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Resident
Rights Prints
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 We
offer a gorgeous new product line. Resident Rights posters
are generally what we see in long term care settings. A
company has come up with an innovative way to educate staff,
family and residents to Resident Rights. The product line
offers a set of 21 prints. Each unique Norman Rockwell
print is paired with a specific Resident Right. You can
purchase one print or the entire set. Customers can select
the color of mat and wood frame. This is a gorgeous and
innovative way to not only memorize a Resident Right but
keep residents interested, educated and informed. Please
see www.activitytherapy.com to
view the full product line.
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Free CEU's |
Announcement from
the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners.
Many health care professionals who are either
certified or licensed have taken the steps to
become certified dementia practitioners. The
NCCDP has partnered with Alzheimer's Care Guide
Magazine and Eldercare Activities Guide: The
Activity Professional Magazine. If you are a
CDP upon renewal you will need 10 CEU's in dementia
related seminars. Both of these publications
publish an article a month with a test. The test
and CEU's are complimentary. You will need a
subscription to either magazine and many facilities
are subscribing to the magazine. The NCCDP has
received many calls about whether other organization
will also accept the CEU's. It is up to each
accrediting organization to answer that question
and the NCCDP can not speak for them. To order
this magazine, please go to www.nccdp.org and
click on the magazine's logo. If you have questions
about free CEU's for CDP's please contact 1 877
729 5191 or visit the web site. To apply for
CDP, you must meet several criteria: 3 years
experience in health care, Certified / Licensed
in a health care profession or hold a Masters
or Ph.D., Complete an approved Alzheimer's and
Dementia Seminar that is approved by the NCCDP.
A list of instructors who are offering these
classes in your state are listed on the site.
If you're an activity professional working in
health care and are not certified, the NCCDP
encourages you to contact National Council of
Certified Activity Professionals at www.nccap.org
for a list of courses in your area and to download
their application to become a Certified Activity
Director or Certified Activity Assistant.
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CONTACT
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Alternative Solutions in Long Term
Care
103 Valley View Trail
Sparta, N.J. 07871
973.729.6601
URL: www.activitytherapy.com
Email: 
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PARTY SUPPLIES
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 Thousands of party goods! See our full line of party
accessories and novelties including lightropes & glow
products, hats, maracas, decorating kits, paper goods,
gifts and much more!
Click
here for more details
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Happy Holiday!
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On
behalf of all the staff at Alternative Solutions in Long
Term Care we wish you all a healthy 2006.
Sandra Stimson CALA, ADC, CDP
Executive Director
Lisa Reidinger CTRS, LNHA, CSW, CDP
Executive Director
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Activity Professionals Week: Suggestions to make
your week successful.
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This
newsletter is sponsored by:
National
Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners
"Free
CEUS for CDP's" See
our web site for details.
www.nccdp.org
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Happy
National Activity Professionals Week - January
22nd - January 27th 2006!
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Activity Professionals Week: Suggestions to make your week
successful
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- Make a banner and proudly display this
in the lobby.
- Have a table that displays all the things
your department does. You could
use a display board and place
pictures of events and descriptive words
that also describe the wide array of
programs you provide
and the impact it has on the residents. Words
such as Bingo, Room Visits, Pet Therapy, Intergenerational
Programs, etc. Descriptive words
such as Empowerment, Therapeutic, spiritual, Depression, Enhance Communication, Independence, Self Esteem,
Community Involvement, Benefits,
Physical Condition, Wellness, Life Skills,
Etc.
- Create a word puzzle of words associated
with therapeutic recreation and activities.
- Create a gorgeous poster in a frame that
has descriptive words of your department.
- You could create a winter wonderland
of Trees and have a theme about what
you provide. Instead of using Christmas decorations you could have snowman or skiers on
the trees holding signs with descriptive
words that describe events and activities.
Use white lights. You could place deer
around the trees, snowman, red cardinals on the trees, fake snow around
the trees.
- Issue a press release about what your
department provides to the residents
with a picture of the residents
in a program. Remember to get permission
from the residents for the photograph
and to submit to the papers.
- The administrator should take all of
the staff out to lunch or have a formal
luncheon at the facility.
- The activity director could hold a private
lunch either in the building but better
yet, why not take them to lunch.
- Have a party with the residents and the
activity staff to honor your week?
- Have balloons for all the activity staff
in their office.
- Each morning, honor your staff with coffee,
juice and donuts / pastries. The
activity director can really make their staff feel appreciated during this week.
- Provide promotional materials such as
Activity Professional Pins.
- At the formal luncheon read a Tribute
to Activity Professionals found on activitytherapy.com
web site.
- Put up the pictures of your staff on
a bulletin board with a short bio about
them and how long they have been
at the facility.
- Place an article in the facility newsletter
about activity professionals week and
the history of the profession.
- Give the staff flowers. Who doesn't
like to get flowers.
- Have the mayor issue a proclamation proclaiming
activity professional week?
- Invite other activity professionals from
other buildings to go out to dinner to
honor this week.
- Activity Staff should honor their director. You
can purchase a plant or a small gift. Purchase
a card. Many activity staff like to think the department
can function without the director and
maybe its true. But just maybe you can function without her because your director
has done such a great job of training the staff. Everyone needs a leader and if you have a great
leader, let him or her know.
You should meet with your administrator and have a
document that clearly states what your plans
are for this weeks. Some of the things
on your list might need approval. This
is our most important week and a time to show
appreciation for all that your staff does for
the residents. If you work in a toxic
work environment and feel your not appreciated,
don't let that stop you from throwing a huge
party for your department. It will be
appreciated and will send the message loud
and clear that you're an activity director
that values her staff. This will boost morale
and energize your entire department for the
coming year. And that matters!
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A Tribute to Activity Professionals!
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Thank
You!
Thank you for
all that you do to improve the quality
of life for those who matter the most,
your residents! They appreciate it!
Thank you for
all your creativity. The residents are
thankful.
Thank you
for the extra effort you put in to
each day.
Thank you for
helping out in the dining rooms for meal
programs. They need you! The nursing staff
does appreciate it!
Thank you for
all the special trips and community events.
They love being a part of the community.
Thank you for
all the effort you put into your volunteer
program, it definitely does not happen
with out you!
Thank you for
smiling even when you don't feel like it.
Thank you for
spending time with those residents who
can not come out of their rooms. They especially
appreciate the pet visits.
Thank you for
a great survey. It takes your entire team
and a dynamic program.
Thank you for
giving all of your self.
Thank you for
filling the resident's days with meaningful
activities.
Thank you for
pushing so hard to get extra special programs
approved. The extra effort paid off!
Thank you for
all the extra hours you put into planning
and implementing elaborate events. It was
appreciated!
Thank you for
attending seminars and association meetings,
even when sometimes you have to use vacation
days.
Thank you for
supporting other activity professionals.
Thank you for
taking a chance and trying something new.
Thank you for
dressing up for all those holidays.
Thank you for
all the hugs and love you give to them.
Thank you for
developing all the children's programs.
Thank you for
all the spiritual programs, because it
means more to them at this point in their
life.
But most of
all Thank You for dedicating your
life to this very special profession, Activity
Professionals! We can't imagine any facility
with out you!
by: Sandra Stimson,
Executive Director
Alternative Solutions in Long Term Care
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TWO NEW BOOKS!!!!
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The
following two resources are fantastic books
that can be used as a group activity or completed
individually by your residents.
  Grandfather's
Memories To His Grandchild
Featuring the art of Thomas Kinkade, Grandfather's
Memories to His Grandchild is a beautiful record
book that will be treasured for generations.
Helpful prompts and questions enable grandfathers
to pass wisdom and family heritage on to their
grandchildren. Themes range from childhood
stories to advice on living a life with God.
Photo journal pages allow the inclusion of
special photographs or momentos. Scripture
verses highlight the pages, helping create
this personal way for families to pass the
legacy of faith from generation to generation.
 Grandmother's
Journal
No matter
what age of grandmother or the level of time
invested in capturing those memorable and reminiscence
times, this journal will open a richer, fuller
understanding of your . Let this memory journal
be a starting point--a door into discussing
and sharing the unique qualities of a person's
well-lived life.
Whether you choose
to complete the journal in a few days, weeks,
or over the course of a year, the questions
will take a grandmother on a journey through
the times and seasons of their life.
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Join your local, state and national associations
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We
encourage all Activity and Recreation Professionals to
join their local, state and national organizations. You
can contact your national organizations to find the name
and location of your local meetings. You do not have to
be a manager or hold certifications to attend the meetings.
Additionally, almost all state organizations hold a yearly
convention that is open to all staff. If you have not attended
the conventions and would like to go in 2006, be sure to
let your supervisor know of your interest. Most Directors
will encourage their staff to attend if they express a
desire to do so.
Links to national associations
of interest to Activity Directors
ATRA - www.atra-tr.org
NTRS - http://nrpa.org/content/default.aspx?documentId=530
NAAP - http://www.thenaap.com/
NCCAP - http://www.nccap.org/
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Sensory Rooms and FTAG 248
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On a daily basis we receive
e-mails from activity professionals around the country
asking if they have to have Sensory Rooms? Is it
Federal or State regulation? The answer we
give is that it is not mandated by the federal government
or state regulations that you have sensory rooms. But
what is required is that you provide " Quality of
Life" for all residents. Remember, that FTAG
248 is not the only federal guideline for nursing
homes that apply to recreation. There are many
others.
Sensory rooms are really for any population. But
generally in long term care it is used for the very
low functioning resident's. Sensory rooms provide
a group activity in an environment that is success
oriented, failure free, purposeful and meaningful. If
you don't have programs to fit the needs of this
very special population than the question would be, "how
are you impacting their quality of life on a daily
basis?"
As a consultant to many facilities across the country
we do not see enough low functioning programs offered
on a daily basis. Either it's not offered enough
or not at all. We also see many residents in
day rooms unable to participate in the scheduled
event, left in their rooms, placed at nurses stations
or left in the hallway. If you have a sensory
room that is well staffed, it offers a place for
the resident's to go that is stress free and stimulating. The
sensory rooms can also be used for your NPO programs. As
activity professionals you are required to have NPO
programs for those individuals who are left in their
rooms when meals are being served. During meal
times the NPO residents can come to the sensory rooms. Think
how hard it must be to smell the food when you cannot
have it! In the sensory rooms the stress and
anxiety over meal times is alleviated.
For the residents who are bed bound due to illness,
a great program is a Sensory Cart. The sensory
cart could be brought to the residents room on a
daily basis. You could place fiber optics such
as butterfly's above their bed. Sensory carts
generally have but not limited to CD players, aroma
therapy and fiber optics. Make sure you place
the carts where the resident can see them. Otherwise
what would be the benefit to the patient?
Anyone who is attending the sensory rooms should
have care plans. The Activity Professional
should be documenting how often they attend and what
they do while in the sensory rooms. You should
have simple attainable goals and approaches for each
resident. You should have some kind of formal document
that nursing would receive that states; which residents
are attending the sensory room, time and days of
the week.
For infection control, the activity professional
should be washing each resident's hand as they are
brought into the sensory room. At the end of
the day, all of the sensory equipment should be disinfected.
We have implemented sensory rooms in many facilities
in New Jersey. What a difference it made! One
facility that had over 200 residents identified 43
residents who could not participate in scheduled
activities and many of these residents were also
on the quality indicator report. Before the
sensory rooms opened on each floor, these residents
could be found sitting idle with no stimulation. Now
all 43 residents attend the sensory room in the morning
or afternoon and of course as tolerated. There is
a huge difference in a facility with a sensory room
compared to those without one.
The sensory rooms also improves customer satisfaction
among family members who feel their family member
has no activity options due to their function level. With
a sensory room you can offer a wonderful activity
on a daily basis. When families visit they can also
spend time with their loved one in the sensory room. When
families visit with their children, the room provides
a place for children to also engage in the sensory
products. A sensory room is a fun and interactive
place for a child.
Sensory rooms should be equipped with rocking chairs. High
functioning residents should be encouraged to use
the room and the rocking chairs. The rocking
chairs are soothing and all of us who have ever sat
in a rocking chair can agree how calming an activity
the rocking chairs are.
The sensory rooms should also have things to do on
each table. Tactile items, pat mats, activity mats,
squeeze balls, etc. Also place flash lights
on each table. Some residents enjoy turning on the
flash light and pointing the light at the wall.
Watch the type of music and sensory stimulation you
provide. Smells should not be overpowering. We
recommend anything that is recommended for stress
relief like lavender. Strong smells such as
lemon should not be used. The type of music
can also impact the mood. Use music that is
soothing such as angel music. It is recommended that
you not use music with nature sounds, as dementia
clients may misunderstand the sounds of chirping
birds or crickets. They misunderstand the sounds
of crashing waves as water running and want you to
turn it off. For the best outcomes, use soothing
angel type music and stress relief scents.
Sensory rooms should have policy and procedures and
these should be placed in the administrators facility
manual as well as the Activity Departments manual. These
should be reviewed on a yearly basis.
If you have been asking your administrator for sensory
equipment and feel your not getting anywhere, you
might consider finding a facility in your area with
a sensory room and bringing not only your administrator
but your Director of Nursing. Every facility
has resident's who become agitated due the stress
of the unit, lights, noise, crowded conditions and
temperature. Appeal to the Director of Nursing
how much calmer the floor would be not only for a
specific resident but for other residents who are
upset by verbal outbursts if you had a sensory room. Also,
if you have a sensory room, nursing would not have
to watch a confused resident which would free up
more of their time for nursing duties. That
example is sure to make a difference with a DON.
And if that does not work, try the "survey approach." Surveyors
like to see sensory rooms because it means you have
great programs for the low functioning residents
and having a sensory room might possibly mean the
difference between passing survey and not passing
survey. Because again, you are required to
have programs to fit all residents needs living in
your facility. Sensory rooms can definitely
help you with appropriate programming and survey
outcomes.
So in answer to the question, is it required. No,
Can you do without one with the changes to come next
year and the answer is also No. Take the time
to visit a facility with a sensory room and you will
know how important a sensory room is to quality of
life for the low functioning resident. And
if your administrator still won't allot the money,
than begin fund raising because in the end, you will
be proud you raised the money.
Alternative Solutions in Long Term Care www.activitytherapy.com
carries a full line of sensory items, sensory room
care plans, Sensory Room In-services and Sensory
Room policy and procedures.
Happy Activity Professionals Week!
____________________________
Alternative Solutions in Long Term Care
Lisa Reidinger LCSW, CTRS, CSW, CDP
Executive Director
Sandra Stimson CALA, ADC, CDP
Executive Director
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National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners
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Train the Trainer: Please visit www.nccdp.org
for dates and locations for the Alzheimer's and Dementia
Train the Trainer course. This course is recommended
for In-service Directors, Corporate Trainers and
Consultants. The course will include all your overheads,
Powerpoint disk, student hand outs and tests, text
books and video. The modules are: Overview (Diagnosis,
Prognosis, Treatment) Communication, Feelings, Depression,
Repetitive Behaviors, Aggressive Behaviors, Catastrophic
Reactions, Paranoia, Hallucinations, Wandering, Hoarding,
Intimacy & Sexuality, Cultural Diversity, Activities,
End of Life Issues, ADL's, Nutrition, Spirituality,
Environment, Staff and Family Support.
Seminar Dates and Locations:
January 28th 2006 Saturday Las Vegas Nevada
April 22nd 2006 Saturday Washington DC
June 24th 2006 Saturday St. Louis MO
October 7th 2006 Saturday Orlando FL
For information and registration form please see
www.nccdp.org or contact 1 877 729 5191
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Moth Balls in My Attic
Memory
Lane DVD