Activities
Activities
Activities is a very important department that is often overlooked when it comes to assessing performance or outcomes. It is different because managers often believe that creativity defies measurement or critical analysis.
The approach in this department is to measure the work on a monthly calendar by activity and by type of work. The most effective system includes careful monitoring of attendance by activity and participation rates by resident.
We have found that the most effective and creative recreation departments measure their work and their results to ensure the residents receive full value for their efforts.
Case Study #63Five department members were responsible to help nurture the spiritual, intellectual, physical and social needs of over 300 independent, assisted living and nursing home residents on a single campus. For over four years they had provided residents with grand special events as well as intimate group activities.
The challenge for the director of the department was to determine if improvements could be made in the programming or the way the programming was managed so that more residents could be reached more often by the same or fewer resources.
Activity Profiles demonstrated that 80% of the Activities were attended by the same 20% of the resident population. It also demonstrated that more than 70% of the department's time was spent planning, setting up and cleaning up from activities, 10% of their time dealt with Administrative issues and this left only 20% of their time actually spent with residents in Activities.
Resident Surveys and Department Head Meetings were held to help the department manager review her program to reach more residents.
A new Calendar was designed for residents employing more direct time of the staff and more program variety.
Work was measured and assigned to both staff and volunteers so that the most could be made of their time. The volunteers welcomed the new structure because now their time was always filled up with what they were most interested in - interacting with the residents.
Today the calendars are filled with more activities. Resident participation continues to be measured to help the manager gage the effectiveness of her programming. Today more than 80% of residents participate in at least one activity every week. The department operates with two fewer staff members who spend an average of 60% of their time directly participating in Resident Activities.
If you would like to speak to the Executive Director of this community call us, or send us your request.