More Holiday Cheer

In the rush to the holidays, it's easy to forget how important the little things can be. This lovely short film is a reminder of how tiny acts of kindness can equal remarkable change. Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas to you from everyone at We Care Online!

Big News for CNAs

You asked for it, and We Care delivers! Starting in January, our Certified Medication Aide classes are expanding to include four new states. If you're a CNA and want to expand your skills and employment opportunities, this is the class for you. Certified Medication Aides are qualified to do everything a Certified Nurse Aides does, but with the added opportunity to pass medications. Our CMA class will teach you everything you need to know about medications, herbal supplements, drug interactions, and how these things work in the body. The class is currently available in Kansas and South Dakota, but in the new year we'll have it available for CNAs in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Montana. Start your new year off right, and come join the first Medication Aide classes in four new states!

A little holiday cheer

Here's a cute clip of pets singing "Deck the Halls." Perfect for spreading some holiday cheer on the job and at home!

Holiday Gifts

In all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it's often easy to overlook relatives who live in managed care facilities. This, coupled with the general stress of the holidays, can make it an especially lonely time for residents. Today's blog is directed more at the friends and families of residents than the caregivers. If you absolutely can't get away for a visit, but want to get something special for your friend or relative, this article has a fantastic list of inexpensive suggestions: Holiday Gifts for Nursing Home Residents.

If you have time to do more than send a gift, but can't quite make it over for a visit, consider doing something a little more involved than just sending a car. Record an audio or video message instead. You can pick up a digital voice recorder at any major electronics store (or online) for around $30. With that, you can record a greeting, let your kids sing a carol, or any number of fun, silly things. If you have access to a video camera, or have a webcam on your computer, you can step things up and record a video greeting. Either option will give your loved one a gift they can play and replay--so much nicer than a card!

Of course, the best gift of all is the gift of your time. Visiting, chatting, or even taking your friend/relative out for a nice meal (if possible). The best gifts are from the heart, and you can never go wrong by showing someone you care.

cc licensed ( BY NC SD ) flickr photo shared by Travis Jon Allison

Emotions and Cognitive Skills

I came across an interesting article and thought it would appeal to many of our readers. Recent research has shown that, while cognitive skills decline as we age, our emotions can help make up the difference. The article, from Scientific American magazine, can be found here: How Seniors Can Get a Cognitive Boost.

It reminds me of an old Calvin & Hobbes comic strip in which Calvin was grumbling about an unpleasant task and his father reminded him that it would build character. Calvin muttered that he didn't know what he needed all this character for. Well, now we know: A lifetime of experience helps you to make effective decisions intuitively, or from the heart. It's a nice affirmation of all that character building we all go through. As the article says, "...it appears that the higher levels of well-being in older adults is contagious by eliciting positivity in their social partners." We all know this, but it never hurts to have a reminder--Happiness is contagious, pass it on!


cc licensed ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo shared by battsimon

Activity Director Idea: Create a Lending Library

When you work in a facility with many residents, coordinating trips to the library can be a logistical nightmare. How do you keep up with your residents' need for books? Set up an in-facility lending library! All you need is space for a bookshelf or cart, and some books to get things going. You can use standard office supplies to label and keep track of books, or, if you're feeling fancy, get a DIY Library Kit to use.




How to get books
The easiest way to stock your library is to ask for donations. Many residents probably have books already, and you can ask them to donate books once they're done reading. Your fellow employees, and friends and families of your residents can donate, as well. Also, check your local thrift stores. You can usually pick up several books very inexpensively.

While these are good options, you're often left with other people's discards and not necessarily books that your residents want to read. If you're looking for specific authors, or books on a particular subject matter, try online swap sites like paperbackswap.com and bookins.com. These sites allow you to swap out your unwanted books for specific titles you request. They're much more affordable than purchasing new books, and it can be a fun activity for residents to browse the available titles and go "shopping" for new books to read. Plus, the books are sent via postal mail and who doesn't like getting mail?

Electronic options

Electronic "eBook" readers are a popular option today, too. Devices like Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook, and the incredibly popular Apple iPad, are all wonderful options for finding electronic books. The advantage of these devices is the huge library of available books, and the fact that each user can customize the reading experience by adjusting the size of text on the screen, and many other options. No more scouring the library shelves for large print books. Also, more and more devices are now able to "check out" eBooks for free through local library services. On the down side, eReaders are expensive. Even the low-cost models start at around $100. But if you have one or two in your facility, they can be shared among many residents. Check out Project Gutenberg for thousands of free eBooks and audio books to load on your devices.


cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo shared by CCAC North Library

More on Music

If you need any proof of the power of music to charm and delight, just watch this short video. An elderly couple was waiting for an appointment at the Mayo Clinic when they spotted this piano in the lobby. What happened next was pure magic.