Goals, Organizing, Planning – Helping others be who they want to be in the New Year

Happy New Year! It’s still January and what a great time to examine any new year goals or commitments or resolutions you have as well as those around you.

Explore these varied words and concepts. Ask each to consider resolutions, goals, commitments, action steps, baby steps, etc. Ask each which resonates with them. Would they like to pick one and set a goal or a few commitments? Would they like a reminder in their room? What helps each person in their own way?

Maybe offer organizing for those who want it with practical ideas for small spaces. We can no longer label people as “hoarders.” Take the kinder approach to go deeper with people to discover reasons for holding onto things – there are many. Grew up poor and learned to use everything? Homeless? Or this may be any of us as we lose independence. It becomes a way to have control over my life and actually makes sense. However, we can give people a much more robust life than feeling as if all they are in control of is the stuff in a drawer.

Have you ever heard this? From the State Operations Manual for LTC in CMS Definitions: Person-centered care. For purposes of this subpart, person-centered care means to focus on the resident as the locus of control and support the resident in making their own choices and having control over their daily lives. I encourage your team to take its own baby steps to give control to the people who live where you only work.

Talk with people about giving things away purposefully. Maybe there are some items a person wants another to have. There is also purposeful keeping of items.

Be reminded and please remind others to not tidy up things for someone else. An older person, a person with poor eyesight, a person with dementia – really all of us – tend to put things where we know they will be. This can prevent a lot of upset for people, falls even. Remind and coach all about this often especially if one moves to a different room, ensure it is just as they had things in their former room unless they prefer changes.

Give planning back to people living in nursing homes – their future self. Offer planning meetings and really plan ahead. Have a June planning meeting in April. Older people often do not have what psychologists call a future self. Don’t let that happen. If the only calendar in one’s room is “your” activity calendar, don’t let that be. That is not their calendar. Help all to have their own. There are so many beautiful ones out there. People can purchase their own. Families can purchase. You could have a drive or fund raiser if needed. Please try all of that before you have to take out of your budget. You don’t have to pay for everything.

Encourage people to put things on their calendars. To track birthdays of those they love. Make it part of what you do to help people do this and be connected. A meaningful way to spend individualized time together – better than a one-to-one, don’t let them become institutional too.

Delve into dreams. There is nothing better than hearing dreams of people. It will propel you to see if you can work to make them come true. If it were me, I would have a dream committee with people from all aspects of the home/stakeholders, as well as interested, committed and connected community members. It energizes people to work toward making dreams happen.

Pick a word for the year. You have probably heard of this. Encourage everyone to pick a word of the year for themselves. Maybe post them if people are willing. A word/a concept/a topic can be inspiring.

Before January is over be intentional about who you want to be in the new year as well as helping others be who they want to be.

Carmen Bowman, MHS, of Edu-Catering: Catering Education for Compliance and Culture Change loves coaching how to use regulations to reject institution for normal life.  Also, new or not-yet-qualified activity director consultation and personal continuing education. https://www.patreon.com/educatering  carmen@edu-catering.com, 303-981-7228 www.edu-catering.com www.facebook.com/edu-catering.