LaurenAD 1 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 Hello! My name is Lauren and I am a new Activities Director in New Orleans, LA. I just started 3 weeks ago and was hired at a 112 bed nursing home with the plan to certify as I work. I have an assistant director, and we are the only staff on hand. I am dealing with a lot of challenges with lack of staff support and keeping my assistant director focused on activities as opposed to "helping out." Also dealing with a lot of challenges in reactions to change - mostly from STAFF, including my assistant! My background is as a camp director, and most recently, a program assistant at a public health program. It's helped prepare me for some of these challenges...but not nearly enough. I'm very excited, though. We are moving into a new facility in a year that is based on a household model, which I am VERY excited about, because it increases the focus on homelike settings and ALL staff participating in all aspects of daily life, including activities. So I'm here not just for ideas of activities, but how to increase BUY IN to the benefits of activities. The administration wants to promote culture change in the nursing home...but I'm not seeing much support when I try to promote involvement. We help out with meals and laundry, I don't see why other staff can't help with us. There's no buy-in to the importance of activities. It's all "get business done and get out." That's not the kind of place I'd like my family to be in, and I don't think anyone would! I feel like even though it's my job to spend time with the residents, I don't have time to, because I'm too busy transporting residents back and forth, doing paperwork, planning, etc. Half of the things I try to plan never get done because my assistant director won't do it or I'm required to be elsewhere at the time! When I do activities, I'm too busy making sure residents "get their snacks" to run the activity, because in the past, half the "activities" were socials where they get food, and now if they don't get it, they flip out! I am going for my state certification next week, and am very excited to learn more about the ins and outs of what needs to be done and to talk with other Activities professionals. I'm sure my challenges are not unusual...but something's gotta give! Lauren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pag 0 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 Hi Lauren, Welcome to Long Term Care! I have worked in camp settings and now with LTC for 3 years. Hang in there! It will come together since you administration is moving for Culture Change. It will indeed be a culture change for many! Try to set aside time weekly where you can help other departments and make it an activity such as: doing hair for residents as soon as they are ready in the morning. It will be a little TLC for the res and show nursing how activities can benefit them. Another "Camp" reminder is "pick up as you go". I go past soo much stuff on the floor - grab a glove, pop it on and scoop it up as you go past. It will be less Housekeeping has to do and keep floors clear/reduce falls. Keep your smile on...let them wonder. Patti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan28 0 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 Hello everyone. My name is Bryan and I am new to the Activity Profesional world. I began volunteering about a year ago and really liked for I was doing. So, I decided to look for a job in the industry and got one at a local facility. I have been an Activities Assistant for almost six months now and the experience has been great. I am currently enrolled in the MEPAP course, and I am learning alot in a very short time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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