The Activity Professional's Notebook
Tips and articles relevant for today's Activity Professional
The Art of Engagement
The Art of Engagement by Debbie Hommel, ACC/MC/EDU, CTRS The room is full of people. Music is playing. Activity items are on the tables. Staff are in the room. But are the people engaged? Are they participating? Or are they just there? This is the question being...
Memories are Made of These
by Debbie Hommel, ACC/MC/EDU, CTRS One of the easiest and most effective activities for the activity professional to conduct is reminiscing. Long term memories are a known strength in elders of all functional levels and for many, recalling experiences from the past is...
Oh the Places You’ll Go – NAPW
National Activity Professional Week Oh the Places You'll Go By Debbie Hommel, ACC/MC/EDU, CTRS The New Year signifies new beginnings. For the activity professional, it is a time to re-group and get organized after one of our busiest seasons. It is also the month to...
October is Resident Rights Month: Speak Up
by Debbie Hommel, ACC/MC/EDU, MDEC, CTRS October is Resident Rights Month which is an annual event introduced by the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long Term Care or the Consumer Voice as it is more commonly known. This event is designed to honor elders living in...
Understanding Bullying Behavior in Older Adults
By Debbie Hommel, ACC/MC/EDU, MDEC, CTRS When one thinks of the typical bully - the mean kid in the schoolyard that everyone fears, comes to mind. However, many activity professionals have witnessed older adults demonstrating similar “mean” behavior to their peers. ...
Developing Guiding Statements
John Lennon once said "How can I go forward if I don't know which way I am facing?". This is a profound thought on many levels. The activity profession is a fast paced profession. Once we have one activity planned, we are quickly on to the next. It is easy to lose our...
Springing Forward with Gardening Programs
Springing Forward with Gardening Programs By Debbie Hommel, ACC/MC/EDU, CTRS The warm weather, sunny skies and desire to be outdoors is a common inspiration to introduce gardening programs within our communities. Many activity professionals get very excited and...
Knowledge + Power = Activity Professional
Knowledge + Power = Activity Professional By Debbie Hommel, ACC/MC/EDU, CTRS As a paid profession, the world of therapeutic activities in long term care is a relatively new one, having been formally in existence just forty-four years. The term “activities” was...
Boys Night Out – Activities for Male Gender
Boys Night Out by Debbie Hommel, ACC/MC/EDU, CTRS It is safe to say that the majority of residents in our care communities are female. Understandably, our programming reflects this with many activities and topics focusing on interests of women. Although the men may...
Individualized vs. Non vs. I Care Plans
Individualized vs. Non-Individualized vs. I Care Plans by Debbie Hommel, ACC/MC/EDU, CTRS There has been a lot of discussion on social media about individualized and person centered care plans of late. Is it new? What do I have to do differently? Can I see an example?...