123 Flash Chat > Chat Rooms > Specialty Live Chats > Message History
DateTimeFromToMessage
2019-02-27 07:27:11 PM cchase hair dresser
2019-02-27 07:27:17 PM salinass the place here in lubbock has all of that too
2019-02-27 07:27:18 PM cchase podiatrist
2019-02-27 07:27:24 PM salinass it is pretty amazing
2019-02-27 07:27:35 PM salinass they had an outdoor garden too
2019-02-27 07:27:39 PM cchase yup - like a mini nursing home
2019-02-27 07:27:46 PM salinass yes, i loved it
2019-02-27 07:27:47 PM biancosherri We have all those too and I love it
2019-02-27 07:27:54 PM cassandrac We have a hair dresser that come once a week
2019-02-27 07:27:57 PM carollucksinger Wow that is amazing, there is not anything like that here
2019-02-27 07:28:14 PM cchase that is why we have to be licensed
2019-02-27 07:28:16 PM salinass it was just so refreshing to visit a differnt evnironment
2019-02-27 07:28:18 PM kristenamrein We have a hair dresser with a fully-fledged salon!
2019-02-27 07:28:36 PM salinass we do too kristen
2019-02-27 07:28:36 PM cchase the hair dresser had a way with them
2019-02-27 07:28:42 PM salinass we have several of them
2019-02-27 07:28:43 PM carollucksinger the center where I am doing my practicum has those things but it is a full-time facility
2019-02-27 07:28:44 PM biancosherri We also do a mini store twice a month and they shop for things they need. Everything is a dollar :)
2019-02-27 07:28:58 PM cchase she also did the gents and made a huge deal about it - she is amazing
2019-02-27 07:29:09 PM salinass aww she sounds awesome
2019-02-27 07:29:17 PM salinass our hairdressers do good too
2019-02-27 07:29:20 PM cchase she loved them and it showed
2019-02-27 07:29:34 PM biancosherri That makes them feel special when someone fusses over them. God bless her
2019-02-27 07:29:39 PM salinass we had to teach them how to approach our memory care residnets
2019-02-27 07:29:40 PM cchase we also have alzheimer's and other dementias
2019-02-27 07:30:47 PM cchase facilities are now being required to have adequate staff training to work with dementia
2019-02-27 07:31:11 PM biancosherri I love working in this field. I always enjoyed spending time with the elderly
2019-02-27 07:31:11 PM salinass yes they are
2019-02-27 07:31:19 PM salinass they are fun
2019-02-27 07:31:23 PM kristenamrein Does that include Activities?
2019-02-27 07:31:35 PM cchase yes
2019-02-27 07:31:59 PM cchase is absolutely make sense for activities to have that training - don't you think?
2019-02-27 07:32:02 PM biancosherri I love when a company invests time in training
2019-02-27 07:32:11 PM cassandrac yes
2019-02-27 07:32:14 PM salinass yes, you have to
2019-02-27 07:32:19 PM salinass it is very important
2019-02-27 07:32:21 PM carollucksinger Yes I think it is vital they are trained
2019-02-27 07:32:28 PM kristenamrein I've been dying to go to workshops and Continuing Education, but I haven't been sent to many.
2019-02-27 07:32:38 PM salinass you never know who is coming into your facility and you have to be ready
2019-02-27 07:32:54 PM kristenamrein Most of the ones I've gone to have been through former bosses or my own pocket.
2019-02-27 07:32:56 PM cassandrac true
2019-02-27 07:33:15 PM carollucksinger I find this field a lot like the education field you have to have a compassion for it
2019-02-27 07:33:35 PM biancosherri True Carol
2019-02-27 07:33:53 PM kristenamrein I switched over from the Eduation field simply because I felt more connected to this age group!
2019-02-27 07:33:54 PM cchase not sure anyone ought to pay for it out of their own pocket as it is becoming a requirement
2019-02-27 07:33:55 PM cassandrac Yes my girlfriend says that to me all the time.
2019-02-27 07:34:02 PM cchase should be on the company
2019-02-27 07:34:10 PM carollucksinger And one must be informed about the conditions and findings.
2019-02-27 07:34:29 PM salinass i try to get free ones as much as i can
2019-02-27 07:34:34 PM biancosherri Thanks for that info
2019-02-27 07:34:59 PM cchase absolutely - you all have to pick a disease to write about as part of your classwork
2019-02-27 07:35:24 PM cchase activities is not effective if you do not know your audience
2019-02-27 07:35:31 PM salinass i know you can get some from the linked senior website
2019-02-27 07:35:32 PM biancosherri Yes and I am looking forward to it
2019-02-27 07:35:37 PM salinass they have webinars
2019-02-27 07:35:38 PM carollucksinger Well, I wish I could find a place locally that needs an activity director because everything is out of my pocket and I am not even getting paid to do a lot of the owrk
2019-02-27 07:36:01 PM salinass i did that for my first course
2019-02-27 07:36:11 PM salinass i did Congestive Heart Failure
2019-02-27 07:36:16 PM carollucksinger wel I am glad to know I am not the only one
2019-02-27 07:36:23 PM biancosherri Oh no Carol...keep looking
2019-02-27 07:36:29 PM kristenamrein And it does get noticed by other departments. I have a friend that works in Housekeeping and was talking to a new resident when the Housekeeper said "Do you want to go hang out with Kristen? She's awesome!"...so I'm apparently making a name for myself!
2019-02-27 07:36:33 PM cchase I have paid our of pocket but was paid back
2019-02-27 07:37:03 PM cchase look on the classroom web links as they post jobs as well
2019-02-27 07:37:09 PM biancosherri I think it depends on the company
2019-02-27 07:37:22 PM carollucksinger I will, I did not know that
2019-02-27 07:37:36 PM cchase very nice kristen
2019-02-27 07:38:10 PM kristenamrein Thanks! Just goes to show you that if you have passion for this popualtion, it shows...in a good way!
2019-02-27 07:38:12 PM biancosherri Aww Kristen that is nice. Way to go girl
2019-02-27 07:38:14 PM cchase some company do have a max.. or a minimum grade to be paid back
2019-02-27 07:38:17 PM cassandrac I was going to take the AD job whereI work but they wouldnt give me a pay increase until I was done these classes. S o I didnt take it.
2019-02-27 07:39:05 PM cassandrac MY company told me they will not pay for the classes
2019-02-27 07:39:17 PM carollucksinger I love what Activity Directors are all about.
2019-02-27 07:39:22 PM biancosherri You could of taken it for the experience and it looks good on paper.
2019-02-27 07:39:22 PM cchase the more you learn the easy it get to plan a program that works for those you are servicing
2019-02-27 07:39:34 PM salinass my company paid for both of my classes
2019-02-27 07:39:49 PM cassandrac nice
2019-02-27 07:39:49 PM kristenamrein I paid for both my classes out of my own pocket
2019-02-27 07:40:04 PM biancosherri Me too but the last company I worked for told me no
2019-02-27 07:40:04 PM kristenamrein Agreed, Celeste!
2019-02-27 07:40:17 PM salinass i was worried i would have to for this course, but they said no, they would pay for it
2019-02-27 07:40:17 PM carollucksinger I am a non-traditional student, but am loving every minute of what I am learning
2019-02-27 07:40:24 PM cassandrac I was told that I could but it on my taxes next year
2019-02-27 07:40:26 PM cchase companies vary in the way they handle education
2019-02-27 07:40:44 PM salinass that is true celeste
2019-02-27 07:40:45 PM biancosherri Agreed
2019-02-27 07:41:12 PM salinass our company also has a scholarship program
2019-02-27 07:41:16 PM cchase but you go girl and get this education as you will be more valuable as an employee for another company
2019-02-27 07:41:22 PM cassandrac Im ok with paying for it. Because in the long run it will pay off.
2019-02-27 07:41:24 PM carollucksinger It looks good on anyway resume'
2019-02-27 07:41:39 PM salinass yes
2019-02-27 07:41:47 PM carollucksinger and makes you better prepared
2019-02-27 07:41:53 PM salinass yes it does
2019-02-27 07:41:53 PM cchase better than looks good. Activity directors need to be certified
2019-02-27 07:42:09 PM salinass i am also a certied dementia Practitioner
2019-02-27 07:42:11 PM biancosherri We will all be better off in the long run and thank you to all the great instructors
2019-02-27 07:42:16 PM salinass i hope i spelt that right lol
2019-02-27 07:42:18 PM cchase or in the least have specific training
2019-02-27 07:42:20 PM carollucksinger I did not mean it that way, I am glad they have to be accountable
2019-02-27 07:42:37 PM cchase yes - I am a CDP as well
2019-02-27 07:42:44 PM cassandrac Before I singed up. Someone told me its only going to be 16weeks and your done. lol
2019-02-27 07:42:59 PM cassandrac guess not
2019-02-27 07:43:01 PM biancosherri Nice
2019-02-27 07:43:10 PM salinass awesome celeste
2019-02-27 07:43:16 PM kristenamrein It's funny my Mom was looking back on a portfolio I did in college when I started working with seniors. We had to write about our Future Goals, and one thing I wrote about was getting certified as an Activity Director. My mom told me it was funny reading that now, as I'm going for certification!
2019-02-27 07:43:20 PM cchase listen folks...
2019-02-27 07:43:31 PM biancosherri 16 class one
2019-02-27 07:43:43 PM carollucksinger yes
2019-02-27 07:43:45 PM cchase I worked full time took this class... became certified then learned some more
2019-02-27 07:43:46 PM salinass yes
2019-02-27 07:44:06 PM salinass that is my plan
2019-02-27 07:44:06 PM cchase now I am a certified Activity consultant
2019-02-27 07:44:16 PM cchase you all can do that if I did
2019-02-27 07:44:20 PM salinass that is what i would love to do that
2019-02-27 07:44:28 PM cchase you can
2019-02-27 07:44:33 PM cchase one step at a time
2019-02-27 07:44:38 PM salinass yup
2019-02-27 07:44:39 PM kristenamrein My friends and family have already started referring to me as "Miss Director!"
2019-02-27 07:44:57 PM cchase miss director hmmmm cute
2019-02-27 07:45:01 PM biancosherri Yes me too and I feel a bit challenged at times with working full time but one day at a time is what I tell myself. Thank you for the motivation!
2019-02-27 07:45:13 PM cchase so any have questions about adult day health?
2019-02-27 07:45:17 PM salinass this is helping me to focus on something
2019-02-27 07:45:28 PM salinass it was a rough year for my family
2019-02-27 07:45:30 PM cassandrac Im working full time and PT
2019-02-27 07:45:56 PM cassandrac I dont want to be working like thing my whole life
2019-02-27 07:46:00 PM carollucksinger Well, I am retired but feel it is always great to be informed
2019-02-27 07:46:04 PM salinass i know cass
2019-02-27 07:46:14 PM salinass but you are doing awesome and one day, it will all pay off
2019-02-27 07:46:25 PM cassandrac yes
2019-02-27 07:46:50 PM salinass that is what i keep telling myself. i have 8 more weeks to go, 8 more weeks to go lol
2019-02-27 07:47:09 PM cchase it will go by quicker than you think
2019-02-27 07:47:18 PM salinass it has gone by fast celeste
2019-02-27 07:47:30 PM salinass i was like, what it's time to take my midterm!!
2019-02-27 07:47:49 PM biancosherri I just learned how to navigate through the pages lol and it is getting easier
2019-02-27 07:47:53 PM kristenamrein I was so nervous about the midterm...now I'm nervous about the final!
2019-02-27 07:47:58 PM cassandrac When im at lunch or have a min. I do some of my work. I done work on the floor anymore as a cna. I work in the central supply room. So I do have some down time to do work
2019-02-27 07:48:17 PM salinass i was like that too kristen lol
2019-02-27 07:48:19 PM cchase like kathy says - don't overthink it
2019-02-27 07:48:25 PM cassandrac How was the midterm?
2019-02-27 07:48:25 PM biancosherri OMG me too with being nervous
2019-02-27 07:48:29 PM cchase you all got this
2019-02-27 07:48:42 PM salinass yes, that is what i did when i took my test
2019-02-27 07:48:49 PM salinass it was good cass
2019-02-27 07:48:49 PM biancosherri Thank you
2019-02-27 07:48:56 PM cchase next week I will be doing the Alzheimer's chat for extra credit
2019-02-27 07:49:00 PM carollucksinger I don;t know I feel like I never have time and I pretty much go at my own pace
2019-02-27 07:49:12 PM salinass how many extra credit classes can we do?
2019-02-27 07:49:13 PM cassandrac Same chat room?
2019-02-27 07:49:22 PM cchase if you think you could use some pointers on the topic stop by
2019-02-27 07:49:30 PM cchase same room - specialty chat room
2019-02-27 07:49:34 PM cassandrac I know I will
2019-02-27 07:49:41 PM salinass i want to get as muchg extra credit as i can lol
2019-02-27 07:49:44 PM carollucksinger Thank you all for the information, Be Blessed
2019-02-27 07:49:51 PM kristenamrein I will, that's the population I work with now, but I would like to move on to more assisted or independent living residents.
2019-02-27 07:49:57 PM biancosherri Thank you and I do love all the info
2019-02-27 07:50:05 PM salinass me too kristen
2019-02-27 07:50:06 PM cchase hopefully I will be feeling better with my voice back by then .... 8-)
2019-02-27 07:50:16 PM cassandrac me to Trying to get all the credits
2019-02-27 07:50:30 PM salinass lol, me too cass
2019-02-27 07:50:45 PM biancosherri I am sick too :(
2019-02-27 07:50:52 PM cchase extra credit is great but do take the opportunity to learn and take that information with you
2019-02-27 07:51:05 PM cassandrac The support here is great. Thanks everyone
2019-02-27 07:51:24 PM biancosherri Very true and thanks again
2019-02-27 07:51:24 PM salinass i am celseste, it helps me a lot.
2019-02-27 07:51:56 PM cchase you all are welcome - I can be reached by email if you have any questions
2019-02-27 07:52:05 PM salinass okay and thank you
2019-02-27 07:52:05 PM cassandrac This chat room makes me feel better when I feel like giving up
2019-02-27 07:52:18 PM carollucksinger left the chat room
2019-02-27 07:52:19 PM salinass do you need our course id numbers and names?
2019-02-27 07:52:32 PM biancosherri Aww thanks bunches and have a good evening and enjoy the rest of your week
2019-02-27 07:52:40 PM cchase yes please sorry my cold got me forgetting
2019-02-27 07:52:51 PM kristenamrein ME010119 for me
2019-02-27 07:53:01 PM cassandrac How do we give it to you?
2019-02-27 07:53:06 PM cchase 8-|
2019-02-27 07:53:18 PM salinass Sherrie Salinas Course ID MEPAP 2 010119
2019-02-27 07:53:19 PM cchase just type your name and class your in now
2019-02-27 07:53:52 PM cchase just like salinass did
2019-02-27 07:54:03 PM cchase sherrie
2019-02-27 07:54:23 PM kristenamrein Course ID: MEPAP 2 010119
2019-02-27 07:54:43 PM salinass kristen we are in the same class, awesome!!
2019-02-27 07:54:49 PM kristenamrein YAY!
2019-02-27 07:55:00 PM cchase great job folks
2019-02-27 07:55:03 PM salinass (H)
2019-02-27 07:55:06 PM cassandrac CassandraConrad courseID MEPAP1 020519
2019-02-27 07:55:07 PM cchase (})
2019-02-27 07:55:26 PM salinass have a great night everyone!!!
2019-02-27 07:55:42 PM salinass (F)
2019-02-27 07:55:45 PM cchase same to you - be safe and be well
2019-02-27 07:55:55 PM biancosherri Sherri Bianco Course ID MEPAP1 010119 1/1/19
2019-02-27 07:55:56 PM cassandrac Will we see it on your grade page?
2019-02-27 07:56:25 PM salinass you too and i hope you feel better
2019-02-27 07:56:51 PM biancosherri Good night everyone and thanks
2019-02-27 07:56:52 PM cchase thank you - kathy will post when she is able - no worries
2019-02-27 07:57:18 PM cassandrac ok ty good night hope you feel better
2019-02-27 07:57:44 PM cchase (F)
2019-02-27 07:57:55 PM salinass :)
2019-02-27 07:58:21 PM salinass have a good one and now i am off to read now
2019-02-27 07:58:28 PM cassandrac left the chat room
2019-02-27 07:58:41 PM kristenamrein Goodnight all, see you tomorrow night!
2019-02-27 07:58:44 PM kristenamrein left the chat room
2019-02-27 07:58:49 PM salinass left the chat room
2019-02-27 07:58:55 PM biancosherri left the chat room
2019-02-27 07:58:59 PM cchase left the chat room
2019-03-04 05:13:51 PM tinabaisley enter the chat room
2019-03-04 05:14:56 PM tinabaisley left the chat room
2019-03-06 06:41:04 PM kristenamrein enter the chat room
2019-03-06 06:45:27 PM kristenamrein Hi all
2019-03-06 06:57:22 PM cchase enter the chat room
2019-03-06 06:57:38 PM cchase hello there kristen
2019-03-06 06:57:46 PM kristenamrein Hi Celeste, how are you?
2019-03-06 06:58:19 PM cchase better - I had that nasty cold and finally coming back to normal. how are you?
2019-03-06 06:58:49 PM kristenamrein Could be better: this past weekend I was in a car accident caused by a teenager who was texting and driving
2019-03-06 06:59:05 PM kristenamrein No injuries though!
2019-03-06 06:59:10 PM cchase oh my ... that's awful
2019-03-06 06:59:24 PM cchase guessing you were not hurt - I hope?
2019-03-06 06:59:38 PM kristenamrein No, no injuries, but it did make all the papers
2019-03-06 06:59:40 PM cchase ok..just read that
2019-03-06 06:59:52 PM cchase thery never learn
2019-03-06 07:00:01 PM cchase they*
2019-03-06 07:00:32 PM kristenamrein Apparently not, but I did!
2019-03-06 07:00:53 PM cchase not a good way to learn
2019-03-06 07:01:06 PM cchase glad your are here and ok
2019-03-06 07:01:17 PM kristenamrein Oh no, trust me, the closest I ever want to be to something like that again is watching it on TV
2019-03-06 07:01:22 PM kristenamrein Thanks
2019-03-06 07:01:55 PM cchase it's just 8:01 not sure if this is the size of this chat but you just may have an opportunity to blast away with questions tonight
2019-03-06 07:02:58 PM cchase tonight's topic is Alzheimer's/dementia - can you type your name and class currently enrolled in pls?
2019-03-06 07:03:31 PM kristenamrein Ok cool! I actually work with ALZ residents and I've had a grandmother with ALZ, so I'm fairly familiar with what the disease can do and how it affects people. My question is, why do you think a lot of people don't want to work with ALZ residents? -Kristen Amrein (ME010119)
2019-03-06 07:04:13 PM cchase do you find that to be the case?
2019-03-06 07:04:30 PM cchase that group quickly became my favorite
2019-03-06 07:05:06 PM kristenamrein A lot of times yes, I don't mind working with ALZ residents, but I often find myself relagated to that population, even though I start out sometimes having a split with all levels of care.
2019-03-06 07:06:33 PM cchase I guess it was the challenge getting that population engaged and the freedom to be as creative as I wanted
2019-03-06 07:07:52 PM kristenamrein In some respects I find it easier than other populations, in some respects I find it harder. It's easier because you can be more creative, but it's also harder because you have to work with challenging bahaviors at times, especially Sundowner's.
2019-03-06 07:08:14 PM cchase it's not about understanding Alz's so much as it's about finding ways to get them to do what they need to do to thrive
2019-03-06 07:09:13 PM kristenamrein Do you have any tips on how to work with Sundowner's? Sometimes I find it stressful, especially if I'm the only one on the floor.
2019-03-06 07:09:32 PM cchase it was always about being clever enough to lovingly trick them (in a way) to reach their best potential
2019-03-06 07:10:05 PM cchase I am a firm believer in digging in the resident's history to find the KEY
2019-03-06 07:11:07 PM cchase why might that time of day be so stressful... was there some event that keeps coming up... is there something they love that would distract them
2019-03-06 07:11:45 PM cchase turning the interior lights on well before the change in light outdoors helps
2019-03-06 07:12:24 PM kristenamrein It depends each day. For some reason at 3PM (usually), they all start to think they're going home and start arranging rides with each other. What they forget is that they live on a lockdown unit.
2019-03-06 07:13:15 PM cchase they do not need to be reminded that they live in a secure unit..that may just make them even more aggitated
2019-03-06 07:13:41 PM kristenamrein Yeah I never tell them that, but they still arrange rides home with each other.
2019-03-06 07:13:59 PM cchase I found that many were reliving that 3pm kids are getting home from school thing or getting off the bus
2019-03-06 07:14:39 PM cchase so we go to what is referred to as "therapeutic fiblets"
2019-03-06 07:15:10 PM kristenamrein I found that with one of our residents and if you try to reason with her at that point, she is beyond reasoning. Any tips on how to work with that type of behavior? What are "Therapeutic Fiblets"?
2019-03-06 07:16:05 PM cchase while they are making plans to catch rides with each other tell them that you are taking care of those arrangements. when they ask for more details - you can delay the arrival of that so called ride home
2019-03-06 07:17:25 PM cchase plan & simply you need to get into the history of that resident. Is she a former teacher, what was her occupation & use that introduce something that ties in with something she may recognize from her past
2019-03-06 07:18:01 PM cchase fiblets - are non truths that are used to help the resident when all else fails
2019-03-06 07:18:09 PM kristenamrein She was a stay at home mom, so she thinks that at 3PM she needs to head home to cook for her family.
2019-03-06 07:18:29 PM cchase yes - like I mentioned that is so common
2019-03-06 07:19:08 PM cchase told one resident with that same issue that her husband was picking up the kids and taking them out to eat
2019-03-06 07:19:23 PM kristenamrein Did it work?
2019-03-06 07:19:41 PM cchase she loved it and settled down but ofcourse it had to be repeated over and over
2019-03-06 07:19:56 PM cchase that's a therapeutic fiblet
2019-03-06 07:20:45 PM cchase you could also ask her to help make a sandwich for the kids if your facility has this option
2019-03-06 07:21:03 PM kristenamrein We don't have that option now.
2019-03-06 07:21:24 PM cchase crackers at hand?
2019-03-06 07:21:47 PM kristenamrein Sometimes. Usually we bake fresh muffins for snack just before the sundowning begins.
2019-03-06 07:21:50 PM cchase find that food is a great way to distract
2019-03-06 07:22:26 PM kristenamrein That's why when we have extra muffins I leave them for the nurses to use at night (I only work until 4PM)
2019-03-06 07:22:53 PM cchase that's a good idea...but the smell of baking those awesome cookies might be exactly what is reminding her of that 3pm alarm
2019-03-06 07:23:04 PM cchase muffins
2019-03-06 07:23:14 PM kristenamrein True, but I do the baking in the morning.
2019-03-06 07:23:44 PM cchase ok did not understand that it was a morning thing
2019-03-06 07:25:18 PM kristenamrein I've also found that from the few night shifts I've worked at my facility (used to do nights at another facility with ALZ residents), that my guys tend to wander. I've found that by having someone in the room with them, it does tend to allivate their behavior, but there are some nights where we don't have these activities. Any ideas on what to do for the nights there are no activities? Is this a common behavior as well?
2019-03-06 07:25:25 PM cchase you could start a conversation way before the witching hour begins that states the kids are sleeping over a friends house tonight.... dah dah
2019-03-06 07:25:42 PM kristenamrein I like that idea!
2019-03-06 07:26:20 PM cchase wandering is very common
2019-03-06 07:26:38 PM cchase for some - wandering dissapates anxiety
2019-03-06 07:27:35 PM cchase and should not necessarily be prevented so long as the resident is wandering safely
2019-03-06 07:29:06 PM kristenamrein I've also noticed something else that seems to help with the wandering. My guys love music and the old movie musicals. Sometimes the staff is hesistant to put on these musicals because they're afraid the residents will wander or fall asleep. I've put these types of movies on for them and have had no issues....could there be some sort of a link between the wandering and the music do you think?
2019-03-06 07:29:26 PM cchase we would make wandering paths with erasible chalk so they would go in a specific route
2019-03-06 07:30:33 PM cchase absolutely - music helps
2019-03-06 07:31:14 PM cchase the trick is to get things going before the witching hour
2019-03-06 07:31:25 PM cchase well before then well after
2019-03-06 07:33:01 PM cchase Nightime staff often are burdened with serving dinner and getting baths /showers done so meds can be offered and bedtime
2019-03-06 07:33:09 PM kristenamrein I have literally 100's of movie musicals that I've been known to bring in from time to time (many of which are the old Hollywood style musical my residents love), and sometimes it turns into a sing-along!
2019-03-06 07:33:27 PM cchase this is usually an issue applying to a secured unit more than other floors
2019-03-06 07:33:50 PM cchase there you go! that's the idea
2019-03-06 07:35:03 PM kristenamrein Exactly, sometimes the staff doesn't think it will work and then they're surprised when I show them it does. I think about it as if I were a resident: aft night I don't really want to do anything active...I want to sit in front of the TV and just be with others....why can't our residents do that if they want to?
2019-03-06 07:35:15 PM kristenamrein *at*
2019-03-06 07:36:04 PM cchase that is particularly important when you consider what most of us do at night - they just need to feel normal
2019-03-06 07:37:03 PM cchase I would be annoyed if someone insisted that I stay active late into the evening
2019-03-06 07:38:03 PM kristenamrein Me too, so my staff that I work with now tends to do more low-key things like facials or serving a special dessert after dinner. On Fridays, we hold a special dance class.
2019-03-06 07:38:24 PM cchase (y)
2019-03-06 07:38:31 PM kristenamrein Tuesdays are our concert nights, and then I don't know the other nights.
2019-03-06 07:39:11 PM cchase that is what I am talking about when I mentioned being creative
2019-03-06 07:40:45 PM kristenamrein I also think in terms of my cruises (I've been on 17 of them with my 18th planned for May) during the day time. When you go on a cruise, you really learn to appreciate the Activities profession, as you are often treated like a resident. So I plan a lot of my activities with inspiration I've gathered as a cruise ship passenger and what appeals to me (I have a very similar temperment to my residents).
2019-03-06 07:42:14 PM cchase I heard that Canada will be opening a village type facility next year. It will house 78 Alzheimer's residents and will have shops and parks to walk dogs etc.
2019-03-06 07:42:26 PM kristenamrein Lucky!
2019-03-06 07:43:08 PM cchase similar temperment to your residents!!
2019-03-06 07:43:12 PM kristenamrein Do you think that ALZ residents benefit from having Pet Therapy visits? We have a cat that lives on our unit that I consider part of our Activities team because that's what she's there for.
2019-03-06 07:43:28 PM cchase yes... yes absolutely yes
2019-03-06 07:44:07 PM cchase I found that kittens do better than cats but dogs seem to go over no matter what
2019-03-06 07:44:45 PM kristenamrein One of the things I would like to focus on when I become an Activity Director is Pet Therapy. We have all kinds of animals that come in: dogs, cats, even Minature Horses, to come do therapy with our residents.
2019-03-06 07:45:18 PM cchase yes - horse therapy is incredibly successful
2019-03-06 07:46:19 PM cchase I remember an animal farm - they had piglets and very odd chickens
2019-03-06 07:46:49 PM cchase I carried a baby goat to the Alz's unit. It had a diaper on !!!!
2019-03-06 07:47:54 PM kristenamrein I always wind up doing the Pet Therapy visits on our unit but I don't mind! Our cat jumps up on my cart that I take with me to do Morning Activities every morning and I leave the cart there so that she can do her Pet Therapy with the residents.
2019-03-06 07:49:40 PM cchase another update on the Alz's front
2019-03-06 07:49:58 PM kristenamrein Which is?
2019-03-06 07:51:54 PM cchase us drug regulators want to let drug makers test Alz disease treatments on patient's years before the disease shows outward signs and could approve the therapies based on subtle biological signals rather then proof they alleviate symptoms
2019-03-06 07:52:38 PM cchase which boils down to drugs will be approved even if they have not fully tested them
2019-03-06 07:53:43 PM cchase in my opinion - the pressure is on to find something that works
2019-03-06 07:54:15 PM kristenamrein Me too, especially since it tends to run in families, so there may be a genetic link.
2019-03-06 07:54:54 PM kristenamrein So are these drugs trying to prove that ALZ is more biologically based than neurologically based?
2019-03-06 07:54:58 PM cchase when I hear that I think that no one worries if the drug causes more issues because the patient is already dealing with a progressive fatal disease
2019-03-06 07:56:17 PM cchase it is still an unknown for certain but the disease affects people neurologically

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