Hello

[richardsonl 0]

My name is Linda. i work as an activity director in Cheswick PA (Near Pittsburgh) with a 130 bed skilled Nursing facility and 120 bed assisted living facility. It is challenging trying to maintain both, but I am confident I can manage both as I priortize and chunk out time for things. I am fairly new to this position but not with Activities as I have been involved with activities for 15 plus years. I got involved with activities when I started volunteering at a facility and I worked with an Alzheimers resident a former school teacher and got her to draw a butterfly using the letters of the alphabet. I thoroughly enjoyed this and have been working with older adults and adults with disabilities ever since. I tend to enjoy lower functioning dementia residents and am comfortable around challenging behaviors (well maybe not challenging staff behaviors). I believe everyone is a person and a little compassion can go a long way. I try to put myself in their position. As a director, I wish to remain hands on as much as possible. There are times I have administrative stuff that I must complete. I am still trying to find a system that works for me.

 

My favorite activities are having residents sitting around the table and engaging residents in household type activities such as folding laundry and cooking. For the guys, I like to have nuts and bolts around for them to sort, and wood working materials for them to use. That is something I would like to add to the facility I am working at. I was spoiled at my prevous place of employment because there was a wood shop in the basement and a room where people worked on model trains. Where I work at now there is space and there isn't space for this. But maybe with a little creativity I can adapt something.

 

So what about you?

[Yelena 0]

Hello Linda, I believe we have the same class together!

[january13 0]

Good Afternoon Ladies- I believe we are all in the same class 010113/

I just wanted to let you know a couple activities we are doing in May. And of course fulfill one of the requirements of the final practicum.May 4 is the Kentucky Derby. We are decorating all our ladies cowboy hats with toule and adorning them with flowers. I ordered derbys from Oriental Trading for the guys. I am reusing the horse track from Casino Day as well as their horses. As soon as the final list is ready all th horses will be named and residents will pick one. I found a recipe for non-alcoholic mint juleps( ran it by dietary) and ordered plastic cups from the Kentucky Derby store. (last years cups were less than a dollar each). We have a new patio and will set up out there. I have invited one other ICf and the nursing home to send some folks. We will have our own race and then watch the race on TV, cook out their dinner and have a few"drinks". I hope for nice weather as our patio does not have a roof yet May is also our Prom. Last year a local high school agreed to leave their gym set up for us and it was awesome. We are using the dining room of our new day hab building thisyear and I can hardly wait. To see our folks dressed like real prom goers was aweome. This year we will have a photographer take their pics under an arbor with a backdrop. All in all both activities are really cheap. The prom a little more but the decorations can be again used next year!

Have a great summer it has been nice to chat with you all.

[Pennie 26]

H alli.. the next MEPAP starts on May 7th.. download and fax the MEPAP1 Enrollment Packet to save your spot. www.activitydirector.org

 

We just posted a new CE Workshop written by one of past grads.. Haley Burress "Must Play Well With Others: Training Your Team and Other Departments" 8 CEs

You know how hard it is to have dietary, nursing bend just a little to accommodate an activity.. well take some advice from Haley on how she makes a department flourish!...

 

 

If you dont think your ready for the Online MEPAP.. or do you need to collect 30 CEUs in one Class .. perhaps to qualify for ADPC from NCCAP.org

Written by Instructor Kathy Hughes

 

Pre-MEPAP 30 CEU

Designed to assist you in your search for a career change to the Activities Profession. If you are considering becoming an Activity Director, Activity Assistant or want to have information about the profession, then this is the course for you. It will also assist you in becoming an Activity Director Provisionally Certified (ADCP) through the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals, NCCAP which is recognized internationally as the premier certification for the profession.

 

 

Upon successful completion of the six-week course you will have 30 clock hours of continuing education, which you can apply toward your ADCP. You can then complete the Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals Part 1 and Part 2. These three components can then be applied toward you becoming an Activity ProfessionalWorkshop Objectives:

• The student will understand the history of the profession and OBRA
  
• The student will understand the Continuum of Care and the variety of options for an Activity Professional
  
• The student will understand the Ftag 248 and Ftag 249 and its implications in the delivery of activities services.
  
• The student will research the various disabilities/chronic illnesses that they may encounter in the delivery of activities services as well as adapt programs to meet the resident’s needs.
  
• The student will develop an Activities Assessment as well as implement the assessment process. The student will also learn planning skills based upon the completed assessment to better understand Person Centered Care.
  
• The student will be exposed to the documentation required for skilled nursing facilities and comprehend the extent that one must complete the documentation in a timely manner.
  

 

keep us up-to-date on how your classes are going..

 

thanks for being a part of our network, Pennie