The Work We Do

This was another amazing week! I got a call from my daughter to say she passed her medical boards and was now a board certified physician. Two days after feeling joy with her and so much pride in her for such an enormous accomplishment, I had my own humbling honor of receiving an award from my peers at the RAP Conference in Columbus. The award was for ‘significant contribution toward the advancement of the activity profession’. I felt blessed and overwhelmed that this tribute would be presented to me. My middle son came in from the Cincinnati area to be with me and that increased the blessing.

Adding to it all is the realization that I did not receive it alone. Although my efforts working in the field with activities and doing education over the years, it was the Brainy Day Activity Program that brought the award into nomination. Without the energy, devotion and hard work of my partner, Ginny, this past year and a half, that would not have happened. So I see this award as a joint honor.

In addition, it never would have happened without the nomination of a dear mentor and activity professional extraordinaire, Jennifer Krupa, who has taught me so much over the years. Through classes I took from her, I learned about techniques, MDS, documentation, quality assurance, and survey. I captured her zeal for elevating the activity profession to one that was known for having qualified specialists equal to other occupations in the health care field.

Because of it all, I thought I would take this post to discuss the activity profession about which I feel so passionate.

I value this profession which is filled with dedicated, hard-working people who give so much to meeting needs on many levels. I remember lessons learned at a weekend workshop on values. We were taught no matter what we say we value, the real proof is pointed to where we spend our time and money. With that in mind, I can say with conviction, that I know activity professionals and specialists who have spent their own time and money again and again to create an activity, hunt for the right book or joke or art project, seek out music or entertainment and find whatever items they could to put a smile on someone’s face.

More importantly, this profession is about looking at the whole person. Meeting the physical, emotional, spiritual, social and cognitive needs of each individual and offering purpose and meaning back into lives is the real work of those in activities. It’s attempting to touch the spirit of that person to bring them significant moments.

I have been rewarded in many ways through the other activity consultants and directors who have taught me about Montessori, music therapy, art therapy, planning, empathy, calendars, organizing, celebrating, advertising and all the other many things involved in managing an activity department, usually within a very tight budget. I am indebted to the networking and sharing of these remarkable people.

In this industry where person centered philosophies are key, activities can be so helpful. It is our job as the internal force with knowledge of our profession to teach others. The essentials that make a person’s life enriched are being connected, feeling loved, having purpose, and knowing they still matter in the world.

I thank you for this opportunity to share. The award triggered so many awesome feelings about this field I love that it seemed the perfect place to disclose some thoughts. Next week we will return to how activities can help as they relate to dementia. Mary Ann