LindaMcLindedn

One question I would ask you is how communication works within your department. Do you have regularly scheduled meetings where staff can get together and share ideas, approaches, what's working, what's not? This is a wonderful opportunity to gain the ideas that this staff person has to offer and the Activity team can discuss them and implement some of them. It is good to request that ideas and ongoing issues be brought to this meeting. (Of course there will be problems you will want and need to learn about immediately and your staff will need to know to come to you immediately in some situations.). At your meetings express appreciation for good ideas. Express appreciation for identification of problems. Express appreciation for creative solutions. Express appreciation for her bringing issues to you. Tell others that this staff person came up with a marvelous idea to do such and such. See if you can get her on your team. Linda M

I suggest writing one yourself. Use the standard format of the policies that are in your handbook. At our facility they usually begin "It is the policy at the LHW that........" and the expectation is written down. Then the procedure is written as to how that policy will be met. Determine what you want to happen regarding one to one visits. Determine the minimum frequency of one to one interaction that will meet regulation. Create the forms that you will need for documentation. Then create the means for evaluating how successfully you are meeting the policy. We recently added to ours that a one to one crafts cart would be offered as part of one to one visits. Bring the policy to both you DON and Administrator for suggestions. I'd suggest making this a project that you can bring to Performance Improvement (e.g. Quality Assurance). Like the first calendar and the first care plan, the first PP is always the hardest. Linda M

I agree with Elaine on her input. I just had my resume done professionally. They gave me homework. I had to write down everything that I did as part of my job. Then I had to write down accomplishments - things that made a positive difference in the facility, things that saved or brought in $$, things that helped meet standards, things that improved communication, things that aided quality of life...... I suggest making those lists and adding to it as you think of things you do regularly, and things that have positively impacted the facility. Stress the work that you do as part of the Team- care planning, policy and procedure writing, safety, Performance Improvement (e.g. Quality Assurance). Administrators want to know that you work well with others. We do way more than we think we do. For me, having my resume done professionally was very helpful, although a little costly. About $500. Linda M.

I find that sometimes small ventures out of the room work as a beginning for the reluctant resident. I might say something like, "I know that you are not interested in group activities right now, but I'd like to take you for a tour around the building". Sometimes it helps if they are already out of the room - maybe for a meal? I'll offer to take them back and say something like I bet you didn't know there are a couple of ways to get to your room, shall we try another route?" Or, I might say, "Have you seen the back yard patio, would you just like to take a peek before we go back to your room. I promise you won't have to stay." I have volunteers who visit one to one who have a long term goal of getting residents out of their rooms and into activities. Dementia residents are more likely to go with someone with whom they have established a relationship. Approach, approach. It is always important, especially for dementia residents.. Sometimes, I'll say. "Its time for exercise. I'm here to bring you." They can still refuse, but they are not needing to make a choice. They can go with the flow if it is easier. Linda M.

At my facility we have a number of residents who are "tube feeders" and we have found that meal time is an excellent time to spend quality one to one time with them. In the summer season we take them outdoors, during other seasons we play games or whatever. People who are npo can feel left out when so many programs involve food. And meal time can be especially hard on them. Linda M