Yesterday was my girlfriends Birthday. We have a birthday 3 days apart, which is why I always remember when it is. Sorry I didn't blog it before midnight, but I did remember.
Happy Birthday Pauline. You're a great friend. Hope you have a great day and do something special.
Posted by Darlene at 12:28 AM 0 comments
Okay, so it has taken be a while to get in the holiday spirit but reading Judith's blog at Flight Song helped. I've never been this late and not finished with everything. I have been making gifts for about a month and a half and that should have put me in the mood, but it didn't.
As I posted on the 10th, state inspector were at my work last week, Tuesday through Thursday. That really didn't help my holiday spirit at all. They had the nerve to stick around for 4 whole days ( actually, that's how long they stay at any facility), which meant going in early each morning and staying until late. We weren't allow to leave until all the inspector had left for the day. Some days that meant 7am to 7 or 8 pm. We had our exit on Thursday afternoon. It was truly a GREAT survey! Unbelievable! We only got TWO tags, both in dietary (not that I would wish that on any department). It was a better survey then either of the last two years. If they have to come in December, right before Christmas, it's a nice gift not to get any serious tags.
In my department, I had three musical entertainers scheduled in the 4 days they were scheduled to be there. Can't beat that! Of course it is December. The month everyone is in the giving spirit and wanting to give back. ( I have 14 special events scheduled in the month of December. That's nuts!)
Everyone was on cloud nine Thursday afternoon. Management got to leave early on Friday. When the inspection was finished and the inspector were gone, our administer / owner had the secretary announce, "Elvis has left the building". Pretty cool!
My Christmas spirit was definitely picking up with the survey behind me. I've been listening to Christmas music all weekend. I still have a few things to pick up but for the most part, I did manage to get most of my shopping and projects done this weekend. I even have them wrapped and under the tree.
I made the mistake of leaving the wrapped gifts for my grandchildren under my tree. I thought my grandson would never let up during our quality time on Saturday night. He wanted to open one of those gifts sssooooooo bad. Who cares that there was 12 days till Christmas. I managed to find a big, stripped, blue and yellow snake that satisfied him for a time. He kept going back for that small glimmer of hope I would give in and let him open them.
We have a party every year at church, reaching out to the neighborhood with a pot luck, entertainment and a chance to get a picture with Santa. This year I had the pleasure of finding the entertainment. We had a couple clowns that did skits and clowning around, and bringing the real meaning into Christmas. They were called "Fools 4 Christ". They did a great job. They were at the nursing home I work at the day before. What a nice ministry.
As for Santa, the same guy has dressed as Santa for many years. This year was different. One of the other older men in our church did the job. I don't think they really notice who's in the suit, just that he visits and is willing to lend an ear for their latest Christmas wish.
God Bless and Good Night. And if you were one of the people out there saying a prayer for a good survey for our facility, Thank you! God hear our prayers.
Posted by Darlene at 9:20 PM 1 comments
State Survey. If you have ever worked in a nursing home, retirement home, or the like, you know what a state survey is. We are currently in our third day of our annual survey. The stress is so thick you can cut it with a knife. Having to come to work several hours early, and remaining until the last of them go home for the evening, which is several hours after our scheduled time to go home. Everyone is just exhausted! Add a little stress, and wow, the days are long.
Our administrator, owner, walks up and down the halls, with his hands in his pickets, pacing the halls. The DON runs from unit to unit, watching everyone, asking staff question when the opportunity presents itself. The other nursing staff hide, whenever they can get away with it. And I have never had such good participation and help from the staff to get people to and from programs. When they are in programming, the staff don't have to worry about them.
As for my department, I believe if you are doing what you are suppose to be doing, everyday, you have nothing to worry about. Does that decrease the stress, no, not at all. I have several new employees, who have never been through a state survey and they are very nervous. Truthfully, they do a great job, they just don't have the confidence or experience to know it.
The truth be told, activities is the best place to be during a state survey. Nursing and Food Service is their main focus. As long as you don't give them reason to focus on activities, they usually don't.
I'm told, by the other departments that my department is doing 50 to 60% more activities than the girl before me did. I don't have anything but their word to go on, I just believe in keeping them busy so as not to get into mischief. As luck would have it, I had two concerts scheduled so far this week and another one scheduled for tomorrow. After all, this is December. Everyone always wants to come and volunteer, you know, give back. (It's too bad they don't want to give back more months of the year but with the survey there, I'm not complaining.) This being the Christmas month, I also had scheduled, a craft everyday for the memory impaired unit and several time a week for the other units. Add a Christmas bingo and a little trivia and some other word games and the days have gone by pretty quickly. Having enough staff sure helps tremendously.
The only concern so far, was a resident council meeting, with only state survey people present, asking the residents questions. From what I hear of that, things went pretty well. They actually praise the activities and activity staff. Makes coming in early and staying late well worth it.
We still have one more day, but we have a great team and a beautiful place and resident who are very complimentary of the staff. Will we get 100%, probably not, but I think we are going to do just fine. I'll say a prayer just the same.
Quote for the day: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation. Isaiah 28:16
Posted by Darlene at 8:27 PM 1 comments
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