Michelle

Hello Catherine congratulations on your new role, You are right the activities and your relationship with the residents is great. Just wondering do you do all the documentation i.e. Audits, care plans ,reviews etc. I too started out as a carer but started doing my diploma very quickly and I was quiet shocked to see what amount of study, and how I could use that knowledge every day to improve on not just the relationships and activities with the residents but with all the paper work that I have to do to meet the standards. Ask your company to train you. Its a benefit for you and your company.

As the coordinator of my department I need to check and make sure care staff are doing their activities in their section with residents that don't want to or can not attend the activity groups that my Lifestyle staff do. This is so hard because they just cant do it and don't know what is expected because they haven't been trained in these areas.Having untrained staff in your department can be very draining and unprofessional but if the care staff are unable to do the job than they need to speak up. Do you attend the Carers meetings. When care staff do work in your department take advantage of it find ways to use it to your advantage. Speak to your manager but remember be positive yet disappointed when you approach them, Make sure you have dotted all your i's and crossed all your t's. It may take a while for you to get your point across but I have confidence in you, after all look what you do for a job. Good Luck

I always encourage the CN, Managers ,Don and staff educator to add something of importance

I started a Resident of the day list, each day a resident is nominated per every rostered DT and they have certain questions to answer. Its amazing the responses that come out and these comments help me when I review activities and care plans.

Hi everybody,
I'm looking for a simple way to review a activity and create less paper work. What are the appropriate questions to ask with out being so repetitive

Hi Lowana I have just added sensory arts to our Calender and the most popular one is hand painting but I do insist that they were gloves, its easier to keep clean I have captured some amazing pictures with this and the response from the staff as well and of course some of the staff want to have a turn to. Nail care and massage , discussing there surroundings, Talking books. The most successful is 1on1,Exercises and outdoor activities with the different smells and noises.