In this post, we’ll dive into some remarkable alternatives to traditional pet therapy for seniors, highlighting the diverse range of creatures that can bring smiles and comfort. Continue reading below. 

As we age, maintaining our emotional well-being becomes increasingly important. It’s not uncommon for older adults to experience feelings of loneliness and isolation. This is especially true for senior citizens who reside in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. For these seniors, the sense of companionship and joy that animals bring can profoundly impact their overall quality of life. While traditional therapy animals like dogs and cats have proven benefits, a world of unique and unconventional animals can offer equally enriching experiences.

1. Feathered Friends: Parrots and Canaries

Birds have long been celebrated for their captivating beauty and melodic songs. Parrots can forge meaningful connections with seniors with their vibrant plumage and ability to mimic speech. The charming chittering of canaries can provide a soothing backdrop to everyday life, and their low-maintenance care requirements make them ideal companions for care facilities. The rhythmic cadence of their songs can have a calming effect, reducing stress and anxiety among residents.

2. Aquatic Companions: Fish and Aquatic Creatures

Watching fish glide through water can mesmerize, promoting relaxation and tranquility. An aquarium filled with colorful fish or even aquatic plants can create a serene atmosphere, providing seniors with a soothing visual experience. More exotic options, like turtles or small amphibians, can also offer tactile engagement. Studies have shown that simply observing fish can lower blood pressure and improve mood, making them an ideal addition to senior care facilities.

3. Furry and Unique: Guinea Pigs and Rabbits

Smaller than dogs and cats, guinea pigs and rabbits are gentle creatures that can easily fit into the lives of seniors. Their soft fur and friendly dispositions make them wonderful companions for cuddling and interacting. Seniors can enjoy feeding, grooming, and spending time with these adorable creatures. Caring for guinea pigs and rabbits can provide a sense of purpose and routine, boosting the emotional well-being of seniors.

4. Tranquil Delights: Therapy Chickens

Believe it or not, chickens are emerging as unexpected therapy animals. Their gentle clucking and rhythmic pecking can be soothing, and caring for them imparts a sense of responsibility and routine. Some facilities have introduced therapy chicken coops, allowing seniors to experience the joy of nurturing and connecting with these feathered friends. The tactile engagement in collecting eggs and tending to the chickens can provide a unique and rewarding experience.

5. Miniature Wonders: Therapy Mini Horses

While dogs are known for their loyalty, miniature horses are gaining popularity as emotional support animals. These pint-sized equines can be a heartwarming presence in care facilities. Their friendly nature and manageable size make them well-suited for seniors, and interactions with them can promote physical activity through grooming and light walking. The tactile and emotional bond that forms between seniors and miniature horses can have a significant positive impact on mental health.

6. Cuddly Charm: Therapy Bunnies

Bunnies are soft, gentle, and undeniably cute. Their quiet demeanor and the opportunity to stroke their velvety fur can provide immense comfort to seniors. Additionally, bunnies can be trained to perform simple tricks, adding an element of engagement and fun. The soft texture of bunny fur and the rhythmic sound of their breathing can provide a sensory experience that calms and uplifts seniors.

7. Reptile Companions: Geckos and Snakes

Geckos and snakes can offer a unique and educational experience for seniors fascinated with exotic animals. These animals, when handled safely, can challenge stereotypes, and ignite conversations. Their low-maintenance care can be appealing to seniors who want a pet with less demanding needs. The opportunity to learn about these creatures’ habitats, behaviors, and unique qualities can create a sense of wonder and intellectual stimulation.

Conclusion 

Incorporating unique forms of pet therapy into nursing homes or assisted living facilities can revolutionize how seniors experience companionship and emotional support. The bond between humans and animals transcends traditional boundaries, allowing for connections that are both heartwarming and mutually beneficial. As we continue to explore alternative forms of pet therapy, it’s clear that the animal kingdom has much to offer, providing new avenues for seniors to find joy, purpose, and a renewed sense of connection to the world around them. Whether it’s the soothing songs of birds, the gentle presence of miniature horses, or the captivating beauty of fish, these unconventional therapy animals have the power to brighten the lives of seniors in the most delightful ways.

To read about music therapy, another unique offering for senior citizens, click here.

Getting Down to (Music) Business

As we evaluate the courses Ohio CEUs shares, we strive to include expertise from professionals who aren’t limited to traditional healthcare roles. This is because the background and perspectives from other disciplines, without question, can enhance all departments. This month we launched a new course that uniquely ties the practice of music therapy with the skills of leadership. Kendra Carson, the author of that course, is a music therapist with years of experience in numerous settings. This interview gives an in-depth look at Kendra and her distinctive skill set. Additionally, the interview helps readers understand the value of such a specialized treatment as music therapy as well as the vital differences between music therapy and music entertainment.

An Interview with Kendra Carson, Music Therapist

Question 1: Can you share your background with us?

Kendra:

Educational Background

I grew up in Tyngsboro, MA, and took piano lessons from a young age through HS.  I attended Plymouth State University in Plymouth, NH as a Psychology (Developmental Option) major and a minor in music. Very quickly I became immersed in the music department singing in the choir, joining an auditioned chamber singing choir, accompanying vocal majors, and teaching piano.  I added a BA Piano Performance degree while at Plymouth and finished with both degrees. While at Plymouth, I was encouraged to look beyond my time there and consider going on for a master’s degree.

Before my junior year, I hadn’t heard of music therapy.  When I discovered combining my love of helping people with my love of sharing music into music therapy, I knew I had to pursue this training.  I attended Lesley University’s 2-year 60 credit master’s program in Expressive Therapies with a certification in music therapy.  My training involved a year at a nursing home that met a wide variety of needs and levels of dementia.  I also completed a year of training at Perkins School for the Blind working with Deaf/Blind youth ages 12-22.

Work Experience

My work and life took me to numerous nursing homes where I developed a true love of music therapy and helping families and residents living with dementia.  The connecting music made for families and their loved ones as well as the resident’s memories was remarkable.  My most beloved work was working as a music therapist in conjunction with the hospice team, staff, and family.

Later, while wanting to begin working with children and music therapy again, I completed the training from Music Together to teach their caregiver/baby classes.  This training helped to bolster my repertoire and reconnected with children and parents through a shared music experience.  It was soon after that Carson Music Services was created, and I began my own private practice.  Since the creation of CMS, I have serviced the Dayton area with music therapy services and even expanded into teaching as adjunct for University of Dayton’s music therapy program.

Question 2: Talk about your interest in music and how you discovered music therapy.

Kendra:

I’ve always loved music and the feelings that music can create.  I experienced my most meaningful musical experiences while at Plymouth State University while singing in Chamber Singers.  This intimate 24 voice choir brought a music experience to me that is hard to duplicate; singing a range from Avo Part to Bach.  My music degree offered an opportunity to perform an hour long memorized piano program, which even in its success was a moment of revelation that sharing music with people was more rewarding for me than playing music to people.  My music therapy training offered a range of experiences with drum circles, bell choirs, arranging music to reach clients with a variety of disabilities and needs as well as developing a greater understanding of how music reaches people and influences therapeutic change for clients.

Question 3: What credentials are necessary to be a music therapist?

Kendra:

• Specific information and the pathways to become a music therapist can be found here.
• A music therapist with a completed degree from an approved program must complete the board certification exam and maintain those credentials every 5 years.  The program includes clinical application of skills by accredited supervisors at a variety of clinical settings.

Question 4: What are some of the settings you have served, and how are they different and similar?

Kendra:

Nursing homes hosted the majority of my early work.  These facilities ranged from residential facilities for independent seniors to facilities serving the needs of residents living with dementia in early to even late stage of the progression.  These facilities were in Virginia, Massachusetts, and Ohio.  In a nursing home, the music therapist role is a supportive function: supportive to the nursing, activities, social work and spiritual staff.  A similar need I found in all the settings is the families need to connect with their loved ones.

One group I am most proud of forming is my Family Music Making group. This group formed out organically out of the needs of numerous family members wanting to connect with their loved one but struggled with the barriers that late-stage dementia brings.  The family members brought their loved one into a group setting and there they shared important musical moments they recalled and how the music connected them to their family.  Families even offered their own music by playing the guitar and singing.  This unifying need to connect is not unique but universal.  Being a music therapist, I bear witness to these connections and act as the facilitator to their meaning and significance.

Question 5: What is the most important part of a music therapy session?

Kendra:

Personally, I find the greeting and parting moments to be so vital.  Having your client feel welcomed in the start of a session and then supported and validated and even thanked at the end is vital.

Question 6: In a nutshell, what is the difference between music therapy and music entertainment?

Kendra:  

Music therapy is a clinician bringing music into a clinical session to elicit a therapeutic change that focuses on a non-musical goal.  The client and the music therapist are engaged together in the receptive or recreative music.  Clinical decisions, direction, and choices are determined by the needs of the client in the moment of the session.

Music entertainment, on the other hand, is when a musician plays music to a person and where the performers own intentions drive the musical direction void of the listeners needs in the moment.

Question 7: How can a community or school incorporate some principles of music therapy into their daily life?

Kendra:

Music therapists often work with clients on goals related to social emotional wellness and interpersonal skills.  Communities and schools often promote social emotional learning (SEL) and social skills in their programs.  How students or clients respond to a group setting, such as a drum circle, song recreative experience, or group improvisation, is a wonderful stepping off point to address numerous social goals.  How clients respond to difficult music moments, or take on leadership, or quietly pull back, or support a peer are moments often seen in music therapy groups.

Question 8: What advice would you give to a new music therapist?

Kendra:

• Don’t feel like you need to know everything.
• Take care of yourself and provide the physical, emotional and spiritual support you need to fill your cup.
• Stand up for what you believe music therapy can be in your place of work.

Question 9: From your perspective and experience in a variety of communities, what opportunities do you see for staff members to utilize music and music therapy?

Kendra:

For nursing homes, I see staff members utilizing music in their everyday interactions with residents:

• During ADL’s playing a client’s preferred listening choices
• During ‘sundowning’ times, having a simple acoustic musical version of their client’s favorite songs
• Keeping a rhythm in their gait during transfers or gate endurance with their residents (a simple beat can help regulate a client’s gait).

For nursing homes, I see staff leaning on music therapists to enhance group cohesion and sense of community:

• Group music making
• Family music support
• Drum circles
• Modified bell choirs

For nursing homes, I see staff reaching out to a music therapist to offer support during hospice, times of restlessness and anxiety or during moments of pain or distress.

Tying it All Together

This is important (and interesting) insight into the experiences and recommendations from a seasoned music therapist. We extend our thanks to Kendra for sharing her time and resources with our community. Make sure to also check out our CEU course that Kendra created that goes along with this blog post, it ties the practice of music therapy together with the skills of leadership.

Kendra Carson – Music Therapist

Communicate Using Video, Sound, and Lighting to Your Advantage

An Interview with Nick Wiget

In these challenging times, we are finding ourselves relying on video technology more than ever before to communicate. While many of us have been using Zoom and other conferencing technology for months (some even before the pandemic pushed video calls into full swing), it is easy to fall back on old habits or to assume we are already projecting our best image. However, as many video call leaders and participants can attest to, that is just not the case.

To share some wisdom and guidance on putting the best foot forward, technologically-speaking, I interviewed Nick Wiget, an educator in the field of Media and Communication. Nick has worked in media production for a number of entertainment and sports organizations. With two decades of experience, Nick shares some of his knowledge (mostly anecdotal) about how to adapt to an online work environment that requires media skills.

Question 1: Can you share your background (where you grew up, education, experience) with us?

Nick:

I grew up in the same town where I reside now, Wilmington, Ohio. Although, there have been several stops along the way before I came back home. I started my schooling at 3 years old, enrolling at a private Catholic preschool. From there on, I completed my primary and secondary school in Wilmington, then attended Xavier University my freshman year. From there, I transferred back to my hometown college, graduated, and then pursued my graduate degrees at the University of Dayton and Bowling Green State University. I kept telling folks that I’d progressively move South as I continued. In the end, I kept going North! It got colder, no doubt.

All along, I studied within the Communication field. In junior high and high school, I participated in student media and ran my own DJ service. In college, I would eventually figure out that COM was the natural choice for me, and I studied it from both a theoretical and practical approach – from communication arts to social science.

Question 2: So, let’s jump right in. People in all industries are becoming more familiar with video calls as a way to communicate than ever before. While some are naturals, others still struggle to find the best angle or make the best impression. Can you give our readers a few tips on lighting and angles—really, how to look your best during a video call?

Nick:

The simple answer is that you need good lighting and sound. If those two things are present, a lot of other issues are forgiven. Too often, I notice that folks pick a spot that’s just too dark, or they have a window behind them, turning them into silhouettes. Always make sure that your face is illuminated. And obtaining good lighting is easier than ever. A decent ring light (which is often used in photography for portraits and professional modeling) can be purchased online for less than $50. Most folks outside of TV and film never consider just how much lighting makes a difference when it comes to video quality.

Along the same lines, a decent microphone will allow folks to hear your words better and makes your video calls much more impressive. Some laptops, phones, and computers have good built-in mics, but a decent USB condenser microphone can be purchased online for a low price. I just bought one for less than $20 that works well for such a purpose.

The little things can make a huge impression when it comes to how you present yourself. Think of it like this – you dress to impress when you meet folks in person. When it comes to the online world, give yourself advantages in a presentation that will set you apart from others.

Question: How about sound? How do people enhance their voice and set up a workspace with the best acoustics? Do you recommend microphones? Headphones? What makes the best set-up to communicate successfully?

Nick:

Along the same lines as having a good mic, it’s important to have a space that’s quiet and free from distracting outside noise and sounds. This includes sounds that may come from outside of the room where you are. So, think about if there’s an active train track or construction site right outside of your space. There are a lot of good, inexpensive mics to choose from that can be easily purchased on Amazon. I have purchased several and have never been disappointed in any of them.

A USB mic is the best choice for novices, as they are often plugged and play. Headphones are optional. Most computers have noise-canceling built in so that you won’t hear the sounds over the mic. If you so choose to use headphones, I suggest just going with some type of earbud. While larger headphones may have more noise-canceling ability, it can look odd if you are wearing a big headset on your head during a video chat.

Question: Do you have any tips or tricks for backgrounds or anything else to enhance a personal space during a call?

Nick:

I tend to think that a natural background works the best. Try not to make it too busy – too much clutter may take the attention away from you and onto the objects in the background. Although some folks like playing with green screen and chromakey technology, I find that most folks don’t adjust lighting well enough to make it look good. There’s always a green halo around them. As long as your space makes you comfortable, it will likely make others feel the same.

Question: When you teach students about how to communicate effectively, what are some of the most important lessons you can give in essentially a few bullet points?

Nick:

I think it’s important to remember to focus on listening. We live in a world where there are more distractions than ever before – just think how many times you’ve checked your phone while reading this. The added noise can be detrimental to effective communication and can lead to some really negative outcomes in our relationships with others and our lives, in general.

One lesson that I impart on students was given to me when I started the process of learning how to write scripts – be clear and concise. This, of course, seems to go totally against everything that I would be taught in grad school, where it seemed like we’d say that same thing fifty different ways in order to hit page limits. HA! But the importance of being able to fully communicate and idea using as few words as possible is a valuable tool. How can we paint this picture in the minds of the listener/viewer so that they see the same thing we have envisioned? It’s harder than it sounds.

Question: You have an extensive background in broadcasting, announcing, and acting as an Emcee and DJ. Do those experiences help you communicate better on video? How so?

Nick:

In some ways, everything is a performance. There are some who study communication and feel that everything we do is a performance. I think the experiences that I have using the technology, in particular, makes me more comfortable and knowledgeable about how to approach new mediums when the situation arises. So, I know how to speak into a microphone or look into a camera – skills that have incorporated into speech classes when I have taught them. Treating a video call the same as a broadcast is a good approach, as they are the same in a great many ways. You don’t have to be a pro to understand that you want to look and sound your best. So, taking little steps to improve the video and audio quality often helps you be more confident on-screen.

Question: How can a business incorporate some principles of the broadcast industry into their daily life?

Nick:

Personally, I think every type of business would benefit from having a media professional on staff. But I realize that’s not always feasible. The businesses that have the most success understand how to use media to promote themselves and establish relationships with their customers and clients – it’s that simple. Being proactive and innovative with your use of social media and traditional media can yield great things for a business. Today, we all have more direct input when it comes to the messages we can create and distribute. Having folks who have skills in media can only be a benefit to any organization.

Question: Having a parent in a nursing home, do you see any opportunities for enhanced communication skills that may translate to other communities throughout Ohio?

Nick:

I think the advances in technology and their ease of use have really helped us, especially during a year as rough as 2020. The distances between folks begin to shrink when we incorporate some of these new and emerging technologies into such environments. And it’s important to train staff members in these communities as to how to reach out to families and others to keep loved ones connected. I feel like the pandemic forced the issue a bit, so there’s been a learning curve.

Question: Are there any online resources you recommend as people learn how to Zoom or communicate online in general?

Nick:

I actually don’t use Zoom unless someone else requests it. When the pandemic began, I started thinking of ways to use social media as a resource to stay connected to my students. So, I bought a Facebook Portal. It allows me to be able to move around a room and have the camera follow me as I demonstrate concepts. Being a video producer, I think that having the camera automatically follow me around is a great feature. It also has gesture controls, so I can get the camera to focus in on something, and then gesture to go back to a wide shot. The students loved it. They said they felt like they were in the room with me.

Question: What positives do you think have come out of the pandemic regarding communication in the workplace?

Nick:

That’s a tough one. There’s the old notion that most things for which meetings are called could simply be handled by email or phone. Now, everyone wants to schedule a hundred Zoom meetings for everything! The beauty of an online environment is that communication can be asynchronous and still be highly effective – let people work on their own time but give them deadlines they can meet.

I think folks can be just as productive working and communicating from their own environments (home or other) as they can working together in a single space. Sometimes, folks are even more productive when working from home. But you have to be well-versed in how to effectively communicate with others using technology to be successful in that endeavor.

Question: Anything else you’d like to share or suggest?

Nick:

As a bit of a nerd when it comes to technology, I would tell others to remember to have fun when it comes to using different media to communicate. If you’ve ever fancied the notion of hosting a radio or TV show, or working in some form of media, now is a good time to practice. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t take it seriously, but I find that if I’m having fun working on something, I tend to work harder and do better.

I truly appreciate Nick’s time in sharing some important thoughts about communicating online and how to make that experience more effective. Watch for future courses with Nick as a resource as his knowledge and presentation is an asset to our educational community.

Nick Wiget – Educator

Another Way to Communicate Effectively

In addition to being able to communicate online effectively, it’s also important, especially in the healthcare industry, to be able to communicate nonverbally, using body language. Our administrator and activities professional level course, Body Language: Tips and Tricks for Caregivers will go in depth about the nonverbal aspect of body language communication. Find the course here.

Celebrating Awareness Months, Weeks, and Days – A Checklist

Nearly every month hosts at least one, if not more, recognition period of time (Activity Week, Social Work Month, Administrative Professionals Day). Someone at the organization is responsible for ensuring these days don’t go by unnoticed, and some sort of celebration occurs. Sometimes, recognition activities fall to the manager of the department, and when added to other responsibilities, this can be a source of stress despite the happy cause. This post is a simple checklist for celebrating awareness times (insert length of time here). A few reminders can support the experienced director as well as the new manager and anyone in between with the mission of coordinating awareness activities. The list is divided into tasks that should be completed before the recognition time (month, week, or day), during the time period, and following the time.

Also, make sure to read our blog post that goes along with this checklist about National Activity Professional Week!

Before Celebrating Awareness Months, Weeks, and Days

• Compile the stats
  • Who is in the department?
  • What is the total (or average) years of experience among team members?
  • Identify some interesting or unique numbers—i.e. how many activities were held the prior year, how many meals are served a month, how many RNs are in the department, etc.
• Create a recognition board of some sort
  • Utilize company communication boards to post the stats
  • Use social media as appropriate
• Ensure all managers know what recognition is upcoming and when
• Talk to the department manager and team members to be sure recognition activities are appropriate and respectful
• Review the budget for recognition
  • Does it include money for gifts? A department lunch or dinner?
• Write a personal thank you note to each team member (if it is a large department, enlist other leaders to make this happen)

During the Celebration

• Post your recognition tool as a way to kick off the month/week/day
• Make an announcement of the department being recognized to stakeholders
  • Notify staff
  • Communicate to residents
  • Inform board members
  • Tell family members
• Personally acknowledge all or as many team members as possible
• If within the budget, give each team member a special gift or token of appreciation
• If within the budget, organize a special group event of some sort free of work constraints
• Distribute personal thank you notes/cards
• Take pictures of team members and post as appropriate

After Celebrating Awareness Months, Weeks, and Days

• Wrap up the time period with a final acknowledgment of the department and expression of gratitude for their individual and collective service
• Make notes on what activities were held, budget impact, and success of each activity (simply put, how did your recognition go over?)
• Maintain a file for each department recognition each year

Final Thoughts: Small Acts of Appreciation

One of my favorite ideas for hosting successful awareness/recognition months is to create a basic form for each staff member to complete. This form asks simple questions of each partner to help create personalized, motivating rewards, and recognition programs. Examples of questions include:

• What is your favorite store? Restaurant?
• What do you like to read? Favorite author?
• What makes you feel appreciated? (this is a good place to offer suggestions, such as: monetary bonuses, personal thank you from boss, gift cards, other)
• What are you most proud of in your work?
• What do you collect?
• Do you like to celebrate events individually or with your team?

Keeping a record of individual responses to questions such as these can not only help assemble a meaningful recognition week, but it can also help develop impactful incentive programs throughout the year. All too often, we assume it’s the big events that matter most. But to many people, small acts of appreciation mean more than steak dinners; and knowing the difference can create stronger relationships, better work environments, and a happier workforce.

National Activity Professionals Week: Celebrate the JoyMakers!

It’s always fun to kick off a new year with a celebration (and often much more fun than trudging away at the New Year’s Resolutions). Fortunately, a simple Google search can give us reasons to celebrate monthly—as well as weekly and daily! This month features one of my favorite awareness weeks: National Activity Professionals Week. For years I worked in older adult settings (nursing homes, CCRCs, independent living communities, and senior centers) leading or overseeing activity departments. I rejoiced every January when we had a week dedicated to the professionals who help develop the spirit and joy within a community.

Looking online, there will be themes to utilize in planning an awareness/ recognition week—check out NAAP to see their theme for 2021. Other themes may be featured by the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals and even by promotional products companies. However, there is no need to be tied to a specific theme. After all, showing appreciation is a valuable theme in and of itself.

Check future blog posts for a checklist for celebrating awareness months/ days/weeks. Following a few simple guidelines, you can raise awareness of an important department as well as recognize the individuals who work hard in that department every day. But this post is focused specifically on activity professionals because, after all, January does include their week! So let me share three things that are nearly universal with activity professionals and a simple question you can ask—no matter what your role in your organization is—to recognize their dedication.

National Activity Professionals Week – How to Recognize Their Dedication

Ask Your Activity Staff About Their Why

First, what makes an activity professional special? From my experience, some of the best activity staff I knew did not set out to work in programming. They came from a variety of other paths (teaching, performing as musicians, running art studios and classes, acting, serving as a nursing assistant). They somehow learned of this field and explored it, often as an assistant or entertainer. Then they jumped in. This is special. Finding your passion through an unconventional journey is special. These amazing “activity people” brought a new level of creativity and a unique set of eyes to their communities—they brought years of clowning, lesson planning expertise, craft skills beyond the traditional, theatrics, and so much more.

As you recognize your activity staff, take a minute to ask them their why. What drove them to this profession, and why do they love it? Asking this question demonstrates your appreciation for the people who work in activities and for the work they do. Use their why to help recruit new effective activity staff and volunteers—look for the same motivators (not necessarily the same experience)—and to reward the current ones.

Ask Your Activity Staff About Their Behind-the-Scenes Efforts

Second, activity professionals work in a field that is consumed with behind-the-scenes work. I remember in my first activity job, I was an activity coordinator on an Alzheimer’s unit. I worked 40 hours per week in the facility. But I spent probably an additional 20 hours per week getting ready for those paid hours. While many staff in healthcare put in long hours, those hours are many times expected and related to the specific job (the DON assembles procedures and makes rounds at varying hours, social workers respond to concerns after typical business hours to meet the needs of family members).

But my extra hours, and those of so many in the field, were a distinct combination of seemingly busy work, building connections, and begging friends and family to help. Examples include cutting out homemade puzzle pieces for residents to put together, recruiting friends to dress up in period costume to serve at a Victorian Tea (and securing said costume), and adding up how many hours per week each resident participated in the offered activities (a facility obligation). These were things I needed to do to offer an amazing activity program and to comply with requirements but couldn’t do during the workday because of the things I needed to do to offer and amazing activity program and to comply with requirements.

True activity professionals love what they do and want to share the joy of the world with their residents and the joy of their residents with the world. They need to freedom to run activities all day, so they spend their off-hours figuring out ways to do that better. It’s incredibly rewarding but also tiring and generally unacknowledged. Perhaps it’s just assumed that the behind-the-scenes work happens (kind of like how people don’t think about the hours teachers spend grading papers or writing lesson plans). Regardless, it’s valuable time and immense dedication. Ask them to share some of their favorite stories about their behind-the-scenes efforts. You’ll likely be surprised at some of the lengths they’ve gone, and you’ll certainly help them feel seen.

Ask Your Activities Professionals About the Special Moments

Finally, activity professionals love the little moments, the sometimes imperceptible difference they make, the fleeting reactions that validate a month’s worth of planning. The big events are seen and celebrated. Administrators, and activity professionals, gush about how many residents attended a concert or showed up for a family night. But more often than not, within and outside of those big events, the small successes are the ones of which the activity professional is most proud.

I once organized an Italian dinner for a family night—we had opera singers and tiramisu brought in and donated by a local restaurant, on-point decorations, and a fabulous dinner prepared by our dietary manager. But the thing I remember most was the end of the night, as we played “That’s Amore,” a nearly immobile resident stood from his wheelchair and danced with his wife, softly singing every word to the song. She didn’t want to leave that night. And from then on, she and I had a special connection that began with a beautiful moment built on an intimate memory between two married people who couldn’t live together anymore. I will forever cherish that moment.

The thing about activity staff is that they don’t design these magic moments. They don’t plan all the details or determine the themes assuming something beautifully unexpected is going to happen. Rather, they organize and promote their activities, and they identify a Plan B—because often the unexpected happening isn’t magical but rather disappointing (an entertainer not showing up, for example, or a fire drill in the middle of a luncheon). The backup plan covers the possibility that something could go wrong.

The joy of an activity director lies in the possibility that something will go wonderfully right. This is beyond the initial why. It’s not why they get into activities; it’s why they stay in activities. Ask your activity professionals to give you some examples of the most special moments they’ve experienced in their jobs. They will be thrilled to let someone in on these extraordinary flashes of wonder that so often go unnoticed.

Celebrating the JoyMakers During National Activity Professionals Week

Activity professionals are passionate, are committed, and are celebrants of the meaningful minutiae. Take a minute this month, during the all-too-short National Activity Professionals Week, to dig a little deeper into their world and honor how special they are. Their hearts will thank you for it.

New Year’s Resolutions: 20 Quotes to Kick Start Your New Year

2020 was a tough year. It began with all the preemptive excitement that any year does; but within months, that hope was shattered. Tension, vitriol, anger, division filled out social media feeds and news channels, the likes of which had not been seen in decades. But with January comes once again the same rebirth and the same anticipation we feel every year. Let’s hold onto that glimmer of normalcy and make our usual big plans and far-reaching goals. Commit to reconnecting with friends and growing in our personal passions and pursuits. Let’s lead 2021 instead of letting it deliver another round of knockouts. Rather than a prose filled post, I’m using this blog to re-energize and reaffirm my goals and to share some words of wisdom that may give you a guiding thought as well. Enjoy, and happy New Year!

Quotes

“Let our New Year’s resolution be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word.” – Goran Persson

“Hope smiles from the thresholds of the year to come, whispering, “it will be happier.” – Alfred Lord Tennyson

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” –Arthur Ashe

“Set your goals high, and don’t stop till you get there.” – Bo Jackson

“It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to do so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane.” – Charles Lindbergh

“New Year’s Day is every man’s birthday.” – Charles Lamb

“The world needs more dreamers, and the world needs more doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do.” –Sarah Ban Breathnach

“With the new day comes new strengths and new thoughts.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” -Dalai Lama

“Well done is better than well said.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“I am not afraid. I was born to do this.” – Joan of Arc

“Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work.” – H.L. Hunt

“Quality is not an act; it is a habit.” – Aristotle

“Expect problems and eat them for breakfast.” – Alfred A. Montapert

“Every exit is an entry somewhere else.” – Tom Stoppard

“If you don’t like how things are, change it! You’re not a tree.” – Jim Rohn

“Everything you can imagine is real.” – Pablo Picasso

“Every time you tear a leaf off a calendar, you present a new place for new ideas and progress.” – Charles Kettering

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Find more New Year quotes here.

Kick Start Your New Year

I hope that these quotes energized you for the upcoming year. Use them to guide your resolutions and goals and kick start 2021. Lastly, if you enjoyed this blog post, read more of them here!