aRBeRec 0 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 This may not sound like a problem, but its about to be. I have an 159 bed facility and 8 full time recreation aides, I have multiple activities going on all day, everyday, and I was just told "Good News, you can hire two more." I said I don't need them and still I'm getting them... so what can I do. I can't add more activities because attendance is low since we have 4 things going on at once. I'll assign more 1:1 visits but even that its just too much. Any ideas of new programs to add? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thagen 0 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 Have you thought of having one of your activity aides become part of the falls management team and help facilitate activities during the highest fall times? This may not sound like a problem, but its about to be. I have an 159 bed facility and 8 full time recreation aides, I have multiple activities going on all day, everyday, and I was just told "Good News, you can hire two more." I said I don't need them and still I'm getting them... so what can I do. I can't add more activities because attendance is low since we have 4 things going on at once. I'll assign more 1:1 visits but even that its just too much. Any ideas of new programs to add? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavenstar 0 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 What a wonderful problem! Here are some suggestions: Break up the staff-- shift work-6:00-2:00, 2:00-10:00, and weekend staff. Different off days too. You work the Monday thru friday- 8:5 and see all of your staff every week. Divide up duties: have a couple go through the files, decorations and such and organize every week. Make an inventory. Allow time to research on the computers for different activities and stuff to do. Have a rec aide go on a field trip alone to scope out new places to visit and make sure everything is accessible, affordable, easy to manage. Have someone do the shopping/errands once a week. Have an health and wellness person: This person would do all the programming and implementation for everything health and wellness. Have a volunteer person: In charge of resident volunteers and also outside volunteers- being responsible for volunteer appreciations, intergenerational programs, volunteer retention and newsletters Spiritual committee: making sure everyone is taking care of spiritually. Would definitely overlap other areas such as Christmas party etc. Party/social committee- doing all the party and social activities- may need help from all the other staff when a big party happens Education committee- Having guest speakers come in to talk about different subjects, teaching computer classes or photography classes, etc. Arts and Crafts: Being in charge of all things crafty. Fundraising-- if you need it-- to go out in the real world and solicit donations and ask for funding. ***Of course, everyone would need to help out and fill in when needed, and many would overlap-- but that will add to the creativity of the program!*** My thought is that if you have people working shifts-- you don't have everything going on at once. You can have a late night pajama party with movie and popcorn for those who are night owls. And you can also have early morning Yoga for those who are morning people! The weekends could be full of family stuff to do or different field trips. Also, your one on ones could be more in depth and not rushed. With this many people working to make activities a successful program, you can be really creative and dream big! Plus with all the different personalities, you can let everyone do what they are GREAT at-- and it will be successful for everyone- including the residents! Plus, you won't need to work yourself to death getting everyone to activities and making sure you have enough on your calendar yet still doing all the meetings and paperwork. What concerns me is why are they giving you more people? What are their expectations of act staff? Are other areas-- CNA's fully or overstaffed too or are they expecting you to fill in and help out with them? Also, with this many people, you will have lots of conflicting personalities and problems because of that-- some people will work and some will watch others work. Keep this in mind and have different job descriptions for each one so that everyone is responsible for different things-- that way someone is not always picking up the slack or taking all the credit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aRBeRec 0 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 What concerns me is why are they giving you more people? What are their expectations of act staff? Are other areas-- CNA's fully or overstaffed too or are they expecting you to fill in and help out with them? Also, with this many people, you will have lots of conflicting personalities and problems because of that-- some people will work and some will watch others work. Keep this in mind and have different job descriptions for each one so that everyone is responsible for different things-- that way someone is not always picking up the slack or taking all the credit. The biggest reason is for the addition is for evenings to help in dementia unit and help serving dinner Thanks for all the ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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