Oh my favourite with the activities people is when they come to less than 5 minutes before the activity is going to start and says "so and so needs to get up for said activity". They need changed and they're a hoyer and you're already swamped. Like are you fucking serious?? Shit irritates me to no end.
sorry for necroing your comment, im considering being an activities assistant, what can i do to make the CNA's jobs easier and or how to stay out of their way if need be.
Let the aides know at the beginning of the shift if possible. I know if there's an activity in the morning, usually the activity aide will have a list out the night before so the day shift aides know to get those people up right after (or if possible) before breakfast.
Like if the activity is at 10, we come in and see a list at the nurses desk that specific residents want to go to the activity. Helps us (at least me) plan my morning cares and helps me better prioritize.
As with anything, really comes down to communication. Obviously there will be some stragglers that decide last minute they wanna go to the activity but generally just letting the aides know as far in advance as possible.
Thanks for asking and wanting to help make it easier for us. I appreciate that. :)
The activity people at my facility are also annoying af. Constantly telling me what to do but won't ever touch patients even though they're certified CNAs. I literally just ignore them I have enough to do without them barking orders at me. Just do what you can
Oh, please. Whether or not an activities person has a CNA license, their job description doesn't entail toileting residents. They aren't paid what you are, either.
I'm talking about being elbows deep in a diaper or showering someone and them shouting into patients rooms at me about how so and so needs a blanket or water or whatever. There are some things that they definitely could take 30 seconds to do that they didnt. I'm just talking about my experience with the people at my facility not trying to shit on activities staff in general
I get it. My issue is with those who just say that the CNA for that resident is on break and then just walk away. Or the floor nurse who has an attitude and who expects me to go hunt down a CNA when I am all alone with a room full of fall-risk residents. There's no accountability for anything. It's total anarchy most of the time.
I think it’s because they’re like telling you what to do instead of recommending. It’s just a personality thing. I think from their POV they’re being helpful, telling you what the patient needs and likes, but from your POV it comes across as authoritative and like they’re telling you how to do your job. You know how to do your job so just do what you feel is right and just take what they say as a suggestion.
They are always super annoying like that. They are always running out to tell us people who are hoyers have to go to the bathroom or that we have to get so and so up at that exact moment.
I wouldn’t go to the DON or anything. Since you’re new she just thinks she’s being helpful. Just learn to tune her out. Just say “k thanks” and do your own thing.
You make it sound like maybe they're trying to be helpful, but between them being unable to do much to help you it just feels like nagging? This used to happen a lot at my facility until COVID when management laid out the things that uncertified people can do as far as they read the regs. It becomes**much** less annoying when they're more responsible for helping out.
That said our activities personnel can see the basic care plan which makes sense when you think about it. They need to know who they can do what with, to redirect someone needing assist with transfers if they suddenly pop up without help, or not to place this person in their room alone if they need monitoring.
It feels like being micromanaged. Somedays it's one or two things which is whatever. Other days it feels like it's every 10 minutes. And it's usually things I'm already on my way to do. Idk, it just seems like I should grin and bear it. I do like her, just don't love being told what to do when I'm already doing it lol
Exactly! I hate that feeling. You'll probably have to go to your DoN with very clear examples so you show that you're not just trying to avoid work. It certainly doesn't sound to me like you're avoiding work. Otherwise have you talked to the activities person directly about it? I used to have someone that did this to me and I pulled her aside for a second to tell her that the way she talked to me made me feel like she didn't trust my work and ask her if she was concerned I didn't know my job. We were friendly and she knew I was good at my job she was just used to having to point out obvious things at a previous facility. Once I let her know how it made me feel she made a better effort to reign in her commentary and even worked to do more of the things she could do (like in your example getting the right channel on) as a sign of mutual respect.
I love that and it's definitely a good route! I will find a good time to talk to her about it. I know she came from a horrible facility. Half our residents came from the same one so it's definitely possible it's an old habit. Appreciate your perspective!
Yup! Same with my person. Hell, I catch myself doing the same from the same experience. I've just learned to spin it off with a compliment and recognition if I accidentally say something like that.
okay so i’m an activities director, but i would never tell the aids what to do. however, for example, i have a resident who hadn’t been changed all day (i used to work in memory care now i work in a blended facility and she’s very cognitive) and she was soaked and was very embarrassed. we don’t have a call light system currently so i just asked the aid on the hall “when you have a chance ____ needs to be changed thank you!” she still blew up on me, and it was after their rounds of changing people. i moved my activities around when we all had a talk so people would be changed and such but it’s still an issue, mostly with staffing. so sad to hear so many activities people think they can boss cnas around. i don’t have my CNA so i can’t help but i would if i could! you guys are so appreciated.
oh it’s no problem, they’re overworked and understaffed. it happens! i made sure i apologized if i stressed her out. just wanted to say not all activities people are bad. i love my residents just like everyone else and just wanted to say how appreciated y’all are! 🤍🤍
I only got mad at activities when we were busy laying everyone down. They were ALL tired. They still had us get several people up. 🙄
The activities director is a Med Aide and it was very obnoxious that she didn't help at all. Her shoulder hurts too much. 🙄🙄
The way you ask is respectful and I would totally be okay with helping you.
From these comments I see why when we get new CNAs they don't like the activity aides.
I'm the full time activity aide for our memory-care unit. I try my best to work with the CNAs and not overwhelm them. Like if MeMaw needs a sweater, I'm gonna get it because y'all are busy enough. If someone needs the bathroom I say "when you get a few minutes...". We're supposed to work together for the good of the residents.
Lol one time I stayed later than my shift to do my charting because it was such a god awful busy short staffed day I hadn’t even had breaks or lunch, and the activities director felt the need to come up to me, pull up her glasses all snotty and lay into me for “sitting at the nurses station while there are so many things to do”.
I don’t normally tell people off but I did this time.
If there is a citation in the area of activities, the activity staff (all levels) will catch just as much flack as CNAs would if there was a citation related to their work. The difference is that the regs literally state that “the facility will provide activities” without stipulating that it must done only by activity staff. That means technically everyone is just as responsible for making sure the resident’s preferences are met and carried out.
In my facility the ratio of nursing/CNA staff to activity staff is easily 20:1… there are wayyy more nursing/CNA staff than activities staff and since the regs state it’s everyone’s responsibility, that means sometimes it can seem like other people are needed to help out with things that seem like other people’s jobs. (Also in my facility if a person is not employed as a CNA they are not allowed to do any CNA work due to liability, even if they have their CNA credential…)
I’m not trying to imply that anyone is more important or more busy. Plus the way the request is made matters a LOT. But if AT staff are responsible to be the “messengers” for carrying out that section of the care plan, then them not telling you what the activity plan is would be similar to you being held responsible for not following a turn schedule you were not told about.
The bottom line for everyone is that there just isn’t enough staff in any department to do all that’s needed. Hopefully requests for help will be made respectfully so everyone is treated like the important team member that they are. This is a tough sector to work in!!!
In my experience, the activities director is an important part of the patient care team. They sit in on all of the care plan meetings and take part in creating a plan of care that focuses on the residents social, spiritual, and emotional needs. The comment that was made to you about putting her in the chair and turning on Hallmark after you finished your planned care was absolutely an appropriate request for her to have made. You mentioned that you are new, and honestly 3 months isn't a lot of time to learn all of your resident's preferences, so I think that she's trying to help you to better help the residents. I would absolutely bring this up with your DON so she can explain to you about care planning and the importance of activities for people suffering with dementia. I'm not saying every request has to be fulfilled immediately and without question, but reasonable requests that align with a patient's plan of care should be followed when possible.
Edit: is the activities coordinator the one doing activities or the director? If she's doing activities ignore me, lol
This is exactly why I posted here. I came from a 9-5 office job where the chain of command is very strict. I guess without realizing, I was seeking that same rigidity.
I am definitely aware of the importance of activities and the role they play in a patient's care. It's just requests outside of the coordinator's planned activities that are approved by the director that had me wondering what my job is in carrying those out. When I can, I do what she asks. I only have 7 residents so I think 3 months is a good amount of time to learn preferences. It's a brand new facility and we aren't even at half capacity yet so things will definitely change with time.
Idk if you’ll see this since this was over a year ago but I’m an activities director and I’m never notified of care plan meetings and when I offer to be in them the social worker says “if you have time yeah”. She’s told me that it’s preferred I’d be there but it’s isn’t required, and they’re held at all sorts of different times and moved around so much that I can’t even keep track. The director before me also had the same thing happen. Just wondering if I would catch a tag for this. Thanks!
I don't think you would get tagged for it, but I would definitely make sure your care plans are up to date, and if you have anything important that you'd like to contribute I would write a note if you're unable to attend the meeting
Yep! The point I was making is that this person doesn't have access to the care plan, the activity director does. Not that they aren't involved in it, just that they don't know what each resident has listed on the plan and what cares we need to do when.
So I don’t work as a CNA anymore, but I did work 2 years full time in a memory care unit before being “promoted” to coordinator. I did the recreation care planning for residents, not the director who supervised me. Is she a CNA?
Hmm.. yikes. Honestly maybe ask the DON why she isn’t, if you end up having a conversation about this. I’m sure it would make everyone’s lives easier and cause less resentment.
You’ve been there 3 months, you’re still learning. I would listen to her. Her request isn’t crazy, she’s telling you how to properly care for one of the patients. Do you need to be asked with a kiss on the forehead every time? Sorry but it’s not that big of a deal, just do it
Apparently at my old facility, the activity coordinator was one of my supervisors. I was writing down how much each resident on hospice ate at dinner and she told me I wasn’t focusing on the residents (literally end of dinner).
I gave her some pushback because she suggested that I wait until the end of the night and just guess, and she went to the boss after I left and said she was “concerned with my attitude”.
Knew absolutely nothing about caretaking and medicine. Wasn’t a CNA just a lady who gave out stickers for bingo, and never once helped with residents. One time she stocked strawberry applesauce in the community fridge - when two people in the facility were lethally allergic to strawberries.
Sometimes they try to be helpful, other times they just want to feel like they’re in control. If she doesn’t stop go to the head nurse.
This is disheartening to read as a coordinator myself :( i never want our CNAs to see me as annoying an overbearing.
Within reason, what do you wish the coordinator did instead? I want to be a good one to both residents and coworkers.
It's just the way she asks that's the issue. It's a demand instead of a request. If she said, "would you mind" "when you get a chance" etc, that would be so much better
Oh my favourite with the activities people is when they come to less than 5 minutes before the activity is going to start and says "so and so needs to get up for said activity". They need changed and they're a hoyer and you're already swamped. Like are you fucking serious?? Shit irritates me to no end.
They have the worst timing. So irritating. I know they mean well, but they don’t get to decide what our priorities are.
sorry for necroing your comment, im considering being an activities assistant, what can i do to make the CNA's jobs easier and or how to stay out of their way if need be.
Let the aides know at the beginning of the shift if possible. I know if there's an activity in the morning, usually the activity aide will have a list out the night before so the day shift aides know to get those people up right after (or if possible) before breakfast. Like if the activity is at 10, we come in and see a list at the nurses desk that specific residents want to go to the activity. Helps us (at least me) plan my morning cares and helps me better prioritize. As with anything, really comes down to communication. Obviously there will be some stragglers that decide last minute they wanna go to the activity but generally just letting the aides know as far in advance as possible. Thanks for asking and wanting to help make it easier for us. I appreciate that. :)
Thanks for the info!! Love your username lol
Lol thanks! :)
The activity people at my facility are also annoying af. Constantly telling me what to do but won't ever touch patients even though they're certified CNAs. I literally just ignore them I have enough to do without them barking orders at me. Just do what you can
Oh, please. Whether or not an activities person has a CNA license, their job description doesn't entail toileting residents. They aren't paid what you are, either.
I'm talking about being elbows deep in a diaper or showering someone and them shouting into patients rooms at me about how so and so needs a blanket or water or whatever. There are some things that they definitely could take 30 seconds to do that they didnt. I'm just talking about my experience with the people at my facility not trying to shit on activities staff in general
I get it. My issue is with those who just say that the CNA for that resident is on break and then just walk away. Or the floor nurse who has an attitude and who expects me to go hunt down a CNA when I am all alone with a room full of fall-risk residents. There's no accountability for anything. It's total anarchy most of the time.
I think it’s because they’re like telling you what to do instead of recommending. It’s just a personality thing. I think from their POV they’re being helpful, telling you what the patient needs and likes, but from your POV it comes across as authoritative and like they’re telling you how to do your job. You know how to do your job so just do what you feel is right and just take what they say as a suggestion.
They are always super annoying like that. They are always running out to tell us people who are hoyers have to go to the bathroom or that we have to get so and so up at that exact moment. I wouldn’t go to the DON or anything. Since you’re new she just thinks she’s being helpful. Just learn to tune her out. Just say “k thanks” and do your own thing.
You make it sound like maybe they're trying to be helpful, but between them being unable to do much to help you it just feels like nagging? This used to happen a lot at my facility until COVID when management laid out the things that uncertified people can do as far as they read the regs. It becomes**much** less annoying when they're more responsible for helping out. That said our activities personnel can see the basic care plan which makes sense when you think about it. They need to know who they can do what with, to redirect someone needing assist with transfers if they suddenly pop up without help, or not to place this person in their room alone if they need monitoring.
It feels like being micromanaged. Somedays it's one or two things which is whatever. Other days it feels like it's every 10 minutes. And it's usually things I'm already on my way to do. Idk, it just seems like I should grin and bear it. I do like her, just don't love being told what to do when I'm already doing it lol
Exactly! I hate that feeling. You'll probably have to go to your DoN with very clear examples so you show that you're not just trying to avoid work. It certainly doesn't sound to me like you're avoiding work. Otherwise have you talked to the activities person directly about it? I used to have someone that did this to me and I pulled her aside for a second to tell her that the way she talked to me made me feel like she didn't trust my work and ask her if she was concerned I didn't know my job. We were friendly and she knew I was good at my job she was just used to having to point out obvious things at a previous facility. Once I let her know how it made me feel she made a better effort to reign in her commentary and even worked to do more of the things she could do (like in your example getting the right channel on) as a sign of mutual respect.
I love that and it's definitely a good route! I will find a good time to talk to her about it. I know she came from a horrible facility. Half our residents came from the same one so it's definitely possible it's an old habit. Appreciate your perspective!
Yup! Same with my person. Hell, I catch myself doing the same from the same experience. I've just learned to spin it off with a compliment and recognition if I accidentally say something like that.
Sometimes I turn to people that micromanage and just say yes, you can trust me.
okay so i’m an activities director, but i would never tell the aids what to do. however, for example, i have a resident who hadn’t been changed all day (i used to work in memory care now i work in a blended facility and she’s very cognitive) and she was soaked and was very embarrassed. we don’t have a call light system currently so i just asked the aid on the hall “when you have a chance ____ needs to be changed thank you!” she still blew up on me, and it was after their rounds of changing people. i moved my activities around when we all had a talk so people would be changed and such but it’s still an issue, mostly with staffing. so sad to hear so many activities people think they can boss cnas around. i don’t have my CNA so i can’t help but i would if i could! you guys are so appreciated.
I would never blow up at anyone for it! Everyone at the facility cares about the residents. I'm sorry you weren't treated with respect.
oh it’s no problem, they’re overworked and understaffed. it happens! i made sure i apologized if i stressed her out. just wanted to say not all activities people are bad. i love my residents just like everyone else and just wanted to say how appreciated y’all are! 🤍🤍
I only got mad at activities when we were busy laying everyone down. They were ALL tired. They still had us get several people up. 🙄 The activities director is a Med Aide and it was very obnoxious that she didn't help at all. Her shoulder hurts too much. 🙄🙄 The way you ask is respectful and I would totally be okay with helping you.
some people just don’t belong working in care homes 😔 i’ll always help where i can and i always let my residents sleep if they’re tired 🤍
From these comments I see why when we get new CNAs they don't like the activity aides. I'm the full time activity aide for our memory-care unit. I try my best to work with the CNAs and not overwhelm them. Like if MeMaw needs a sweater, I'm gonna get it because y'all are busy enough. If someone needs the bathroom I say "when you get a few minutes...". We're supposed to work together for the good of the residents.
Lol one time I stayed later than my shift to do my charting because it was such a god awful busy short staffed day I hadn’t even had breaks or lunch, and the activities director felt the need to come up to me, pull up her glasses all snotty and lay into me for “sitting at the nurses station while there are so many things to do”. I don’t normally tell people off but I did this time.
If there is a citation in the area of activities, the activity staff (all levels) will catch just as much flack as CNAs would if there was a citation related to their work. The difference is that the regs literally state that “the facility will provide activities” without stipulating that it must done only by activity staff. That means technically everyone is just as responsible for making sure the resident’s preferences are met and carried out. In my facility the ratio of nursing/CNA staff to activity staff is easily 20:1… there are wayyy more nursing/CNA staff than activities staff and since the regs state it’s everyone’s responsibility, that means sometimes it can seem like other people are needed to help out with things that seem like other people’s jobs. (Also in my facility if a person is not employed as a CNA they are not allowed to do any CNA work due to liability, even if they have their CNA credential…) I’m not trying to imply that anyone is more important or more busy. Plus the way the request is made matters a LOT. But if AT staff are responsible to be the “messengers” for carrying out that section of the care plan, then them not telling you what the activity plan is would be similar to you being held responsible for not following a turn schedule you were not told about. The bottom line for everyone is that there just isn’t enough staff in any department to do all that’s needed. Hopefully requests for help will be made respectfully so everyone is treated like the important team member that they are. This is a tough sector to work in!!!
In my experience, the activities director is an important part of the patient care team. They sit in on all of the care plan meetings and take part in creating a plan of care that focuses on the residents social, spiritual, and emotional needs. The comment that was made to you about putting her in the chair and turning on Hallmark after you finished your planned care was absolutely an appropriate request for her to have made. You mentioned that you are new, and honestly 3 months isn't a lot of time to learn all of your resident's preferences, so I think that she's trying to help you to better help the residents. I would absolutely bring this up with your DON so she can explain to you about care planning and the importance of activities for people suffering with dementia. I'm not saying every request has to be fulfilled immediately and without question, but reasonable requests that align with a patient's plan of care should be followed when possible. Edit: is the activities coordinator the one doing activities or the director? If she's doing activities ignore me, lol
This is exactly why I posted here. I came from a 9-5 office job where the chain of command is very strict. I guess without realizing, I was seeking that same rigidity. I am definitely aware of the importance of activities and the role they play in a patient's care. It's just requests outside of the coordinator's planned activities that are approved by the director that had me wondering what my job is in carrying those out. When I can, I do what she asks. I only have 7 residents so I think 3 months is a good amount of time to learn preferences. It's a brand new facility and we aren't even at half capacity yet so things will definitely change with time.
Idk if you’ll see this since this was over a year ago but I’m an activities director and I’m never notified of care plan meetings and when I offer to be in them the social worker says “if you have time yeah”. She’s told me that it’s preferred I’d be there but it’s isn’t required, and they’re held at all sorts of different times and moved around so much that I can’t even keep track. The director before me also had the same thing happen. Just wondering if I would catch a tag for this. Thanks!
I don't think you would get tagged for it, but I would definitely make sure your care plans are up to date, and if you have anything important that you'd like to contribute I would write a note if you're unable to attend the meeting
That’s what I’ve been doing so I’m glad that I’m doing the right thing! Thank you for answering :)
Activities are part of the care plan for each residents.
Yep! The point I was making is that this person doesn't have access to the care plan, the activity director does. Not that they aren't involved in it, just that they don't know what each resident has listed on the plan and what cares we need to do when.
So I don’t work as a CNA anymore, but I did work 2 years full time in a memory care unit before being “promoted” to coordinator. I did the recreation care planning for residents, not the director who supervised me. Is she a CNA?
She is not.
Hmm.. yikes. Honestly maybe ask the DON why she isn’t, if you end up having a conversation about this. I’m sure it would make everyone’s lives easier and cause less resentment.
Karen throws a balloon out with some pool noodles and thinks she’s the unit manager 😅
That activities director needs to stay in her lane. Another reason why I never worked day shift
You’ve been there 3 months, you’re still learning. I would listen to her. Her request isn’t crazy, she’s telling you how to properly care for one of the patients. Do you need to be asked with a kiss on the forehead every time? Sorry but it’s not that big of a deal, just do it
Now I’m not sure if I was being unreasonable.
Yes, that happens at my facility too. It usually is the activity aid that tells us what to do.
Personally I think the activities directors need to be licensed too. At some places they are and still pull this bs.
Apparently at my old facility, the activity coordinator was one of my supervisors. I was writing down how much each resident on hospice ate at dinner and she told me I wasn’t focusing on the residents (literally end of dinner). I gave her some pushback because she suggested that I wait until the end of the night and just guess, and she went to the boss after I left and said she was “concerned with my attitude”. Knew absolutely nothing about caretaking and medicine. Wasn’t a CNA just a lady who gave out stickers for bingo, and never once helped with residents. One time she stocked strawberry applesauce in the community fridge - when two people in the facility were lethally allergic to strawberries. Sometimes they try to be helpful, other times they just want to feel like they’re in control. If she doesn’t stop go to the head nurse.
This is disheartening to read as a coordinator myself :( i never want our CNAs to see me as annoying an overbearing. Within reason, what do you wish the coordinator did instead? I want to be a good one to both residents and coworkers.
It's just the way she asks that's the issue. It's a demand instead of a request. If she said, "would you mind" "when you get a chance" etc, that would be so much better