Who Are You Activity Director?

[mcduck 0]

Hi all,

 

I am from Canada .....I work in a small Nursing Home ...And I run the Activity department.......and I just found your site........

How many pay for the activity Network...

Do you all like it..... I presently pay for the activity connection site....I would like to be able to compare the two sites.....

I see this site has lots of education .. And I have enjoyed reading everyones blog......

[cbishop5120 0]

Vera~

 

My name is Curtis Bishop and I just recently (this month) began as Activity Director for a LTC faciltiy in Dumas, Texas. Right now, I am going through the Activity Director - Basic course. I had worked, like you, in activities before as an assistant. Though, I had been out of the field for about 2 1/2 years. I am fortunate enough to have an assistant who has worked in the field for a number of years. Hang in there, and maybe we can learn some things from each other.

 

cbishop5120

Hi, my name is Vera. I'm in Goldsboro NC. I began as an AD Assistant. As of March of this year I completed the course Activity Director-Basic. I was an Assistant for approx. 4 months before the AD moved away. This is all new to me. I work with TBI residents. (Traumatic Brain Injury) I need all the help possible planning activities.

[musgrav8 0]

Hello everyone! My name is Monica i'm from Dumas,Tx. I've been in the AD position for 6 months now the i love it. I worked as a CNA for 8 months at the same facility. I think knowing the resident before i took the position is helping me be a better AD. What do you think?

[musgrav8 0]

Hi Sheron,

 

I'm in the same boat you are in. The AD before me didn't do much either. I have also been making up my ideas. Here are some that work for my Alzheimers residents. Try some sensery games. Also finger-painting using pudding my residents love it because they can paint and eat. Toss a beach ball around works to. If you try some please let me know how it works for you. I have alot more ideas if those don't quite work for you.

 

Monica Musgraves-Dumas,Tx

[helenwalker53 0]

Hi, my name is Helen Walker; I live in MA. I have been working in the long term care for 20 years as a CNA. But in activities for six months. i just finished the course on the .org site and i am very excited to become an activities director. I love to see the residents smile.

[kleblanc 0]

Hello I am an activity director in Louisiana. I am in a 120 bed 1 year old beauty facility. I have a part time assistant. My problem now is the resident council meeting. I had one today and sometime it gets out of hand. There is no organization to the meeting unless I stop things. Do you have any ideas on this topic?

[kleblanc 0]

Hello I am an activity director in Louisiana. I am in a 120 bed 1 year old beauty facility. I have a part time assistant. My problem now is the resident council meeting. I had one today and sometime it gets out of hand. There is no organization to the meeting unless I stop things. Do you have any ideas on this topic?

[creativefun 0]

Hello out there!

 

My name is Lee and I work as an AD at a nursing home in Durham NC. I'm new as a AD but have been in the health care field for awhile. I look forward to talking and exchanging ideas with everyone. I look forward to the beginning of Jan. And a hot bubble bath at the end of the day. Take Care all and smile it makes people wonder what your up to.

I would love to know who is out there and where they are from and what they do! I think it would be to be able to put a name with some info maybe even a picture!

[creativefun 0]

Start the meeting by reminding them who the president and vice are also who their umbudsmon is and how the cycle works. Also that this is a legal meeting and the importance their part is. Also ask them if it is their wish for you to record the mins. I brought mine back in line with putting it in that direction.

[parrisherb 0]

I would love to know who is out there and where they are from and what they do! I think it would be to be able to put a name with some info maybe even a picture!

 

 

Hi, I am beth and I am the Activity/Volunteer Coordinator for a Sunrise Senior Living Community here in North Carolina. I am responsible for providing activities for our Independent Residents and developing a successful volunteer program.

[vallerydb 0]

Hi. My name is Valerie and I am an administrator in north Louisiana. My educational background is social work and have always worked in healthcare. I have a special love for cognitively impaired residents, which explains my interests in activities. We are a 120 bed facility in a rural area. I have two activity directors. One focuses on the higher functioning residents and the other focuses on dementia and bedbound residents. My home is privately owned, which allows us to have a higher activity budget than some homes I know of. Our budget is $500.00 a month for both groups, but the costs usually are around $700.00 when all is said and done. I am a firm believer in educating my staff and all my clinical department heads, including activities, willingly (? ) go with me to area conferences several times a year. The only time area activity directors get together for support and sharing of ideas in my area is once a year while planning the senior olympics. Does anyone have any suggestions on how it is done in their area? Or if you live in north Louisiana and you gather more often, please let me know!

[burcoach 0]

copy and paste this questionnaire so we can get to know each other better and have fun! Karen

 

What is your name? Doris

 

What is your occupation? Specialist in a sheltered workshop, which means I am the AD, building maintenance person, supply clerk, and supervisor of a staff of 20. Presently we serve 70 consumers with a range of developmental disablities, providing prevocational and vocational training as well as leisure activities.

 

• What was the last thing you ate? Steak biscuit

 

•Do you wish on stars? every night

 

•If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Green

 

•How is the weather right now? Warm and sunny

 

•Last person you spoke to on the phone? My sister

 

•How old are you today? 51

 

•Favorite drink? Non-alcohol: Diet Pepsi, Diet Dr. Pepper

 

•Favorite sport(s) to watch? Duke basketball, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts football

 

•Have you ever dyed your hair? Once, never again

 

•Do you wear contacts or glasses? Glasses

 

•Pets? 2 dogs, 2 cats

 

•Favorite month? December

 

•Favorite food? Steak

 

•What was the last movie you watched? The General's Daughter

 

•Favorite day of the year? the day after Thanksgiving

 

•Fall or Spring? Both when it’s cold

 

•When was the last time you cried? I don’t know

 

•What did you do last night? Worked sociology homework - have returned to school at this late date!

 

•What inspires you? The accomplishements of the people I serve

 

•What are you afraid of? Crickets

 

•Favorite car? PT Cruiser

 

•Favorite dog breed? Golden’s

 

•How many years at your current job? 9

 

•How many states have you lived in? 3 – Florida, NC, Virginia

 

•How many cities/towns have you lived in?3 - Burlington, NC; Jacksonville Florida; Martinsville, Virginia; now I live in the country on 5 acres with my critters

[lbraxton001 0]

MY NAME IS LASHUNDA AND I AM THE AD FOR OUR MEMORY CARE RESIDENTS. I TAKE OUR RESIDENTS ON BUS RIDES AND TO DAIRY QUEEN FOR ICECREAM EVERY WEEK ON FRIDAYS. I ALSO TAKE THE RESIDENTS OUT TO LUCHEONS. WE HAVE 3 SOCIALS A DAY. EVERY MORNING WE HAVE EXERCISE. WE DO ARTS AND CRAFTS, BINGO, TRIVIA, SING A LONGS, ETC.. WE DO HAVE A COOKING CLUB THAT WE DO TWICE A WEEK. WE HAVE LOTS OF PARTIES AND ENTERTAINMENT. I AM ALWAYS OPEN TO NEW IDEAS.

[31act4fun 0]

I would love to know who is out there and where they are from and what they do! I think it would be to be able to put a name with some info maybe even a picture!

 

 

Hello,

I'm new to this sight.. I'm a AD in a 31 bed facility in Dayton,Iowa. I really enjoy my job. It gives me a chance to be creative. I've been doing this for about 3 years now and prior to that i was and still am a cna. I live on a intown acreage with my husband ,5dogs,2ponies & 2 pygmy goats! All and all i'm glad that I found this sight it has been useful so far!!!

[Dori 0]

Hi. My name is Valerie and I am an administrator in north Louisiana. My educational background is social work and have always worked in healthcare. I have a special love for cognitively impaired residents, which explains my interests in activities. We are a 120 bed facility in a rural area. I have two activity directors. One focuses on the higher functioning residents and the other focuses on dementia and bedbound residents. My home is privately owned, which allows us to have a higher activity budget than some homes I know of. Our budget is $500.00 a month for both groups, but the costs usually are around $700.00 when all is said and done. I am a firm believer in educating my staff and all my clinical department heads, including activities, willingly (? ) go with me to area conferences several times a year. The only time area activity directors get together for support and sharing of ideas in my area is once a year while planning the senior olympics. Does anyone have any suggestions on how it is done in their area? Or if you live in north Louisiana and you gather more often, please let me know!

 

Hi Valerie,

I am an AD in Alabama. Re: professional meetings we have "Disrtict Auxillary" meetings once per quarter. All of the LBSW's and AD's are invited from every facitlity in our district which is about 12 facilities for us. We have lunch and have a round table. We discuss things like who has been surveyed and any insight from that experience. WE talk about conferences we have gone to, best practices... We nominate and vote on a presidnt of the auxillary annualy. It is their responsibility to plan and execute the meetings.

 

Let me say this from an AD perspective, 2 is not enough for 120 beds. With all due respect, something will suffer with a ratio of 1:60. I also work for a privately owned facility that is fabulous but I wouldn't do this job for anything under 60K if all I had was 1 part time assistant. I feel for your staff! Good luck with the training. It definitly is possible to do a more frequent meeting than yearly.

[booberry 0]

I would love to know who is out there and where they are from and what they do! I think it would be to be able to put a name with some info maybe even a picture!

My name is Beverly and I am a activity director in Indianapolis Indiana, I work at a 130 bed golden living Center and have been with the company about 2 years. :

[Sassy 0]

What is your name? Mary

 

What is your occupation? AD 80 bed assisted living

 

• What was the last thing you ate? devil dog

 

•Do you wish on stars? Oh do I

 

•If you were a crayon, what color would you be? purple

 

•How is the weather right now? cold 12 degrees

 

•Last person you spoke to on the phone? My friend Kerri

 

•How old are you today? 41

 

•Favorite drink? Non-alcohol: Coke Zero

 

•Favorite sport(s) to watch? New England Patriots/Lacrosse

 

•Have you ever dyed your hair? YES

 

•Do you wear contacts or glasses?both

 

•Pets? 1 dog

 

•Favorite month? September

 

•Favorite food?cheeseburger

 

•What was the last movie you watched? The Notebook

•Favorite day of the year? Jan 28th

•Fall or Spring? Fall

 

•When was the last time you cried? today

 

•What did you do last night? Worked on Feb calendar

 

•What inspires you? When i reach a resident

•What are you afraid of? BUGS

•Favorite car? VW BEETLE

•Favorite dog breed? LAB

 

•How many years at your current job? 6

 

•How many states have you lived in? 1 just RI

 

•How many cities/towns have you lived in? 3 Providence, North Providence, and Warwick

[Jeanine 0]

What is your name? Jeanine

 

What is your occupation?Activity Coordinator over a skilled nursing facility with 42 beds. I have one part time assistant who is wonderful.

 

• What was the last thing you ate? fruit and yogert

 

•Do you wish on stars? shooting stars yes!

 

•If you were a crayon, what color would you be? magenta

 

•How is the weather right now?Freezing, below zero

 

•Last person you spoke to on the phone? friend

 

•How old are you today? 54

 

•Favorite drink? water, sprite zero

 

•Favorite sport(s) to watch? tennis on tv, football in person

 

•Have you ever dyed your hair? if highlighting counts

 

•Do you wear contacts or glasses?contact

 

•Pets? 2 dogs, Maya and Moose

 

•Favorite month? October

 

•Favorite food? Pasta

 

•What was the last movie you watched? You Never Looked So Good

 

•Favorite day of the year? Thanksgiving

 

•Fall or Spring? Both

 

•When was the last time you cried? Tuesday

 

•What did you do last night? watched CSI, read in bed

 

•What inspires you? happy people

 

•What are you afraid of? snakes, worms and crawly things

 

•Favorite car?Toyota convertable

 

•Favorite dog breed? Chow

 

•How many years at your current job? 2

 

•How many states have you lived in? 2 Massachusetts, Nevada

 

•How many cities/towns have you lived in?6 - Rockland, Amherst, Sunderland, Las Vegas, Haydenville, Easthampton

 

 

 

[wannahavefun 0]

Hi, My name is Diane and I work at a Supportive Living Home in Illinois. We only have 93 residents. I am new to AD and just started my job in August of 2008. My biggest problem is the activity room is upstairs and the residents down stairs don't seem to want to come up. They enjoy just sitting in the lobby telling everyone how bored they are. We are not allowed to do some things in the lobby because of the simple fact, I have an activity room upstairs. I am trying really hard to get them to come up. I did have a room full for bunco. For games my room only holds 20 residents. Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Hope to get to know alot of you on this network. Take care, Diane

[LindaZ 0]

Hi, My name is Linda and I am a Program Director, Activity Director, Lunch Server, Restroom Assistant and anything else this positon requires. I have an AA in Leisure and Recreation and AD certificate from American River College in Sacramento, CA. Yesterday (Jan 20) was my 17th year anniversary in this business, starting in a 99 bed SNF as an asst and working my way through the system to this position. We have an Adult Day Care (social model) program for clients with dementia. Our attendance varies from 12 to 15 a day. Budget is my middle name and we (i and my staff) create games and crafts on next to nothing. We have a very small room to house our program which does not lend to much flexability. So I would love ideas of any kind to bolster my resources. I look forward to sharing what I have and reaping some good ideas...LZ

[cinnamen123 0]

Hello I work in a small SNF in Fayette Mo. near Columbia we have around 30-35 residents. I am the AD and SSD.

we were hit hard in activities by the state last month .For being such a small home we have allot of very ill and noisey residents. We have only 2 large group activities a day. Allot of the residents are put to bed after meals . 1 on 1 are not done in rooms as residents are sleeping .At this time I am completly redoing our program-can anyone give me advice on how the calander should be made with large groups ,small groups hopefully the aids and other dept heads will be able to help----any advice would be most helpful Thanks!!!

[Dori 0]

I'm curious-what exactly was the problem in the eyes of the surveyors? B/c resident's returning to bed after meals is pretty common.

 

At our facility we have 2 large group ACTS per day and Tues-Th we have 1 small group a day on 2 separate halls in addition to the large. Then the rest is 1:1 or IR. I am new to the facility but this is the pattern they have always had.

[oceandiver 0]

 

Hi! I am an Activity Director from Florida. I work in an ALF with a memory unit. I have been here for six years, and LOVE it! It is Georgous! I am looking forward to utilizing this site for the benefit of my residents. It looks like an awesome site!!!!

[jmartin07 0]

Hi; My name is Julie. I am the Activity Director at an Adult Day Care. I have been an Activity Director for a little over three years and although it can be challenging, I enjoy every minute of it. I always tell my girls that everyday I learn something new from our participants. We really had a great St. Patricks Day Party and I am now planning a spring fling. Does anyone have any ideas on games for a spring fling. Thanks for any help. Julie

[TRkathy 0]

Hi; My name is Julie. I am the Activity Director at an Adult Day Care. I have been an Activity Director for a little over three years and although it can be challenging, I enjoy every minute of it. I always tell my girls that everyday I learn something new from our participants. We really had a great St. Patricks Day Party and I am now planning a spring fling. Does anyone have any ideas on games for a spring fling. Thanks for any help. Julie

 

EGG-CEPTIONAL EGG HUNT

Take apart some colored, plastic Easter eggs so you have bottoms and tops. Hide them all around the building. The object of the game is to put together as many whole eggs as possible - matching a top and a bottom of the same color. Hunt individually or in teams. If you want, allow players to swap egg pieces. At the end of the day, the person/team with the most complete eggs wins a prize.

 

EGG ROLLING

Take some hard-boiled eggs and color all but one of them. Place the uncolored egg in the center of a large circle. Have all the players stand (or sit) just outside the circle. Give each player one colored egg. Players take turns rolling their egg towards the egg in the center of the circle. The object of the game is to get as close to the center egg as possible without touching it. If you touch the center egg, or break your egg, you are out.

 

EGG PEELING CONTEST

 

You will need plenty of hard-boiled eggs. (Perhaps you can use the ones already cracked from the Egg Knocking game above.) Ready, set, go! See who can peel the most eggs in the predetermined period of time.

 

After you have peeled all those eggs, make deviled eggs.