How Activity Professionals can save the world of LTC – by Getting Real
Real. Real life consists of real, not fake. Create real opportunities to fold real linen napkins for the real people to eat at the upcoming meal, not fake towels folded for no reason. We are the guardians of real life, purposeful life. Don’t get sucked into the world of fake. Where did baby dolls come from? Do we really believe something is better than nothing? Why aren’t baby dolls given to 40 year olds? Is this practice ageism? Does it contribute to the stigma of dementia that a person will not know the difference?
People with dementia have said things like, “This baby is not growing, I’m worried.” Do our institutional, something is better than nothing practices add to confusion?
Join the movement to create real life, normal life, that’s what we all want. Real plants not silk. Real plants that people who live there tend to. Gardens. Flowers. Get your team to replace all that useless grass with sidewalks and gardens with corn growing.
Use your energy to pursue real. We need more real babies and children of all ages. By the way, you cannot do it alone. I recommend stating to your teammates, to those who live there and their families to always be inviting anyone you, all of you, know who has babies and kids of all ages. Babies do not stay babies forever. And then just invite them to come over. It does not always need to be a group activity. Invite for coffee, for lunch. For play time for the kids. Some homes have a playground. Some homes have a place with toys. Don’t you love it?
Real life is not always a group activity. Real dogs and cats, not robotic. Real life, not artificial. I want to create an army of guardians of real life. If you want to join me, email me. Plus more next time.
This is how we can change the world of LTC. Push into your own purpose by challenging yourself first to promote normal life, meaning and purpose, not fake, not institutional and then invite and challenge others to join you in … getting real.
Carmen Bowman, MHS, of Edu-Catering: Catering Education for Compliance and Culture Change is an activities/engagement consultant and culture change expert. New or not-yet-qualified activity director consultation as well as meaningful engagement and real life consulting for the whole team. As a Regulator turned Educator, Carmen also provides “be your own surveyor” training. Training videos now available on https://www.patreon.com/educatering
Contact: carmen@edu-catering.com, 303-981-7228 www.edu-catering.com Also, www.facebook.com/edu-catering.
