bigchris 1 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 Hello folks, This week I wanted to start a "New way" of thinking. For those of us who have been in the biz for a while, I think that it is safe to say that we sometimes get into a pattern. For instance, I was in a care plan meeting yesterday and I realized that we used to define our residents with a Problem, Goal and Approach. Now, these are not necessarily (sp) "bad" words. However, I was a problem child to my grandparents and that was not a good thing! What I am trying to point out is this... We create an unspoken "feeling" when we use certain terms. You will notice in future posts and the classes; that I am going to use different terms for careplans. We are moving away from terms that shape our residents as burdens to the staff at the nursing home and recognizing thier STRENGHTS as human beings. You may also notice that Goals and Approaches are still used in the careplans. Some people use other terms like intervention, plan, objective, purpose,ability, etc. We will also become more resident specific in the way that we think versus using blanket terms that cover a huge variety of people. This means eliminating phrases such as "resident will attned Bingo 5 times a week". Does the resident enjoy Bingo? How do you know? Why are are they going? What benefit will it have for him/her? Who wants them to attend? We will utilize words for what the resident enjoys doing and what they tell us, either in person or by an extensive information gathering by us. Example: I am a gardener who takes great pride in my vegetable garden. I will maintain the container garden(weather permitting) on the patio each day with assistance from Sally the activity assistant. Doesn't that seem better to you? Think about the picture that we paint with our language. Remember that our written words are in black and white, they have no voice. We need to paint them as positively as we can! Until next time, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavenstar 0 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 Well said (written)! If everyone chose to speak in an optimistic voice and write the same way, we would all have completely different attitudes about work, coworkers, residents and life in general. More positive and productive things come about when people have better attitudes and outlooks-- and not focus on "problems!" I have a great example of how words and attitudes affect things. Because of Hurricane Ike back in September, we had to evacuate 88 residents and only a few have been able to come back (and that was last week)! Construction is a nightmare and it is one problem after the other. While no one expected this to be good, the attitude and feeling of the staff and residents is so depressing!!! Everyone comes in moaning and groaning and complaining. The residents complain, and the stress level has exceeded everyone's limit! All of the staff have been sick-- two in the hospital. Seven residents have passed away since Christmas and with that, the outlook on life just keeps getting worse! I try to point out the positive things that are happening, and our nurse and social worker does the same, but it is an uphill battle! I have seen first hand how just the way we word things, the optimistic attitudes and the general feeling about everyone can really make a tremendous difference in life! Now if only we can get back to that!!! Hello folks, This week I wanted to start a "New way" of thinking. For those of us who have been in the biz for a while, I think that it is safe to say that we sometimes get into a pattern. For instance, I was in a care plan meeting yesterday and I realized that we used to define our residents with a Problem, Goal and Approach. Now, these are not necessarily (sp) "bad" words. However, I was a problem child to my grandparents and that was not a good thing! What I am trying to point out is this... We create an unspoken "feeling" when we use certain terms. You will notice in future posts and the classes; that I am going to use different terms for careplans. We are moving away from terms that shape our residents as burdens to the staff at the nursing home and recognizing thier STRENGHTS as human beings. You may also notice that Goals and Approaches are still used in the careplans. Some people use other terms like intervention, plan, objective, purpose,ability, etc. We will also become more resident specific in the way that we think versus using blanket terms that cover a huge variety of people. This means eliminating phrases such as "resident will attned Bingo 5 times a week". Does the resident enjoy Bingo? How do you know? Why are are they going? What benefit will it have for him/her? Who wants them to attend? We will utilize words for what the resident enjoys doing and what they tell us, either in person or by an extensive information gathering by us. Example: I am a gardener who takes great pride in my vegetable garden. I will maintain the container garden(weather permitting) on the patio each day with assistance from Sally the activity assistant. Doesn't that seem better to you? Think about the picture that we paint with our language. Remember that our written words are in black and white, they have no voice. We need to paint them as positively as we can! Until next time, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themusiclady 1 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 I think language is *very* important, for example saying to self 'I can't do it' creates a whole different mindset than 'I don't know how to do this yet'! There's a whole psychology around reframing things called Cognitive Behaviour Therapy or REBT, which shows how what we believe about a situation influences our behaviour- sometimes erroneously or irrationally. http://www.rational.org.nz/public/12principles.htm Really the only things that are strictly 'problems' are the most negative like violence, we tend to label minor irritations as 'problems' because fo a low discomfort tolerance; but however things are labelled it's usually more a case of 'situation to be managed' and that's a more positive way of expressing it, it conveys hope that there is going to be a way to manage, even if it's difficult right now. Someone sent me this last week http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35ypus it is very interesting that the more blessed our lives the less we seem to appreciate things! I think laughter is often the answer- laughing at the absurdity or comedy in the situation, and laughing even at our own responses to things when they're out of whack...that's the best remedy for 'problem' mindset. Most things aren't nearly as bad as we tell ourselves, and every single day people cope with a lot worse and get by. I was in Houston for Ike too, I thought the people were wonderful with each other, very helpful though one sanctimonious neighbour who told me she was 'spared because I'm right with God' I did briefly want to scream! But I just laughed and thought wonder if she'd be sitting here saying 'I should have been right with God' if her roof had blown off like some of the other neighbours... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dori 0 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Well said (written)! If everyone chose to speak in an optimistic voice and write the same way, we would all have completely different attitudes about work, coworkers, residents and life in general. More positive and productive things come about when people have better attitudes and outlooks-- and not focus on "problems!" I have a great example of how words and attitudes affect things. Because of Hurricane Ike back in September, we had to evacuate 88 residents and only a few have been able to come back (and that was last week)! Construction is a nightmare and it is one problem after the other. While no one expected this to be good, the attitude and feeling of the staff and residents is so depressing!!! Everyone comes in moaning and groaning and complaining. The residents complain, and the stress level has exceeded everyone's limit! All of the staff have been sick-- two in the hospital. Seven residents have passed away since Christmas and with that, the outlook on life just keeps getting worse! I try to point out the positive things that are happening, and our nurse and social worker does the same, but it is an uphill battle! I have seen first hand how just the way we word things, the optimistic attitudes and the general feeling about everyone can really make a tremendous difference in life! Now if only we can get back to that!!! Heavenstar Well said and I love the last papragraph. Don't those folks just need to be slapped sometimes!!??!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dori 0 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Sorry that was meant for music lady Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigchris 1 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 Thank you for your reply..... I think that it is important to remember too, that it is very important to practice each day. For instance, I take time to read for at least an hour on topics that I want to get better with.... Positive speaking and outlook is one of them!!! I am not quite there yet, but I try to practice each day. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.