Blog # 13: Answer 1

Answer 1

EQ: What are the most important skilles needed in becoming an activity coordinator at an elderly facility?

Answer: Building good communication skills to senior patients and staffs  is needed in becoming an activity coordinator.

Evidence #1: Communication skills is used by the activity coordinators all the time. When I was observing on my service learning, I noticed that the senior patients tend to be more approachable to the staffs that tends to talk them. Then when I started to help out, I realized that I do need to communicate to them as if they were my grandparents, so they can open up with me and be more cooperative.

Evidence #2: Without good communication, you may not be able to help the senior patients. The whole purpose of activities is to help the senior patients physically and emotionally. Not having good communication with the seniors will only mean that activity coordinator isn't doing its job right.

Evidence #3: Communicating with the staffs (LVN, CNA, RN) is a very important for the activity coordinator. Knowing the cases of the senior patients that goes to the activities will help the activity coordinator how to approach and help  them. Like when one of the senior patients tried to stand up and a loud beeping noise was heard. Those are called "fall prevention alarm" for senior patients that tries to walk or stand up but doesn't have the capability of balancing/controlling their body. One of the CNA's that I talked to told me whose senior patients to watch out for falling.

Sources:

• "Improving Communication With Older Patients: Tips From the Literature - Sep 2006 - Family Practice Management." Home Page -- American Academy of Family Physicians. Web. 06 Oct. 2011. <http://www.aafp.org/fpm/2006/0900/p73.html>.
• "Activity Coordinator- Job and Career Information, Median Salary, and Schools." What Should I Major In? How to Choose a Career? Web. 08 Sept. 2011. <http://www.mymajors.com/careers-and-jobs/Activity-Coordinator>.
• As for the examples I gave, its based from my personal observations, experience, and information I got from some CNA's and LVN's that I get to talk too from the facility.

Blog # 12: Service Learning

• My service Learning that I work for is at a facility ( Inland Valley and Rehab Center)
• My contact is Gabriel 
• I have done manicure (so i can get into the senior patients to become more open to me), help in giving mini snacks and coffee in the morning, helping seniors while they play bingo or when they go back to there rooms, and i get to chit chat with the seniors.
• I have about 26-32 hrs.

Blog # 11: Third Interview Questions

10 Interview questions:

1. How do you deal with seniors?
2. What skills do activity coordinator needs to use?
3. How do you plan the activities?
4. How do you keep track of what activities are good and bad for certain patients?
5. Do you make special activities with seniors with special case? Why or Why not?
6. What kind of personality do you think an activity coordinator needs to have?
7. How do you make seniors communicate to you?
8. How do you gain trust from patients?
9. Why do some activity coordinators needs to have a supervisor (CNA) while they work?
10. Did the skills you learned from the book or class helped you in this job?