gina 2 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 Hi All, Wow, I cant believe that I am finally saying this but I have officially retired from Activities....... :cry: Yes, I have had enough of Administrators that are 10 years younger than me telling me things that I know are wrong and wanting me to lie on paper work,Tired of cnas/nursing staff talking about how we make so much for doing nothing but playing "bingo", all the paper work, death and so on..... I know I sound bitter, but after 20 years in this buss.I have just had enough, when I started at age 17 in a nursing home i was so nieve and innocent, I wanted to save the world,now at age 37 I know that I have helped make a difference in alot of peoples lives and for that I am soooooo grateful!!!! I have made many friends along the way here ( Pennie,Pat,Linda,Bob,Miguel and more)and in person and I will still stay in touch with the site and add my 2 cents every now and then but for now I am saying bye,bye and thanks for the memories ,I know I am leaving the activities world in bright new hands that will do a wonderful job. If anyone wants to reach me : crazee_g2004@yahoo.com. Have fun! Gina :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy 0 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 Gina, You have really helped make a differernce in this profession!!! I have taken away some wonderful wisdom and ideas that you have shared. I am sorry to hear that you are leaving the profession, but I truly understand. I've been in the business about 14 years, and I feel like I am loosing the drive as well. I hope the best for you and your family. I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision. Stacy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lllucas 0 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 Gina, Gina, Gina! :-o Wow! Someone must have pushed your buttons pretty hard! But you know what? I've been thinking along those lines myself. Like a lot of us have expressed...it's becoming too much. There definately needs to be some thinking done concerning the restructuring of Activity Departments. All of us (AD's) are people oriented and our number one burning desire is to provide high quality, meaningful and interesting activities for our residents. We want to be among them...to work with them...to encourage them. What we get (and honestly, what all of the other departments get) is paperwork...meetings...more paperwork...more meetings...still more paper work...ad infinitum.... The very thing that attracted us to Activities in the first place...working with the residents...has gotten lost under piles of government/corporate mandated meetings and paperwork. And in the end it is the resident who gets screwed. Quite frankly, the average Activities Department today needs at least two full time employees. It needs one to interact with the residents and actually direct the activities. It needs another to do the paperwork and attend the meetings. But what we get is one extremely stressed out and overworked AD who is forced by necessity to cut the residents short on their activities, and/or to fudge on the paperwork (or to always be behind on charting). It's a real battle...and many of us are losing. :hammer: A word to new AD's is this: You are responsible for both the paperwork and the activities. Only you can do the paperwork. Therefore find ways for the activities to get done by others. It is imperative that you establish a trained and active volunteer corps in your facility. Let them see to the small, daily activities. You get more involved in the larger ones. If you can't delegate the activity responsibilities...you will soon be buried in paperwork, stressed out at work and at home, wonder why God let you get into this mess, and will be considering resignation. You absolutely must become a skilled manager of your time...your paperwork...and your volunteers. Work smart. :pint: Wow! I guess I needed to vent too... Gina, I wish you the best. Please stay in touch with us. We need you! Sincerely, ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mashonda 0 Report Share Posted March 28, 2005 Well, congratulations. What will you be doing now? Working in another field or retiring completely? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonytineres 0 Report Share Posted March 28, 2005 How sad, I happened upon this web site last week and was so excited to find a site dedicated to true activity professionals now I read the burn out here is beyond words. I have been an activity director for 17 years. Yes, the field has changed, the paperwork is killer, finding qualified staff is difficult, paying them a wage that keeps them is even more difficult, the meetings are indeed ridiculous and the list of stress could fill an entire page. But... we as activity professionals have an obligation to keep our chins up. These residents need us!! I have found that in dealing with Administrators you must speak their language-keep your emotion out of it. As far as bringing other staff on board to help- you must be relentless- attend the nurses meeting, attending the CNA meeting, give your housekeepers a wind up music box and have them keep it on their cart and place it in rooms of bedbound residents, bring the maintenance men on board and have them run your mens group-it takes time and patience and a whole lot of give and take. And, yes you will have people who say " Gosh I wish I could play bingo all day and get paid for it.", just let it go and know at the end of the day you've made a difference. To the new Activity Directors out there... have high standards, hire tough and manage easy, keep the residents as your central focus, leave you ego at the door and never whine to your administrator. P.S. It helps to be choosy in what type of facility you work for... **Hope I haven't offended anyone** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest_Kathy Report Share Posted March 29, 2005 Amen!!!!! Too many times we look at all the endless nonsense and never see the forest for the trees. Instead of annoucing proudly that we are in a profession that has tremedous rewards, impacts people lives and is a GREAT challege we look at all the rest of the stuff. You didn't offend me! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gina 2 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2005 Hey All, I am glad to hear that there are many of you that still enjoy your job,thats what our residents need! I on the other hand know when to leave,when I am not giving 200% like I have for the past 20 years, I know its time to move on to something else.I dont want to be one of those people that I have worked with for many,many years that just go to work and not enjoy my work, and thats where I am right now. I do know that there are wonderful perks of the job and dont want to discourage new A.D.s because it is a Great job when you are into it.The purpose of my post was just to vent MY feelings and to say thanks to all of my online friends. Have fun and keep in touch! Gina :-) P.S. - In answer to Mashonda's question- No I am too young to retire, I will be working with children now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braydon 0 Report Share Posted March 29, 2005 I too just found this site last week, and have already enjoyed much of your input. It's sad to see you go, but you sound like you've put your time in! But as you said you are leaving things in good hands. I see your point of view and completely understand it, but being a new activities director I don't want to let that stop me. I want to start a new generation of AD.... a brigade if you will, of people ready to take on the task where these wonderful (and burnt out!) AD's have left off. Let's keep up the battle and start fresh, with new idea's, exciting stories....and everything else this site has to offer.... the New Gen. AD Brigade start's now..... TO THE FUTURE.....! :hammer: THREE CHEERS FOR YOU BY THE WAY! CHEERS! :pint: CHEERS! :pint: :pint: CHEERS! :pint: :pint: :pint: and good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heatherla 0 Report Share Posted April 1, 2005 Wow. I have been in the field about 10 years. And although I have had my moments of throwing in the towel, I have somehow managed to hang on. Gina, hats off to you and to what you have done. My personal thought about LTC has been I know I cannot change EVERYONES mind, or bring them on board. And I know that everyone will not take away everything that I say.. but there will be that one, or two or maybe even more who do listen, or watch, and then put into play what I was trying to get across. And then, they may teach or show a few more, and then it is a domino effect, and people who are in your facility, or who have moved on to others, are also doing these things. It takes time, and dedication to make changes- but you can all do it!! Braydon, I want to be on your brigade- the activity professionals can and DO make a difference!! So you new directors- don't be discouraged. Be tough- don't get pushed around. If you show that you are professional, and contribute to meetings, problems and SOLUTIONS for our residents- others will see you are more than the "bingo babe" of the facility. You see your residents as individuals, and you see what they need, and you know the benefit your program can offer. Don't underestimate the power of an in-service as well- teach others what you do- and how you benefit others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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