Activity Aide or Personal Assistant???

[jules1971 0]

I am just getting more and more frustrated and I am not sure if others are going thru the same issues so I thought I would express myself and see if anyone has any thoughts. My background is in OT for 15 years and for 10 as AD. Lately, some staff, like OTR and RN's act as if the Activity Department is supposed to be the personal assistant to every resident. By personal assistant I mean this (for example): Fathers Day Party for male residents only. Party has ended, and we are cleaning up and putting away the food and beer we served... along comes OT and asks us to serve one of the LADIES on OT caseload with the food and beer we have (i.e. stop what you are doing, take out the food we putaway and make these lady residents a plate of food that we just served to the men). One of these ladies OT is "concerned" about because the resident doesn't want to do anything all day- and refuses invitations to group activities.... but can't we find SOMETHING for this lady to do? (Resident is alert and oriented and has always been non-motivated or social). Then, OT says "Have you ever planted a garden here before?" I say "Yes, but it didn't go over well with the up keep, no one waters the plants etc and that is just one more thing for activities to do, when we are already short staffed." OT: "Oh, don't worry, I will get a resident to take care of it, the residents have been telling me in OT that they REALLY want a garden." OK, so we plant a garden, and just as predicted- NO ONE has taken care of the garden or have even asked about how the plants are doing. Now, OT wants one of their residents to have laundry brought to them so the resident can help fold. Good in theory, but yet again, it is pushed onto Activities, to make sure the resident gets the laundry to fold (again, all parttime activity staff and limited staff at that). We have 100 residents and 1 to 2 part time activity staff per day...how is it possible to give each resident their own "special treatment" and meet all the demands of residents seperately? When a resident is in OT it is easier for that department to give the resident a little extra TLC, special attention, one on one attention, special treatement (and NOT that there is anything wrong with that) BUT in activities we have less staff, more residents, and more things going on at one time, we just cannot cater to these demands. I have also been asked to provide different CD for numerous residents. (i.e. one needs a German speaking CD, one needs German music, one needs classic country, one needs big band, one needs bagpipe....etc..."Do you have in your department any CD's like these that you could give the residents"... If ONLY we could just give the resident their ever desire, wish, want. Where do you draw the line to providing personal use items???) I think that OT has some pretty good ideas and I know they mean well and have the best of intentions, but it almost makes me feel like the Activity Department is inadequate, uninvolved and not encouraging. I have always felt confident in my department and felt like we provide A LOT of meaningful activity and developed bonds equally with all residents, and now I am beginning to doubt my confidence. Anyone else feeling like me? (sorry so long,,, I am just frustrated today because it is getting out of hand.)

[themusiclady 1]

You have my sympathy! It's not easy sometimes is it, and though I am the last person to shoot anyone down in flames who is simply being enthusiastic or having ideas, I sometimes have days when the suggestions are more preparation work than I could do in a month!

 

'Where do you draw the line to providing personal use items'

 

I have seen the latest move to client-centred care and wonder about this myself, given that most places are restricted on budget and often the staff are racing around trying to do all the tasks already.

 

Personally I think it would be better to hire an extra staff member or activity consultant who come in and provide this service, because otherwise there is as you say no natural limitation, and the day-to-day staff will always need to prioritise the immediate needs in the surroundings, and manage the overall group dynamic.

[LisaRee 0]

I know exactly what you mean! Wow I thought I was they only one who went through things like this.

 

We're constantly going through what you are. I'm lucky enough to have plenty activity aides but I have the same problems with our CNA's and nurses. Right now we're at 97 residents total...that includes our skilled unit. I've often wondered exactly how we can give each resident the attention they deserve. Not only that, CNA's will bring down residents with serious behavior problems (yelling, cursing, spitting) and put them in the activity room expecting my AA to stop their groups and attend to this one resident. They just don't understand.

 

I don't have a solution for you, but just know that you're not alone.

 

Good luck!