Need New Activities Ideas?

As an Activity Director, it can be a challenge to come up with new and interesting activities for your residents. Activities are always a popular topic in the Activity Director class discussion board and many facilities have the same activities in common. Bible study/devotions, Bingo, and group memory games are the tried and true favorites, but if you're looking for something a little different, I have a good web site for you - http://www.notjustbingo.com/

Since April is just around the corner, here's a link to their April suggestions - http://www.notjustbingo.com/activity-calendars/april-calendar.html.

Tin can herb pots? Broadway musical bingo? Zodiac social? These are all fun and unique twists on popular themes. Hopefully this can help you bring some excitement to your activity planning!

National Statistics for Your Job Title - How Does Your Job Size Up?

Job hunting is hard work, and when you're choosing a career path and not just a temporary position, it can be even worse. There are so many unknowns. How can you possibly know what positions will be in demand in the future, or what jobs could lead to further opportunities? Are you receiving a fair wage for the work you do? I don't have all the answers, but I did want to share a great resource with you. The Bureau of Labor Statistics regularly reviews positions across the spectrum of employment and has a wealth of information available on their website. To save you some clicking, I have linked to all the job titles that are relevant to We Care Online classes.



Home Health Aide - http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes311011.htm
Pharmacy Technician - http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292052.htm
Medication Aide - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos164.htm
Health Unit Coordinator - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos151.htm
Restorative Aide - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos166.htm
Certified Nursing Assistant - http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc311014.htm
Mental Health Aide - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos059.htm

Spring Has Sprung

photo credit: Shane Kemp

Today is the first day of spring. It's a time to look forward to warmer temperatures and the end of cold, gray days. It's also a great time to get organized and have a jump start on summer relaxation. If you're a clerical or Unit Coordinator employee, this is the perfect time to take stock of your desk or work area and do some spring cleaning. You might already have a clean work space, but is it cluttered? It's amazing how much stress you can eliminate by just tidying up and decluttering your desk.

If you're a CNA or Restorative Aide and share a workstation with others, you can ask everyone on your team to take a couple minutes to straighten up around your area. It's the perfect time to take home the extra winter clothes, or take the old coffee cups to the break room for washing. Have any stray decorations sticking around from the holidays? Now's the time to file away or discard items.

If you work directly with residents, you can also help them with a bit of spring cleaning. You might find a sweater that's been draped over a chair and unused for months, or a spare blanket that could use a trip to the laundromat. Maybe there's a pile of Christmas cards or family photos that need sorting and organizing? Sometimes something a simple as rearranging pictures on the wall or photos on a dresser can bring a fresh change to a room.

Take advantage of this season of change and renewal and get out of the winter blahs. Say hello to Spring!

Virtual Vacation: Hawai'i

photo credit: Sarah Ackerman

While most assisted living residents aren't housebound, many are unable to travel very far from their homes. Exotic vacations are a thing of the past. Luckily, with a little planning and an internet connection, you can easily bring a mini vacation directly to your residents.

Who doesn't love an excuse for a social gathering? Even better, you can use it as an opportunity to encourage everyone to share stories about trips they've taken in the past. It's a present day party and a remembering game all in one!

Having just returned from a vacation myself, I'm picking Hawaii for the first virtual vacation. There are thousands of beautiful images of flowers, beaches, and the ocean online, but if you want to bring a little more fun, check out an inexpensive party shop like Oriental Trading Company for all your luau supplies.

Nothing says Hawaii like traditional music, and there are several radio stations online that stream Hawaiian music 24/7. Plug a set of speakers into your computer or smartphone and queue up your favorite station.

Food is a must for this vacation, too. Fresh fruit and drinks are plentiful on the islands, and if your residents have a sweet tooth, a pineapple upside-down cake is the perfect treat. It can easily be prepared as a sheet cake to serve many, or as cupcakes for individuals. If you have residents who need to watch their sugar intake, a bowl of sugar-free tropical punch is a must (just mix a tropical-flavored drink mix with club soda to add extra sparkle). Top drinks with a festive paper umbrella to complete the image.

Aloha!

How to be a Positive Person

cc licensed ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo by m.a.x

We've all seen this person at work: the sourpuss. The complainer. The "bad case of the Mondays". A little negativity can spread like wildfire and soon everyone is feeling grouchy. No one wants to be around that kind of attitude, and no one wants to get pulled down. What can you do to keep things upbeat? How can you be the kind of person that everyone wants to be near? Check out what Michael Hyatt has to say on the matter - 7 Steps to Becoming a Happy Person Others Want to be Around.

Pets in Assisted Living Settings

Does your facility have any resident pets? If not, have you thought about adding a cat, dog, or even birds or fish to the community? This video from ourparents.com is a quick look at things to consider when adding
permanent pets to the mix.

Many facilities are adopting pets beyond common cats and dogs. A nursing home in Oregon welcomes therapy rabbits, and a retired pastor in upstate New York trains a herd of therapy donkeys! The sky's the limit when it comes to love and "fuzz therapy".

Spotlight: Certified Nursing Assistant

One of our most popular classes is the introductory Certified Nursing Assistant class. Many students use it as a stepping stone to further education (often as a Registered Nurse), but many choose to build their careers as CNAs. It's a challenging, but rewarding, job and this video does a great job of shedding some light on what a day in the life of a CNA is like. See anything familiar here?