Heightened Activity: A Path in Quality Care
The greatest fear of the 65+ community is first being a burden to their family, but second is a fear that any hope for a continued quality of life screeches to a halt the minute they enter an assisted living facility and are stuck with activities like bingo or sewing to pass the time (Graham, 2011). According to Graham (2011), from a statistical stand point it is proven that “elderly people in the U.S. who have an active social life may have a slower rate of memory decline” (para.5). In conjunction to the statistical stand point, further findings have been able to establish that seniors who continue their social adventures and physical activity increase their life span years beyond those who become …show more content…
At first glance, the opportunity that holds the last amount of financial obligation to the assisted living facility is hosting children from the local daycare, but will this option meet the needs of the restless residents; probably not. Establishing a resident council to make activities decisions is the next logical cost effective solution. According to Formica (n.d.), often times those who complain “just want you to fix the problem,” but the better course of action is to “stop being the problem fixer and help them solve their own” complaints (para.8). While attempting to establish a resident council in the past has not proved successful, utilizing the residents who are the most dissatisfied to alter the course of resident activities might offer an advantage for ensuring greater success with its formation and future …show more content…
Hiring an activities directory actually possesses the greatest financial obligation with a minimum yearly salary of $45,000 a year; which does not reflect any additional costs that may arise from the proposed activities the will be established by the new activities director. The overall winning option that will met the needs of the residents and offer the facility only a moderate financial commitment is hiring a bus charter company to do weekly excursions that they already paid staff can assist with, without any extra financial requirement. With 52 weeks in a year, the facility could allot that same $45,000 that would have been spent for the activities director and gained 300 usable hours or 5.5 hours for weekly excursions that keep residents active, living longer lives, and increasing profitability of the facility. Also, this offers the existing staff fun quality time with residents that in turn build morale and trusting relationships that role over into improved quality of care. The charter bus option can also be paired with the development of the resident council to help determine and plan the excursions, keeping them involved and active and sharing in the responsibility of their quality of