ineedavacation 0 Report Share Posted May 24, 2007 Moved from Ohio and a great facility. I was able to build up the programing there and add much variety. Went about a year listening to residents saying "Mary didnt do it this way" or Mary always did this". Mary being the old AD. Believe me when I say this but I hate bragging. Our local competition would call and ask to come visit so they could see how to improve their activities programing. That in itself was a compliment. I left there to move back home to Michigan to work for a brand new assisted living faclity as the assistant to the Ex. Director. This is a full time position. The AD position had already been filled by a former art teacher that hadnt any experience in this line of work. She didnt last very long and the Director told me he wouldnt let me leave as his assistant to become the new AD soooooooo I'm now the assistant to the Director AND the AD. Here we delegate activities to the CNA's. All I am supposed to do is the planning. I do try to keep my foot in some things when I have time. My problem is getting the CNA's to carry out the activities. They say they go around and ask residents to come down but no one wants to come. I'm so embarrassed to even be tied to the title of AD here because of my history of having a great program in Ohio. Disipline/firing falls on the Director not me. He keeps giving the benefit of the doubt. Suggestions?? ***Next question ....... A while back I had heard about the pen pal/postcard program between facilities all over the U.S. How can I get info on this and addresses?? Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trixiedg 0 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 I know a little about how you feel. I just had a vacation and need another. I love doing activities and anytime I get outdone with the job, I think about why I am doing what I do - my "little old folks". I too have more than one job title. I am the activity director, social worker, and admissions coordinator. Of course I like activities the most. I have an assistant that takes care of getting the planned programs done but I have to do the rest. I have been told that I should not be in the activities unless it is a special event. This way I am supposed to have time to do the paperwork for each department. I think I could work a 16 hour day and still not have enough time to do the paperwork. The hardest thing in the world for me to do is not go to the activities I plan. I have been in the AD position for about 7 months now. Just yesterday my administrator had me in her office worried that I may be getting too stressed with the paperwork and wanted to know if I will be able to handle it for both departments. I'm afraid if I say I can't, they will take away activities since I've already been told I can't get out of doing admissions and I have been the social worker for 12 years. The only thing I've got going for me is the fact they just forked out about a thousand dollars to get me certified. I know my administrator has alot of confidence in me and is worried that I may get burned out and, I guess, go off the deep end and she'll need to hire two employees to replace me. HA HA! But in all fairness, I don't want to let her or my elders down, but I don't want to lose my mind in the process. Just hang in there. That's what I'm going to do, mind intact or not. Besides look at what you did for the facility you were at before and think of the lives you have touched and will continue to touch. Good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trixiedg 0 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 Sorry, I forgot to tell you where to get the postcard club info. Go to www.senioract.com and click on exchange of ideas and then on seniorACT. This will take you to their message board. Scroll down a little ways and you will see the postcard club topic. We just joined but have not had a chance to start it yet. I gave them my email address and the address of the home I work for and someone emailed me a list of addresses of other homes from all over the US and several other countries. The great thing is, they email you anytime there is an addition. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanGuy23 2 Report Share Posted May 26, 2007 Hi Trixiedg That sounds like such a cute idea to have a pen pal program. I didn't even know there was one. How nice. Would you mind telling me more about it. Thanks for that website also. Thanks. Ps. Remember all the good that you are doing for your residents. You are a blessing but greatest of all our residents are a joy and blessing for us. This is why I know I wouldn't do any other job, because of my love for the residents and knowing I am touching lives day in and day out. OceanGuy23/ActivityMan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trixiedg 0 Report Share Posted May 27, 2007 We have not had a chance to get started with the postcard club yet. Believe it or not I'm having a hard time finding postcards. I live in podunk Mississippi with two severely understocked dollar stores. From what I can understand, everyone on the list mails out their postcards once a month or so. If everyone does their part, you should get postcards from all over the world. How cool is that? We are going to start ours as soon as I can find some postcards at a reasonable price. Gotta stick to that budget! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavenstar 0 Report Share Posted May 27, 2007 We have not had a chance to get started with the postcard club yet. Believe it or not I'm having a hard time finding postcards. I live in podunk Mississippi with two severely understocked dollar stores. From what I can understand, everyone on the list mails out their postcards once a month or so. If everyone does their part, you should get postcards from all over the world. How cool is that? We are going to start ours as soon as I can find some postcards at a reasonable price. Gotta stick to that budget! Why not try making your own postcards? There are great programs out there like works, word and print shop. You just add pictures to the front of it. Another thing is to mail PICTURES as postcards. just add a stamp and address to the back of the picture. Works the same. Another idea is to have the residents design their own postcards out of card stock. Laminate them if you wish to give it a more professional look to it before sending them on their way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanGuy23 2 Report Share Posted May 27, 2007 I live in California Trixie and I know, wouldn't it be great if every activity department could have an unlimited budget. Wowwww. HOW COOL. Heavenstar has a very good idea about just making your own postcards. If it came to the point where you couldn't find postcard at the stores your looking at just make your own. I think the residents would actually like that as an art project for themselves because they can create their own, unique postcards just the way they like. Sounds like fun. I'm for this idea too. Good luck. OceanGuy23/ActivityMan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegge 0 Report Share Posted May 28, 2007 Moved from Ohio and a great facility. I was able to build up the programing there and add much variety. Went about a year listening to residents saying "Mary didnt do it this way" or Mary always did this". Mary being the old AD. Believe me when I say this but I hate bragging. Our local competition would call and ask to come visit so they could see how to improve their activities programing. That in itself was a compliment. I left there to move back home to Michigan to work for a brand new assisted living faclity as the assistant to the Ex. Director. This is a full time position. The AD position had already been filled by a former art teacher that hadnt any experience in this line of work. She didnt last very long and the Director told me he wouldnt let me leave as his assistant to become the new AD soooooooo I'm now the assistant to the Director AND the AD. Here we delegate activities to the CNA's. All I am supposed to do is the planning. I do try to keep my foot in some things when I have time. My problem is getting the CNA's to carry out the activities. They say they go around and ask residents to come down but no one wants to come. I'm so embarrassed to even be tied to the title of AD here because of my history of having a great program in Ohio. Disipline/firing falls on the Director not me. He keeps giving the benefit of the doubt. Suggestions?? ***Next question ....... A while back I had heard about the pen pal/postcard program between facilities all over the U.S. How can I get info on this and addresses?? Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegge 0 Report Share Posted May 28, 2007 ACTIVITIES DIRECTORS NEED TO COME UP WITH INCENTIVES TO GET THE CNA'S INVOLVED LIKE A SUCKER TREE THAT HAS THE TIPS OF THE SUCKER COLORED TO GO WITH A PRIZE WHEN THEY BRING A RESIDENT TO AN ACTIVITY. LIKE RED GET CANDY BAR, GREEN GETS SMALL BAG CHIPS, BLUE GETS POP, NO COLOR GETS THE SUCKER. HAVE AN IN-SERVICE EXPLAIN IF THEY BRING THEM TO ACTIVITIES THAT FREES UP THE HALL THEY COULD TAKE TURNS SO MANY DO THE ACTIVITY AND THE OTHERS WATCH THE HALL. THE MORE TO ACTIVITIES THE BETTER FOR BOTH. LOOKS GOOD FOR THE ONE DOING THE ACTIVITY AS WELL RELIEVES THE STRESS FOR THE ONE ON THE HALL. HAVE DOOR PRIZES FOR THE AIDES THINGS YOU DON'T WANT ANYMORE OR GET GARAGE SALE GIFTS OR HAVE DONATION FOR PRIZES. CALL OUT AN AIDES NAME EVERY HOUR OR 1/2 HOUR AND GIVE THEM A PRIZE. OR HAVE THEM COME DOWN AND HAVE TO ANSWER A CNA QUESTION OR ACTIVITY QUESTION TO GET THEIR PRIZE. WHEN YOU ANNOUNCE THEIR NAME SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT THAT AIDE THAT SHE DOES WITH THE RESIDENTS AS FAR AS ACTIVITIES. HOPE THESE IDEAS HELP SOMEONE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigchris 1 Report Share Posted May 29, 2007 I totally feel your pain, I am in a new situation too and I am getting frustrated daily. I am trying to deal with it but it is soooooo negative. Today my assistant resigned so it didn't start well today..... BC Moved from Ohio and a great facility. I was able to build up the programing there and add much variety. Went about a year listening to residents saying "Mary didnt do it this way" or Mary always did this". Mary being the old AD. Believe me when I say this but I hate bragging. Our local competition would call and ask to come visit so they could see how to improve their activities programing. That in itself was a compliment. I left there to move back home to Michigan to work for a brand new assisted living faclity as the assistant to the Ex. Director. This is a full time position. The AD position had already been filled by a former art teacher that hadnt any experience in this line of work. She didnt last very long and the Director told me he wouldnt let me leave as his assistant to become the new AD soooooooo I'm now the assistant to the Director AND the AD. Here we delegate activities to the CNA's. All I am supposed to do is the planning. I do try to keep my foot in some things when I have time. My problem is getting the CNA's to carry out the activities. They say they go around and ask residents to come down but no one wants to come. I'm so embarrassed to even be tied to the title of AD here because of my history of having a great program in Ohio. Disipline/firing falls on the Director not me. He keeps giving the benefit of the doubt. Suggestions?? ***Next question ....... A while back I had heard about the pen pal/postcard program between facilities all over the U.S. How can I get info on this and addresses?? Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanGuy23 2 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 Hi Chris Hang in there and be encouraged. I feel for you though because it is always hard to lose an assistant because now you get double the work load. Hopefully you will be able to hire someone soon to fill in the gap. Be positive and look on the bright side. You are an AD because of your love for your residents and always think about your residents and the joy they bring you. I always look at that aspect and this always makes me feel better and ready to start a new day. OceanGuy23/ActivityMan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ineedavacation 0 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 Sorry to clarify on my original post..... I'm the assistant to the Executive Director not to the Activities Director. When the Original AD left I took on that position as well as staying the assistant to the ED. I like the idea of freeing up the halls by bringing residents to actiivities but unfortunately our building doesnt assign halls to CNA's. When a call button is pushed the system contacts pagers that the CNA's carry and they tell them who's paging for help and they follow through that way. I'd love it if my ED would just let me hire a full time AD so that I can concentrate on my duties as the assistant to the ED. I feel that by having both positions, I'm not able to give 100% to either position. Ok.... sorry enough whining from me. Have a Great day everyone!!! Wendy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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