123 Flash Chat > Chat Rooms > Open Discussion > Message History
DateTimeFromToMessage
2015-09-22 06:14:06 PM edrar I do too chrissy
2015-09-22 06:14:07 PM jessa We did homemade applesauce in a big group before. HUGE hit!
2015-09-22 06:14:12 PM laurah Talking about memories of Halloween would be a good evening sit around and chat idea
2015-09-22 06:14:18 PM msoto are you allowed to do assessments i fyou are an assistant?
2015-09-22 06:14:19 PM sullivan17 Fall wreaths, mask decorating (non-scary). Movies would be tough because of the types typically shown during Halloween and their generation not being as "into" that. I'd keep the movies mild. We actually don't show any specific movies for Halloween, other than what they may come across on TV.
2015-09-22 06:14:27 PM bjmorgan I have a Monster cutout for pictures
2015-09-22 06:14:30 PM ryanklemmer So tomorrow is the first day of fall. It doesn't mean too much for us here in Florida, but the idea is fun.
2015-09-22 06:14:36 PM susieq4220 *sit behind* sorry.
2015-09-22 06:14:39 PM kathyhughes Yes you can do the assessments
2015-09-22 06:14:39 PM shelleyf enter the chat room
2015-09-22 06:14:46 PM peggyn64 my assiatant can do assessmnets
2015-09-22 06:14:50 PM sullivan17 I'm an activities assistant of over 7 years.
2015-09-22 06:14:54 PM mliranzo94 yes i do them sometimes
2015-09-22 06:15:06 PM nancyzmc what about assessments?
2015-09-22 06:15:08 PM sonjen all my assistants do the assessments
2015-09-22 06:15:12 PM edrar Mine won't like the scary movies either sullivan17
2015-09-22 06:15:21 PM msoto thank you
2015-09-22 06:15:22 PM lovellagrace i am an activity assistant msoto.
2015-09-22 06:15:24 PM meeg as assistant i am the ONLY one doing them...my director does not have the time
2015-09-22 06:15:25 PM susieq4220 I'm thinking that cutouts would be great to design... pirates, clowns, etc and have the residents help with the decorating
2015-09-22 06:15:25 PM bjmorgan They can't sign them but they can do them right?
2015-09-22 06:15:26 PM kathyhughes Anyone in the dept can do assessments
2015-09-22 06:15:35 PM msoto what does your director do?
2015-09-22 06:15:44 PM kathyhughes you can sign them
2015-09-22 06:16:00 PM meeg besides overseeing me, she is an OT
2015-09-22 06:16:08 PM bjmorgan Great! I will get some help for the assessments.
2015-09-22 06:16:10 PM kathyhughes All my staff did the assessments so they knew what the residents wanted
2015-09-22 06:16:15 PM sullivan17 No edrar. The population we have is mid-to upper upper class and that makes it even tougher. Not that one population is better than the other, but it's just different mindsets and backgrounds and we have to respect all of them. We do so much programming and entertainment that is Halloween and fall-themed that we really don't focus too much on films. We try and keep them busy.
2015-09-22 06:16:23 PM janiceb All staff here can do assessments
2015-09-22 06:16:26 PM ryanklemmer Our department is tough. I am the director and I don't have anyone working under me.
2015-09-22 06:16:29 PM mariesy enter the chat room
2015-09-22 06:16:30 PM mliranzo94 thats a good idea kathy
2015-09-22 06:16:35 PM sdoyle I'd like to start having my assisstant do assessments
2015-09-22 06:16:35 PM joanf all staff has imput on assesments in our office
2015-09-22 06:16:50 PM sullivan17 Ryanklemmer, I'm looking to relocate to Florida in the future. Once I'm certified. Where do you live and work?
2015-09-22 06:16:59 PM msoto just curious.....my partner is an activities assistant...no other certification...she is trying to be the director but has no training and only does assessments, OCCASIONALLY does some activities
2015-09-22 06:17:01 PM sdoyle My assistant wants to take the classes offered here
2015-09-22 06:17:01 PM nancyzmc ryanklemmer - how many residents do you have to work with?
2015-09-22 06:17:10 PM jessa It would be great for assistants to do assessments as they are the ones normally recruiting for activities.
2015-09-22 06:17:12 PM christiking the cutouts sound like a good idea
2015-09-22 06:17:13 PM kathyhughes that would be great
2015-09-22 06:17:14 PM laurah that is tough ryanklemmer
2015-09-22 06:17:20 PM peggyn64 thsat can be tough ryanklemmer
2015-09-22 06:17:25 PM bjmorgan I never did assessment before I took over as Activity Director in training.
2015-09-22 06:17:28 PM meeg sullivan - you have great ideas / experience! Good stuff
2015-09-22 06:17:31 PM shelleyf How many residents per staff person do you all work with?
2015-09-22 06:17:32 PM ryanklemmer Ft. Pierce. It's east central, on the coast.
2015-09-22 06:17:36 PM sullivan17 Thanks meeg! So do you!
2015-09-22 06:17:47 PM susieq4220 Wow. Ryan. At our facility, our director has been saying he will teach me for 2 years. I'll learn here on my own and do some with the Dementia director
2015-09-22 06:17:49 PM sullivan17 My name is Ryan. Idk why I chose that username haha.
2015-09-22 06:17:49 PM ryanklemmer I have about 80 residents I am responsible for.
2015-09-22 06:17:49 PM joanf I have a max of 60
2015-09-22 06:17:50 PM sdoyle I work alone so I get who ever shows up
2015-09-22 06:17:58 PM bjmorgan I have 78 residents, 14 of those are in an Alzheimer unit
2015-09-22 06:17:59 PM janiceb 65
2015-09-22 06:18:12 PM joanf mine are all dimentia
2015-09-22 06:18:16 PM johannacv The electronic record helps with the assessments for us because it gives reminders of when everything is due
2015-09-22 06:18:20 PM chrissyw 92
2015-09-22 06:18:35 PM mliranzo94 we have 200 beds but at the moment we are at our lowest with 172
2015-09-22 06:18:38 PM bjmorgan Chriss do you have any help
2015-09-22 06:18:52 PM kandra1 I have swing bed patients so it varies
2015-09-22 06:18:57 PM joanf wow 92...I just found out including my director I'm the only one that works 5-6 days a week
2015-09-22 06:19:03 PM bradc we are a dept of 4
2015-09-22 06:19:04 PM nancyzmc our facility has 265 but I have 41 on my unit
2015-09-22 06:19:09 PM susieq4220 Well, this course is a great eye opener for me
2015-09-22 06:19:14 PM bradc i director and 3 assistance, myself included
2015-09-22 06:19:14 PM mliranzo94 yes i have an assisstant and 6 other aides
2015-09-22 06:19:19 PM meeg wow we are at our lowest at 52...max capacity is 65 - we made some rooms private due to our census.
2015-09-22 06:19:21 PM joanf I say that all the time
2015-09-22 06:19:21 PM bjmorgan I sometimes work 6 days
2015-09-22 06:19:22 PM sullivan17 89 residents. 70 on Skilled, and 19 on dementia unit.
2015-09-22 06:19:31 PM ryanklemmer Do any of you have a really hard time with some of your IL residents?
2015-09-22 06:19:32 PM kathyhughes I sure hope so!
2015-09-22 06:19:32 PM bradc the assitance are each assigned a unit and do all the assessments for each unit
2015-09-22 06:19:33 PM shelleyf Oh my. I thought I had alot. You do the charting, plans and everything for all the residents? There are two of us with 61 residents, and we are going to be dividing up. I should end up with about 50
2015-09-22 06:19:34 PM christiking wow 265!! our census is only 82 right now
2015-09-22 06:19:37 PM mariesy Does anybody else deal with short term residents? The sub-acutes?
2015-09-22 06:19:51 PM sullivan17 Staff is required to train in both units.
2015-09-22 06:19:57 PM bjmorgan I do everything!
2015-09-22 06:19:58 PM janiceb I just got to hire an assistant! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY
2015-09-22 06:20:03 PM christiking yes we do mariesy
2015-09-22 06:20:09 PM bradc I do @maries
2015-09-22 06:20:09 PM sonjen assistants are great
2015-09-22 06:20:10 PM mariesy Those to me are the hardest with keeping up with the assessments because its like a revolving door with them
2015-09-22 06:20:10 PM bradc y
2015-09-22 06:20:12 PM peggyn64 i guess i have it easy then 30 assissted residents and 40 memeory care or dementia
2015-09-22 06:20:13 PM meeg i do it all myself...
2015-09-22 06:20:18 PM jessa I work strictly with IL--about 650 residents
2015-09-22 06:20:18 PM bjmorgan I do not have an assistant and very few volunteers
2015-09-22 06:20:20 PM nancyzmc our facility has short-term but i'm on a secure, dementia unit
2015-09-22 06:20:20 PM bradc we have a rehab unit
2015-09-22 06:20:25 PM mliranzo94 wow thats alot for one person
2015-09-22 06:20:26 PM shelleyf Is everyone here trained as a CNA?
2015-09-22 06:20:27 PM edrar left the chat room
2015-09-22 06:20:28 PM edrar enter the chat room
2015-09-22 06:20:29 PM lovellagrace we are only two people in the activity department
2015-09-22 06:20:30 PM kathyhughes You can have them fill out their assessments
2015-09-22 06:20:37 PM sullivan17 Was in nursing school for almost a year.
2015-09-22 06:20:37 PM susieq4220 I'm feeling pretty blessed at the moment
2015-09-22 06:20:38 PM mariesy before i can even get to input their info into PCC, they're going home
2015-09-22 06:20:38 PM rhigh enter the chat room
2015-09-22 06:20:38 PM kathyhughes as part of their rehab
2015-09-22 06:20:39 PM edrar I am not
2015-09-22 06:20:40 PM nancyzmc no - I have no training as a CNA
2015-09-22 06:20:57 PM kandra1 Does anybody work with swing bed patients?
2015-09-22 06:21:01 PM mliranzo94 no- no training as CNA either
2015-09-22 06:21:02 PM joanf I'm certified in c.p.r. and phlebotomy also c.n.a
2015-09-22 06:21:06 PM laurah Not a CNa
2015-09-22 06:21:10 PM samuelp I was for almost 8 months
2015-09-22 06:21:11 PM sthillen no cna
2015-09-22 06:21:17 PM bradc none of us in my dept are CNAa
2015-09-22 06:21:18 PM bradc s
2015-09-22 06:21:22 PM peggyn64 i was a cna but not anymore
2015-09-22 06:21:24 PM janiceb No CNA
2015-09-22 06:21:24 PM mariesy No, what is a swing bed patient if you dont mind me asking?
2015-09-22 06:21:24 PM msoto no I am not a cna but I was previously a rehabilitation aide
2015-09-22 06:21:25 PM nancyzmc no swing beds - just learned what that means!
2015-09-22 06:21:25 PM bjmorgan Sometimes I wish I had my CNA
2015-09-22 06:21:30 PM susieq4220 So how do you all keep up with the requirements of providing activities to EVERYONE with all of these assessments and little help.
2015-09-22 06:21:34 PM meeg CNA certified...but I don't do CNA work...
2015-09-22 06:21:36 PM joanf I am the only one in the building except the nurse who has phlebotomy
2015-09-22 06:21:40 PM bradc two art majors, a crim major and a xray tech
2015-09-22 06:21:45 PM sullivan17 The activities assistants are not allowed to perform personal care on residents at my facility.
2015-09-22 06:21:50 PM edrar Kathy, will i get credit for being here, since ive been bumped off so many times
2015-09-22 06:21:53 PM ryanklemmer Susie, it is very tough for me.
2015-09-22 06:21:53 PM mariesy Im fortunate enought that i do get some help from my director
2015-09-22 06:21:55 PM bjmorgan You work hard and are very organized!
2015-09-22 06:21:57 PM lovellagrace not a CNA
2015-09-22 06:22:14 PM susieq4220 Was anyone else overwhelmed with the F-Tags?
2015-09-22 06:22:15 PM shelleyf Interesting...my job description says I should be trained as CNA. I was thinking it would be helpful when we go on outings.
2015-09-22 06:22:18 PM rhigh im getting my cna after this class
2015-09-22 06:22:23 PM sthillen yes susieq
2015-09-22 06:22:25 PM mariesy My department is responsible for 120 long term and about 60 short term
2015-09-22 06:22:42 PM bjmorgan It is almost impossible at times but you plan you activities so that you can overlap a lot
2015-09-22 06:22:46 PM mariesy and i do all the short term assessments and about 50 long term
2015-09-22 06:22:48 PM kandra1 Patients that are in for rehab or to gain strenght. Our swing beds are in a hospital setting.
2015-09-22 06:22:50 PM peggyn64 it can be helpful shelleyf
2015-09-22 06:22:56 PM mariesy it can get overwhelming if you dont have the right help
2015-09-22 06:22:57 PM susieq4220 We do well on surveys in our activities dept. but I know many sensory do not get enough 1-1 time.
2015-09-22 06:22:57 PM joanf I like the cross training..I started here as c.n.a
2015-09-22 06:23:13 PM sullivan17 Especially in Adult Day Cares, activity assistants are also CNAs a lot of the time.
2015-09-22 06:23:13 PM kathyhughes Its important to know them and be able to use them as a reference
2015-09-22 06:23:22 PM joanf how is everyone doing on their special event planning
2015-09-22 06:23:23 PM lovellagrace with a lot ofresident its hardto divide your time to visit them all
2015-09-22 06:23:32 PM ryanklemmer Our AL director is on vaction this week. I feel really bad because I'm running back and forth trying to please the residents, but I fell like they're being short changed.
2015-09-22 06:23:38 PM nancyzmc very true lovellagrace
2015-09-22 06:23:38 PM joanf my act. director isn't a c.n.a
2015-09-22 06:23:43 PM rhigh I think its important
2015-09-22 06:23:44 PM mliranzo94 this survery we did very well
2015-09-22 06:23:51 PM sonjen i am not a cna
2015-09-22 06:23:57 PM joanf We are an Adult Day Care
2015-09-22 06:24:00 PM edrar left the chat room
2015-09-22 06:24:01 PM edrar enter the chat room
2015-09-22 06:24:09 PM janiceb Just happen to be planning one right now for October
2015-09-22 06:24:11 PM kandra1 I am a STNA
2015-09-22 06:24:12 PM susieq4220 Adult Day care would be fun for me.
2015-09-22 06:24:21 PM joanf I love it
2015-09-22 06:24:29 PM bjmorgan Sometimes I think I meet myself coming and going and then I realize, I did.
2015-09-22 06:24:31 PM sullivan17 Very fulfilling!
2015-09-22 06:24:38 PM mliranzo94 i cant wait im going away in Dec
2015-09-22 06:24:42 PM laurah Adult Day Care would be fun for me too. I'd love to end up there
2015-09-22 06:24:46 PM lovellagrace how would we better serve our resident if we are only two people in the activity department and we have like 150 resident.. :(
2015-09-22 06:25:03 PM kathyhughes keep the activities simple
2015-09-22 06:25:10 PM joanf It's very busy all the time but all of our patient's have some form of dementia
2015-09-22 06:25:11 PM mariesy My goal is to end up in Adult Day Care
2015-09-22 06:25:14 PM kathyhughes and do not plan a ton a day
2015-09-22 06:25:16 PM bjmorgan And make sure you know your residents
2015-09-22 06:25:17 PM christiking I am only one person and have 80+ residents its very busy
2015-09-22 06:25:18 PM rhigh I think adult day care sounds interested
2015-09-22 06:25:24 PM sullivan17 State usually does its inspection for us in October. Everyone is on their toes but should be ALL THE TIME and not just when the state makes an appearance! But such is life.
2015-09-22 06:25:27 PM susieq4220 Is your facility supportive of this course that we are taking? I'm very pleased with management and my current Director helping me.
2015-09-22 06:25:37 PM nancyzmc do the other disciplines help with transporting lovellagrace
2015-09-22 06:25:38 PM kathyhughes sometimes the simple activities are the best
2015-09-22 06:25:38 PM lovellagrace we have two activities per day one in the mornig and in the afternoon..
2015-09-22 06:25:40 PM christiking our new adm wants me to schedule at least 5 activities a day
2015-09-22 06:25:52 PM bjmorgan I don't have a good support base for my course.
2015-09-22 06:25:55 PM mliranzo94 yes simple might work
2015-09-22 06:25:55 PM sonjen my facility is supporting me and paying for it :)
2015-09-22 06:25:55 PM susieq4220 5 a day????
2015-09-22 06:26:01 PM kathyhughes why?
2015-09-22 06:26:02 PM ryanklemmer I agree with the simple activities sometimes being the best.
2015-09-22 06:26:03 PM lovellagrace i tried to squeeze in the room visit inbetween activities...
2015-09-22 06:26:12 PM mliranzo94 lucky sonjen
2015-09-22 06:26:12 PM bradc my admin is so busy its VERY hard to get face time with her regarding this class
2015-09-22 06:26:15 PM meeg staffing shortages make me have to execute the activities myself a lot of the time...
2015-09-22 06:26:25 PM rhigh We also have two activities per day
2015-09-22 06:26:26 PM ryanklemmer Especially AL, most of them love a simple routine.
2015-09-22 06:26:28 PM joanf bj morgan...me either my director is a horrible support system
2015-09-22 06:26:29 PM christiking She said a good activity director has volunteers do all of their activities but i am having a hard time finding them
2015-09-22 06:26:41 PM nancyzmc I'm also lucky with alot of support from my director and administrator.
2015-09-22 06:26:49 PM sthillen how do you recruit volunteers?
2015-09-22 06:26:51 PM bradc @CHRISTIKING
2015-09-22 06:26:53 PM sullivan17 We have 5-6 activites per day on each unit.
2015-09-22 06:26:55 PM shelleyf I feel unorganized at work, like I am doing activities for a small group of people - 14 - 20, and I don't even know the rest of the residents. How do you get time to get all the room visits?
2015-09-22 06:26:59 PM bradc sounds crazy
2015-09-22 06:27:00 PM laurah Wow! 5 a day sounds overwhelming
2015-09-22 06:27:01 PM janiceb I always try to participate in the activities.
2015-09-22 06:27:16 PM sonjen i try to as much as i can
2015-09-22 06:27:20 PM mliranzo94 we have three floors and we have an activity on each floor one in the morning and once after lunch
2015-09-22 06:27:20 PM kathyhughes and does she know that the volunteers have to go through a bunch of stuff to volunteer
2015-09-22 06:27:20 PM ryanklemmer It is tough, Shelley
2015-09-22 06:27:20 PM mariesy im fortunate enough that volunteers call our facility and request to volunteer
2015-09-22 06:27:22 PM christiking It is lol
2015-09-22 06:27:25 PM rhigh My director really helps me alot
2015-09-22 06:27:25 PM susieq4220 Volunteers are wonderful... We just don't have them coming into the dementia unit very often.
2015-09-22 06:27:33 PM nancyzmc who said a good activities director has volunteers? Where I work with have staff and are lucky to have volunteers
2015-09-22 06:27:34 PM sullivan17 Dementia unit actually has slightly more due to the population there, but I think higher functioning residents should have an equal amount since they can do more hands-on.
2015-09-22 06:27:44 PM lovellagrace me too . my activity director is supportvie as well as the admin..
2015-09-22 06:27:47 PM bjmorgan They have changed three times since I have started this, don't give me any time to discuss things I don't know about and act like it is just my responsibility to do it all without their support.
2015-09-22 06:27:49 PM christiking I have no idea she makes it sound like i can just pick up a phone and get them all in
2015-09-22 06:27:50 PM susieq4220 I think there is a misperception there.
2015-09-22 06:27:52 PM meeg i want to do them...but I ahve so much else to do...it gets tough to keep my head above water and NOT get overtime..
2015-09-22 06:27:55 PM bradc we have little volunteers
2015-09-22 06:28:01 PM kathyhughes and to recruite volunteers you have to know what you want them to do
2015-09-22 06:28:07 PM sullivan17 It can be laurah but it's nice when you're on the unit with another activity assistant. Dementia unit and skilled unit can both be overwhleming at times on your own.
2015-09-22 06:28:07 PM kathyhughes and be specific
2015-09-22 06:28:09 PM lovellagrace how do yo squeeze in the 5-6 activities sullivan17:?
2015-09-22 06:28:13 PM sonjen i have a volunteer coordinator, anyone else?
2015-09-22 06:28:14 PM rhigh Its hard to find volunteers
2015-09-22 06:28:17 PM peggyn64 i have a few great volunteers
2015-09-22 06:28:19 PM sonjen she is fulltime
2015-09-22 06:28:21 PM mariesy yeah, we have one
2015-09-22 06:28:22 PM janiceb I'm always staying late
2015-09-22 06:28:29 PM christiking I am glad I am not the only one who thinks this
2015-09-22 06:28:30 PM ryanklemmer We just have 2 directors.
2015-09-22 06:28:36 PM susieq4220 A volunteer coordinator is a great idea.
2015-09-22 06:28:36 PM janiceb But on salary - so kind of expected
2015-09-22 06:28:39 PM jessa We have a volunteer coordinator and it makes live SO MUCH better
2015-09-22 06:28:40 PM msoto my mom is our ONLY volunteer
2015-09-22 06:28:44 PM sullivan17 Lovellagrace, we have a 10:00am, 11:00am, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm, and 6:30pm (depending upon the evening)
2015-09-22 06:28:56 PM sullivan17 We have two 2:00pm activities if there is more than one assistant on the unit.
2015-09-22 06:28:57 PM meeg i did a letter to editor...got 9 volunteers! new ones!
2015-09-22 06:28:58 PM susieq4220 Wow. Msoto.
2015-09-22 06:29:00 PM peggyn64 i know howe the staying alte thing is janiveb
2015-09-22 06:29:02 PM nancyzmc that's sweet msoto
2015-09-22 06:29:02 PM joanf ours is the same schedule
2015-09-22 06:29:04 PM sullivan17 Same with the 4:00pm activity.
2015-09-22 06:29:05 PM christiking My kids are my only volunteers right now that come and help out with crafts and bingo when they are out of school
2015-09-22 06:29:16 PM bradc a volunteer coordinator would be awesome
2015-09-22 06:29:18 PM msoto we are going to be able to have some of our participants be volunteers...help take them to the bus....help with like water and juice
2015-09-22 06:29:20 PM bradc your're lucky
2015-09-22 06:29:26 PM sonjen it is bradc
2015-09-22 06:29:27 PM mliranzo94 the activity department is only open from 9-4
2015-09-22 06:29:31 PM ryanklemmer We have a lot of volunteers in AL, but they aren't always reliable.
2015-09-22 06:29:39 PM susieq4220 We have a huge volunteer base, much more than most facilities.
2015-09-22 06:29:39 PM joanf we have a new activity evry hour
2015-09-22 06:29:40 PM sonjen i call her whenever i need help, special programs and such
2015-09-22 06:29:41 PM mariesy Oh wow, no night time activities?
2015-09-22 06:29:43 PM msoto thanks! she does a LOT....helps with outings, helps with dayroom decorations....a LOT
2015-09-22 06:29:45 PM mariesy or weekends?
2015-09-22 06:29:46 PM laurah great that your kids are involved Christi. Residents love them I'm guessing!
2015-09-22 06:29:46 PM mliranzo94 i get there at 8 and use the hour to do paper work
2015-09-22 06:30:02 PM christiking Yes the residents enjoy when the kids come jup
2015-09-22 06:30:03 PM christiking up
2015-09-22 06:30:05 PM lovellagrace amazing sullivan17!
2015-09-22 06:30:05 PM kathyhughes Have you thought of Home Schoolers to volunteer for their assignments?
2015-09-22 06:30:08 PM sonjen she also has her own volunteer website where she puts our calendar up and the volunteer sign up for what programs they want to help with
2015-09-22 06:30:10 PM edrar left the chat room
2015-09-22 06:30:12 PM joanf they don't allow our kids in anymore until they are 16
2015-09-22 06:30:15 PM janiceb We're having our Volunteer Banquet tomorrow, 125 coming, I'm tired
2015-09-22 06:30:18 PM shelleyf Do you all spend time serving drinks / food during the meals?
2015-09-22 06:30:28 PM susieq4220 I have thought of home schoolers. Maybe when I become a director somewhere.
2015-09-22 06:30:36 PM rhigh They love little kids
2015-09-22 06:30:40 PM jessa Finding dependent volunteers can be hard luckly, many of our volunteers are IL residents so they tend to be a little better with keeping committments
2015-09-22 06:30:43 PM ryanklemmer Janice, you guys have 125 volunteers?
2015-09-22 06:30:43 PM mariesy We have a part time aid who does weekend activities
2015-09-22 06:30:47 PM mliranzo94 no
2015-09-22 06:30:49 PM sullivan17 Lovellagrace - yes! We stay busy and sometimes stretch ourselves too thin staff wise, but it's worth it in the end.
2015-09-22 06:30:50 PM bjmorgan You will find if you overload yourself with activities you will burn out quickly. I do some word search or play Chicken Foot (which they can do on their on) where I can do some in room.
2015-09-22 06:30:51 PM ryanklemmer Or is that for the community?
2015-09-22 06:30:58 PM laurah Inviting Homeschoolers is perfect! I just thought of a school I know that has a homeschool program!
2015-09-22 06:30:59 PM msoto our staff pass out all drinks and pass out their lunches....as well as breakfasts and snacks
2015-09-22 06:31:03 PM susieq4220 I'd like Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts for badges.
2015-09-22 06:31:04 PM mariesy she come sin 4 days a week from 6:30 to 8:30
2015-09-22 06:31:10 PM christiking what is chicken foot
2015-09-22 06:31:22 PM nancyzmc We've had trouble getting volunteers to stay - so many come and go
2015-09-22 06:31:27 PM sullivan17 Each staff member is responsible for his/her activity ideas monthly. Our director doesn't do it. We do. She just approves it.
2015-09-22 06:31:30 PM kathyhughes domino game
2015-09-22 06:31:30 PM susieq4220 Churches are very active volunteers.
2015-09-22 06:31:33 PM sonjen we have a couple hundred volunteers, they are awesome
2015-09-22 06:31:35 PM peggyn64 mine are home school families
2015-09-22 06:31:37 PM joanf I did just talk to the director about burning out not just me but them too..It makes it almost too busy some days
2015-09-22 06:31:37 PM sullivan17 Each *activities staff member
2015-09-22 06:31:38 PM shelleyf Great ideas for volunteers coming through - thanks!
2015-09-22 06:31:40 PM janiceb We include everyone that volunteers, musicians, helpers, bingo callers, churches, daycares, schools - anyone that does stuff here for free
2015-09-22 06:31:42 PM rhigh The boy scout and girl scout was a great idea
2015-09-22 06:31:46 PM christiking we have a few churches that some in and do services during the week
2015-09-22 06:31:50 PM laurah Yes, Boy/Girl Scouts too. Great ideas!
2015-09-22 06:31:52 PM bjmorgan Also, National Honor Society Students must complete so many volunteer and community hours.
2015-09-22 06:31:54 PM joanf I have 1 volunteer right now
2015-09-22 06:32:05 PM edrar enter the chat room
2015-09-22 06:32:11 PM sthillen high school students need community service hours
2015-09-22 06:32:12 PM mariesy In Nj, the kids here have to volunteer in order to graduate High school so they comke, fill out apps, we interview them, and selct which volunteers we think would be ggod for the residents
2015-09-22 06:32:13 PM ryanklemmer I think it would be great to work in a large activities department. I think it would be much more beneficial to the residents and the employees.
2015-09-22 06:32:15 PM kathyhughes and try local colleges
2015-09-22 06:32:18 PM mliranzo94 the religious service people are our only volunteers
2015-09-22 06:32:18 PM sonjen left the chat room
2015-09-22 06:32:18 PM edrar I'm back again.
2015-09-22 06:32:25 PM rhigh I have a few
2015-09-22 06:32:35 PM susieq4220 Excellent.. I think to get school-based volunteers we need to present ideas to them.
2015-09-22 06:32:36 PM sonjen enter the chat room
2015-09-22 06:32:43 PM sdoyle left the chat room
2015-09-22 06:32:44 PM sdoyle enter the chat room
2015-09-22 06:32:45 PM lovellagrace same here nancyzmc. its hard to find volunteers now because its school time
2015-09-22 06:32:48 PM nancyzmc welcome back edrar - i know what it's like getting bumped off!
2015-09-22 06:32:49 PM mliranzo94 we have 5 different services a week and sometimes 6
2015-09-22 06:32:58 PM kathyhughes You have to have specific jobs for people to do
2015-09-22 06:32:59 PM sullivan17 I find it often that the residents enjoy the little things the most. Big bash type events are nice, but sometimes they don't go over as well with our residents as other activities like bingo or crossword puzzles. Might seem odd to some, but they're all different! We did a huge Wizard of Oz themed anniversary party a few years back and some residents thought it was childish or just "ho hum"
2015-09-22 06:33:02 PM edrar will i still get credit for b eing here.
2015-09-22 06:33:07 PM laurah Sorry Edrar!
2015-09-22 06:33:11 PM bjmorgan Do you do a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner once a year? That is how we keep our volunteers that we have.
2015-09-22 06:33:13 PM meeg our elementary school kids come onne 1 per month...to read sing interview etc

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