;-)

:-D Hi, Gina! Hey! Where do you get all of this great stuff :-o ? It doesn't really matter...just keep it comin'. Thanks for all of you useful contributions. You're Great! Talk to you later... Linda Lucas, AD ;-) PS: Is the information you post copyright free? If it is my husband would like your permission to include it in his free newsletter The Health Care Express. This is the newsletter available on his site. AD's can download it and use it as their facility newsletter. You can check it out at http://newsletter-express.com.

:-) Hi, Gina! Thanks for your advice. We have an Alzheimer/Dementia secured unit as well as a structured living unit. However, there are still early stage Alzheimer's and mild dementia residents in the general population. They are the ones that need attention. I will share your suggestions at the next department meeting. Thanks again, Linda Lucas,AD ;-)

:-D Hi, Gina! Mama Mia! Thank God for Pizza! :pint: And thank you for all of this information. My residents will love it. I like all kinds of stuff on my pizza. Bob, my husband, only likes pepperoni. Talk to you later, Linda Lucas, AD :-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com http://www.newsletter-express.com http://shopcjo.com

Hi, mawbell! Wow! :-o Thanks for all of the great ideas. I'll definately use some of them :-D . Thanks very much, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) Hey...visit my site when you get a chance: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com Also, if you need a facility newsletter (for free) visit my husband's site at http://www.newsletter-express.com.

:-) Hi, All! We recently had our State survey and the surveyors mentioned concentrating in the Alzheimers/Dementia care area next year :-o . Also, some of our staff attended a special seminar on caring for Alzheimer/Dementia residents so they can present inservices. All of us have to have that particular training over the next few months. Question: Can someone bring us up to date on what to consider, what to implement, what to expect...anything that will help AD's to better meet the needs of Alzheimer/Dementia residents. Looking forward to some excellent advice, Linda L. Lucas. AD ;-) Check out my site: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com Need your facility newsletter for free? Visit: http://www.newsletter-express.com

:-) Hi! Hey, your ideas sure beat my caramel apples and apple cider & donuts all to pieces :hammer: . However, thanks a million for so many great ideas to supplement the food items :-D . Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com http://newsletter-express.com http://shopcjo.com

:-D Hi, Everybody! The neatest thing occured a few years back. I became aquainted with a local dog groomer who is a strong advocate for animal rescue and spay & neuter. She put me in touch with a Sheltie Rescue group and the regional Spay/Neuter folks. Together we planned a local dog show to be held in our facility. All entry fees (five dollars enters each dog in all categories) went to the Spay/Neuter organization. However, if the dog doesn't take part in the categories, participation is free. For such a small town we have a tremendous turnout each year (usually 25-30 dogs compete, and another 10-15 just show up for a good time). Categories include: smallest puppy, largest dog, looks most like its owner (a dress up event), tricks, barking on cue, longest hair, shortest legs, best kisser on cue, etc. The event is moderated by the dog groomer (our gal really enjoys it!), but the AD could also do it. Each event is judged by a panel of residents + a guest or two. Prizes are provided by local merchants. Certificates of participation and event winners are provided by the AD (via Microsoft Publisher and neat certificate paper from the local office supply store). The event lasts about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Refreshments are not needed unless you want the added pressure :hammer: . Oh, yes...tail wags, slurpy kisses and laughter is free! This event provides you with a tremendous public relations opportunity and a chance to pickup some volunteers :-D . The residents will talk about it for many days to come. Don't forget to take lots of pictures. Visit my site if you have the time: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com If you need a facililty newsletter visit my husband's site: http://newsletter-express.com Bless you all, Linda Lucas, AD ;-)

:-D Hi, Blackjack! At my facility I use Microsoft Publisher for most of my printing needs. It allows for a lot of creative decoration. I also have a bulletin board that measures 36"x24". In Publisher I have created a one page weekly menu which is copied and given to each resident (landscape style). Next I have taken the form for one day, enlarged it to fit an 8 1/2"x11" sheet of paper (portrait style). I then copy from the weekly menu and paste into the large day menu until I have one large sheet for every day. On an eighth page I place all of the items of the menu that are furnished each cay (namely drinks) :pint: . The daily menus fit perfectly on the bulletin board and make an awesome looking presentation. It is also excellent for failing eyes to read. Send me your e-mail address and I will send you a copy of the small and large menu forms as attachments :-) . You can reach me at linda@theactivitydirectorsoffice.com. I also have a web site for you to visit: http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com. Also, if you are interested in receiving your facility newsletter for free check out my husbands site: http://www.newsletter-express.com. Best wishes in livening up your menu board! Linda Lucas, AD ;-)

Welcome, Dawn! AD wages vary across the nation. It all depends on whether you live on the west coast or the east coast (where wages are much higher to match the cost of living), or somewhere in the middle of the nation. A wage of 20+K/yr is a fair amount for an experienced AD in the middle of the nation. A starting wage for someone with no previous experience should be around the $7.00/hr area. It also depends upon whether you are fulltime or parttime; how much experience you have; your educational/professional training. The truth is...no one can give you a definate answer because there are so many variables. But note this: Corporations tend to lean to the low side of the wage spectrum when hiring...especially if that person is parttime. Hang in there...it will get better. Especially if you're getting paid to do what you love to do. I also have a site... http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com which you may visit. If you need a facility newsletter (for free), try my husband's site... http://www.newsletter-express.com. Best wishes, Linda Lucas, AD

Welcome, Elvia! :-D I have been an AD since 1983 and you are right...it is great to find a website where we can get new ideas. One of my first AD jobs was as Activity Director at McMillan Adult Day Care Center in Terre Haute, Indiana. It was among the first ADC's in the nation. It was a real challenge to come up with ideas :hammer: . Fortunately, Indiana State University was just a few blocks away and we were able to get Recreational Therapy students to volunteer as part of their practicum requirements. Some of them had some great ideas. If you have a college or university nearby give their Recreational Therapy Department a call and see if you can host their students ;-) . I also have a site... http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com which you may visit. If you need a facility newsletter (for free), try my husband's site... http://www.newsletter-express.com. Best wishes, Linda Lucas, AD :pint:

:-) Hi, Big Chris! Nearly 100% of the time your advice is correct. Sites that offer free stuff usually collect your registration info and sell it to spam marketers (which are as bad as telemarketers) :-x . However, once in a great while you run into a genuine, absolutely free offer Happy AD'ing ;-) Linda Lucas, AD :-D

:-) Hi, Everybody! Do you need help with your facility newsletter? Check out http://www.newsletter-express.com. This site offers absolutely free :-D monthly newsletters for you to use as your own. Newsletter-Express.com does not ask for you to register. They don't collect e-mail addresses to share with a third party. Your newsletter will contain a very small amount of advertising which you must leave in it when you use it. The advertisers help keep the newsletter free. See http://newsletter-express.com, click on "Get Newsletter" in the upper right hand corner. Click on the free newsletter circle. Click "I Promise." Print the newsletter on your printer. Bingo! Your monthly newsletter is ready. It's that easy :pint: . Now you can get back to your real job...activities and all of that charting :hammer: . Happy AD'ing ;-) Linda Lucas, AD :-D

:-) Hi, Everybody! Check out http://www.newsletter-express.com. This site offers FREE :-D monthly newsletters for you to use as your own. The site was created by my husband, Bob, who is a retired Health Facility Adiministrator :pint: . He has written my facility's newsletter for the last eight years. Because he loves Activity Directors (he's married to one :hammer: ), and appreciates the time and energy it takes for us to write a professional looking monthly newsletter, he decided to offer it to everybody via the internet. When you visit Newsletter-Express.com, you will discover that he does not ask for registration. He doesn't collect e-mail addresses to share with a third party. Your FREE newsletter contains a small amount of advertising which you should leave in it when you use it. The advertisers help make the newsletter FREE. He also offers a personalized version of the same newsletter (but without the advertising). You owe it to yourself to check it out at http://www.newsletter-express.com ;-) . Happy AD'ing ;-) Linda Lucas

:-) Hi! Thank you ActivityDirector.net for providing us with such a beautiful and helpful site. My name is Linda Lucas and I am the Activity Director at Williamsport Health & Rehabilitation Center in Williamsport, Indiana. I have been an AD since 1983 and I am married to a retired Administrator. Together we have built a new website for AD’s. It is called The Activity Director’s Office and it features both national and Indiana resource web links. Please check it out at http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com ;-) . If you like the site I would appreciate it if you would bookmark it and/or add it to the web links listed on your site. I’m trying to promote my site and I’d really appreciate any assistance or advice you can give me. Also, my husband has built a website which provides free health care facility newsletters :-D . The site is called Newsletter-Express.com and can be found at http://www.newsletter-express.com. If you have to write your facility newsletter, you owe it to yourself to check out this site :-D . Thanks for your help. Linda Lucas, AD.