Lorraine

I would suggest you contact the local church or your regular church group who conducts the church groups.
Bare in mind residents will get emotional.
As for your own family maybe go to the church were the funeral was held and have a personal family service. I am sure the minister of the church will be of help. My sister and I will plan to visit the cemetry were our mum\'s ashes currently are on christmas morning or after lunch. She past away july 16th 2010.
Good luck with your organisation.

Jenny sorry to hear you have also been through a simualar position. I left my last job for pretty much the same reason. The managers had all three lifestyle staff in tears. which is not fare. We were always told that we are the worst lifestyle team ever at that place by the DON and when we put a suggestion in about out breaks as they didn't corrispond with residents program times we were also told they were sick of it then the management set times and we had no say in it. There budget is rubbish at $75 per month for 61 residents. The management also got one of my assistant in tears which normally she would stand up for her self well. The union were involved and always informed. WE had to keep our own diary. I am working at a new job now and its wonderful. Good luck hope you have a new job. BULLYING IS AN OFFENCE FROM EMPLOYERS and can be reported and if found guilty they can get up to ten years in prison. Union informed us on this. All the best.

I would like to know how the budget for lifestyle monthly plan is worked out? I worked at one place which i have left now which has 61 residents high and low care and they ge a crapy $75 per month no more. Were i currently work it has 47 residents at present high care and we get $20 per person per month so nov we get $900. Fantastic. I am thinking of reporting the other place as I think it is totaly wrong to not provide afficient amount of budget for the lifestyle department.
There for you CAN NOT provide adiquiet activities to suite residents needs and interests.
I feel for the residents and i am glad i am out of there but feel sorry for the next coordinator who takes place.

Hi Pam,
You should not have to go through that at your placement. YOU are NOT a paid worker and the nursing staff/lifestyle staff should be helping you.
The fact that you are going home nearly in tears is not on. They should not yell at you and especially in front of residents, other staff members and visitors. It's bullying otherwise.
I would talk to your training teacher asap and see if you can be moved on or get them to speak with the lifestyle coordinator / staff and Director of Nursing.. You should be enjoying your placement time. It is very sad also that nursing staff in most aged care facilities expect lifestyle staff to be in the lounge all the time except when on breaks.
We also get told if we are to make re arrangements because nursing staff use one of our rooms for there training that it is our problem you figure it out. Just on ending this we had a great meeting with head office and they are informing nursing staff of our position and that nursing staff need to support lifesytle more in assisting residents to activties and nursing need to help also.

I have been a lifestyle coordinator for 4 1/2 years with a certificate IV and only get paid $19.36 an hour. As we all agree the aged care industry in a low paid industry concidering we all are there to help out elderly and sick residents. All our governments need to look into what we do and how hard it is. We don't get very good monthly budgets either for the residents programs. I work for a 61 high and low care facility and only get $75 monthly budget.
We have to raise funds for everything else which I think is unfare.

Hi Julie,
I agree with you about your comment 100%.
Staff always think all we do is play games. As soon as they are offered to help or offered a position in this area they always seem to decline. They don't realise the amount of preparing and energy that goes into it. I would suggest when new staff come on board to give them an orientation day into lifestyle also. This will give them the opportunity to see the inside of our work. They may see differently and help us more. I do find we get limited help also to bring residents down to programs.
There has to be a way we can get other staff to support us D/T staff better.

Hi Solange,
My name is Lorraine. I work in a very small aged care facility. We have 14 very high care residents which over half are bed ridden. Is there any suggestion for a program that I could conduct or these residents with special high care needs. Some are in a princess chair. Alot can not move and don't really talk.
I would love to hear any suggestions from you and any one else. Thank you for your time.
This site is fantastic.

Hi,
My name is Lorraine. I will be doing shifts as a lifestyle coordinator from the hours of 11am to 5:30pm monday to friday. There are already programs in place but I may need to change some.
Wednesday 30th December is my first day and we have accreditation visit also. I am looking into changing there attendance records to tick format not written format in which they currently have. This will save time also.