gaelicpaddy

Hi Laurie,'My name is Trish. I am the activity director for a 76 bed facility with three assitants. I have worked at my job for only a year. But, I actuall started working there as an aide in '93, got promoted to AD, and resigned in 2001, moved away for a few years and came back to just recently. I think what I'm doing is awesome. We just recently let go one girl and it has made the work load harder, but it has been a blessing! We are always looking for a group activity that the residents will enjoy besides bingo and dominos (those seem to be the two favorites!) Thanks for your post and good luck in the future! Trish

Christy, What a dilema! I think you need to sit down with your assistant and have her come up with a clear schedule (I know that you have probably down this w/ her). If the job was explained to her that she has to work every other weekend and even then only a few hours, then you may have to let her go since she isn't living up to what the job requires. It sounds good that she wants to continue working three days per week: have one (or two) of those days be her weekend that she would normally work. It doesn't sound like the weekend hours are too difficult. You might have to let her go if she still can't live up to the verbal agreement for employment the two of you had. Make sure what you told about her hours is put down in writing in a memo. Even after the fact, a memo is binding... Tell her in the memo: here's what we agreed to in the interview about working hours, benefits, vacation, etc. In the end, I don't honestly believe she's there for the right reasons and will weed herself out if she's not let go first. You need to talk to your admin. about this, if its legal... Are there any restricitons for work she has from when she was hurt? It makes me wonder if she's only allowed to work three days per week. Something to think about. Good Luck! Trish (Gaelicpaddy)

It is always difficult to turn down entertainers/volunteers. Finding a replacement program and person is a stressful event and your programming suffers as a result. However, if your volunteer is really bad and residents are starting to leave when she comes, then your programming is already suffering. You may have to discuss with her in private changes the residents have asked for when she is there and pose it the way you have on your post (tell her residents can't hear, etc.). She should be willing to change. If she is unwilling. maybe she doesn't know any older songs and doesn't want to admit it. Try giving her a sing-a-long book. Or, it sounds as if your higher functioning residents don't like her because they cannot hear her in your activity room. Why not have her do something in a different room where there may not be as much noise for residents. (A longe area, maybe?)? You might have to let her go, and tell her that you like having her help, but the singing program isn't working and you want to suspend it until you can figure out why. Good luck!