ActivityWorkshop.com                             Educate others
WELCOME TO
ACTIVITYWORKSHOP.
com
The New Activity CMS
Guidelines began June
1. 2006
are you ready for
survey?  We provide a
comprehensive plan to
get your recreation
department up to
speed
Contact us today
DIANE
DRIVER-Donahue,
CDP
New Site!
Click
Below
Artisit's For
Alzheimer's
A4A
Thank you for visiting
Activity Workshop
Please check out all the
new links and
information pages!
We offer consulting
services for recreation
departments
survey preparation for
both
Long Term Care and
Assisted
LivingTraining on new
CMS guidelines for F
Tag 243
and all quality of life
measures
With over 10 years of
experience we are here to
help you
We also offer free
programming ideas for
your recreation/activity
department as well as
free job postings,
volunteer recruitment,
and Alzheimer's
information
as well as many links to
other related services
Staff Burnout
It is an ongoing
problem in Long
Term Care and in
any helping profession, with
administrative staff and department
heads who just don't understand what
we do. It is time to change perceptions,
and train and educate your peers and
co workers on the value of the activity
professional.
Everyday I get email's from activity
professionals who have the same
concern, they are not being seen as
professionals , but as someone to just
watch residents.
They do not understand the
importance, and would be very aware
if recreation walked out for the week.
Educate, educate, educate.
Set up a time with your in-service
coordinator to go over burnout
and the role of the activity professional

Remember, keep your private time
private, shut off your phone, schedule
a VACATION, and know there are
support networks out their going
through the same thing.
Network with other activity
professionals and see you are not alone.
If you have an administrator who does
not respect your profession, then it is
probably time to move on.
Keep in mind most facilities are the
same, and your positive attitude and
professional conduct can do more to
change perceptions.
Add a column in your monthly
newsletter explaining the important
role of the activity professional.
Never give up!
Know you are one in a million!
Activity professionals are so unique,
caring and giving.
Sometimes it is so hard to say no and
set boundaries because all we really
want to do is help!, Suddenly you find
yourself over seeing the dining room,
serving meals and feeding residents
and it is still not enough.
The pressure to be perfect is awesome!
We are everything to everyone!
We not only try to engage and run
meaningful programs, but we are
preventing falls, feeding, hydrating
residents, dealing with agitated
residents , and behaviors.
And we are in charge of decorating,
preparing the newsletters, calendars,
pictures, bulletin boards, creating and
implementing new programs, running
resident council, activity planning and
menu planning meetings, trips,
fundraisers, and still it is not enough.
Yet when a resident smiles and thanks
us, we melt, and try even harder,
which is leading to our burnout as a
profession. Many of the directors I was
friends with at the start of my career
are no longer in the field!
It is important to feel and really be
supported where you work.
We need to keep educating  staff on
our profession.
With paperwork at a high, and more
and more Alzheimer's Residents,
activity professionals are finding it
hard to balance it all, and you are not
alone.
If your facility would like a seminar
dealing with professional burnout,
please contact me, I'm happy to help.
Remember to schedule time for
yourself, and by all means , outside of
work have your own life and interests.
Work cannot be your entire life.
Please submit all ideas, news,
seminars, and jobs to
admin@activityworkshop.com
And please visit the Links page
for other great websites and
associations and services!
Website designed by Diane E Driver
2005/2006/2007/2008 All rights reserved/
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Staff Burnout and
what you can do
New for 2008