March 2009 Updates

Classes:

• The Fitness Instructor for Older Adults and Frail Elders Certification Course will be taught this summer at College of Marin. It will be non- credit and offered on four or five Saturdays. Contact me for more information.
  
• If your community needs a qualified fitness instructor, contact me and I will help you find one.
• Strength Training and Flexibility class for older adults at College of Marin is offered Tuesdays/7:30-9 and Fridays/8-9:30. This is an investment in your health and wellness. Come and join us.
• The next Activity Coordinator Training Course will be in September, 2009 at College of Marin.

LTC Surveys:

Some recent issues regarding activity services:

• Be sure to code TIME AWAKE correctly on the MDS to assure that residents awake at night is coded and checked. Residents are awake at night if they are eating dinner at 5 PM
  
• Are you offering outings away from the facility monthly?
• Have you  reviewed the 23 pages of interpretive guidelines for OBRA FTAG 248/9? There are specific interventions and terms that you need to be aware of. Also, are you incorporating culture change into your community?
• Many recent survey deficiencies surround the care plan and how well the activity coordinator follows through and documents this follow through
• Language Barriers. Check to see that you have materials in all languages available along with communication boards and books for residents.

Presentation Schedule:

California Parks and Recreation Society, Therapeutic Recreation Institute, March 3rd. Santa Clara Convention Center. "Mindful Moves, Exercise for Older Adults and Frail Elders".

NCCAC Conference,April 17th.  San Rafael, CA. "MDS 3.0- You are going to love it"

NAAP Conference, April 23rd,Albuquerque, NM  "Person Centered Assessment Process", and Medical Diagnosis for Activity Professionals. Hope to see you there.

Newest article for Creative Forecasting, "Let's Get Moving", "April, 2009. "Understanding Diagnoses and Creating a Person-Centered Exercise Program".