BarbAA 1 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 After 32 years of working 50-60 hrs. a week, I retired from elementary and middle school teaching. I couldn't afford, as a single person, the luxury of not working. I go to a church that owns an 1)independent apt. 2) assisted living 3) skilled nursing facility right next door. While trying to figure out when my next position would be I volunteered there and absolutely loved what I saw and what I did. I went online and found my present position, Activities Assistant. My team is comprised of 3 of us who each leads a 'circle' of dementia/Alz residents we divide into 3 groups based on functioning. I teach the lowest functioning group and I love love love it. I am fascinated with learning an entire new vocabulary and strategies in this field. I feel I am growing as a human being, and am certainly learning how to deal with dying as our residents leave us. Hope to visit here often to share and find fun and meaningful activities for 'my folks'. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iloveoldies 1 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Hi Barb, I am a nurse who also has found my calling in activities. I worked in many facilities and found there was a need that the residents were not getting. I did my job as a nurse and tried to find the time in my day to entertain as well. I started making daily question and answer work sheets for the activity director to use with the residents.The response was so surprising. We couldn't believe our ears and eyes. The residents were engaged and enjoyed them so much...even those who don't like to join in. It took some time , but I now have six question and answer books called "memorystreets" I would love to share some of our worksheets with so you can try them with your group. You can send me an e mail with your fax number or e mail address and I will send you some sample pages or you can check out the website and get a few sample pages there as well. kimandjim9@comcast.net KIM www.memorystreets.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blondelady 0 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 Hi Barb! I too was a teacher-special education for me-but I never fit in to that job-but I have found my heart here in activities. I am an activity specialist and I am learning new and different things about how to reach into these folks to keep them engaged and involved. I am working with late end stage in a facility that is a social model-which is a new thing and we are adapting to changes every day. It is very open ended and I find that I am more of a concrete thinker-but I love the ways I can get to know the residents and find things they respond to that sparks them and their memories. It is a challenge but I truly love it.Just want you to know you are not alone in finding your niche!!! Good luck to you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMelton 0 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 To Barb and Blondelady, I was so glad to just read your posts. For the last 12 years I taught middle school and the last school was not fun nor rewarding. I am 61 so I decided that I did not want to spend the last 5 or 6 years spending my time and energy in a field I did not enjoy. I am taking the MEPAP #1 for my resume, and to learn. I am also volunteering at a couple of different facilities and trying to learn what I can. I also need to decide what level of care I am fit for. I don’t have to work for a while, but will need to eventually find a job. The Activities Assistant sounds better now. Having all of the responsibility for all of the residents’ needs sounds overwhelming. Assistant sounds better. Can you give me some feedback? Am I on the right path? How I know what kind of job I would be skilled at and enjoy? How do I land that job? Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks so much, Steve Melton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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