New Guidlines For Alf In Pa

[sspanda 0]

I am an AD in an ALF in PA. As of Oct. 24th we are under new state guidlines and they are much stricter than before. We are now required to do Care Plans for each resident and this is something that I have never done before. I am wondering if there is anyone else out there from PA. How are you dealing with the new regs?

Also, I am my entire department in an 80 resident facility and my Admin. keeps telling me he wants me to take my department to a "the next level". I don't know how to do that by myself. I have asked repeatedly for a part time staff for my dept. but so far nothing! I also take care of arranging all transportation for our building (MD and therapy appts.) This takes up a good deal of my time.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sandy

[wonytineres 0]

I would recommend that you spend a week doing a time study- keep track of how you spend your time- time spent doing groups, time spent arranging the medical/therapy appointments (which you SHOULD NOT be doing), time spent planning, etc. Then schedule a 1:1 meeting with your Administrator/Director. Share the results of your time study and then share your vision for the type of activity program you want to offer i.e. person centered, meaningful, life enriching and purposeful activity programming vs. the usual birthday party, bingo, bible study, exercise activity program. Try to gather some comparisons about other ALF in your area- Do they have full time/part time activity staff, how involved are the Personal Care Attendants, etc. I work for a CCRC in Wisconsin. We have a 48 bed ALF, we have one full time activity staff person and 1 part time (20 hours per week). THe PCAs also do one group activity per day in the ALF. When talking with your 'boss' about this remember... speak their language, do not run into the 'bosses' office and start rambling about how much the residents love you, love the activities, how stressed you are, how much you do and definetly do not cry. I think we often make the mistake of being dramatic when talking to our Administrators about our role/department. A large part of an Administrator's job is to run the facility as a business- this means MAKE MONEY. You need to show him/her that in order for your ALF to become a provide of choice and to attract the private pay $$ you must have an innovative, dynamic activity program and in order to do that you must have professional, talented, creative activity staff- and more than one is necessary. Good Luck!

[Guest Guest]

What size ALF do you work in? Do the new regs apply to all ALF or just those in your state

[sspanda 0]

I am in PA and to the best of my knowledge the new regs apply only to our state. Each state has their own set of regs.

Our facility has the capacity for 88 residents but our current census is 76. Some of our rooms designed for 2 people are being occupied by only 1, per residents choice.

Thank you to wonytineres! You gave some very good advice on evaluating my time and my program objectives.

Sandy