Tom was one of the first residents I interacted with when I was a “rookie” activity director. Already at our facility for two years, he was stiff from rheumatoid arthritis, had multiple heart...
Double grief
By
Teri Weiman, SSD-AD
Nov 28, 2011
The general public could never understand the emotional bonding that we have with our residents. Granted, not every resident pulls at our heartstrings. I enjoy watching how one particular resident will...
We have lives, too!
By
Teri Weiman, SSD-AD
Nov 10, 2011
Fellow co-workers in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living and elderly care settings, take note: We have lives, too!
Why the boxing gloves?
By
Teri Weiman, SSD-AD
Oct 18, 2011
It must be my optimistic nature that makes me think, “Why use a pair of boxing gloves when a feather will do?” Those of you in social services know what I mean when I say, “Why go for...
My hero
By
Teri Weiman, SSD-AD
Oct 06, 2011
Have you been fortunate enough to meet a hero?
I adopted Uncle Bill because he was the uncle of my two of my activity assistants. He simply looked like a cuddly “Uncle Bill” to me. Parkinson’s...
Building trust
By
Teri Weiman, SSD-AD
Sep 22, 2011
I cheerfully met our new resident, Maria. She was accompanied by her daughter and son and was noticeably defying this change in her environment. She folded her arms across her chest and gave me eye contact....
My twinkling star
By
Teri Weiman, SSD-AD
Sep 01, 2011
As the social services and activity director in a 92-bed skilled nursing facility, I am fortunate to share in a precious season of residents’ lives. For most of them, this is the final “home”...
The Colonel
By
Teri Weiman, SSD-AD
Sep 01, 2011
In our hallways, bedrooms and dining rooms, we have people who have unselfishly served in the U.S. Armed Forces. As young people, they left the familiarity of their hometowns and created their own piece...
Did you know we have ‘cushy’ jobs?
By
Teri Weiman, SSD-AD
Aug 15, 2011
“Teri does well in school, however, is a social butterfly,” numerous teachers commented on my report cards while I was growing up. My 10-year-old’s reasoning was: “That’s...
MDS 3.0 Challenges
By
Teri Weiman, SSD-AD
Jul 29, 2011
Our Minimum Data Set coordinator gave me warning that the social services section was going to be increased “exponentially” with MDS 3.0. I prepared well, but am I the only one who still cringes...