What a busy time it is right now in skilled nursing. The weather is cooling off, families start coming in more, and the beginning of Christmas music playing starts to change the whole mood. It’s almost time for Thanksgiving.
Therapy planning weeks beforehand
In the Therapy world we need to start planning weeks beforehand to start to prepare for the week of Thanksgiving. The phones get pulled out and texts start going out to find coverage for days off. Unfortunately plans don’t always work out as planned as PRN therapists start booking up on the Sunday before and the Saturday afterwards.
As a manager we have to start looking at the caseload and planning out how the plan of care will be kept as ordered. Will the 5 times per week line up correctly with moving a treatment to the Sunday before or the Saturday afterwards. It also is a constant shuffle every day as we get closer and finalize plans of what days the therapists will be there.
There are also some functional planning aspects that need to be looked at as we get closer to the day of Thanksgiving. Ideally there needs to be some planning for any caregiver education for families that want to take their loved ones out for the day. Is the resident able to do a car transfer? Is the family able to perform transfers for the resident after they leave the facility? Is the bathroom wheelchair accessible? There are more aspects of planning than most families are aware of.
Staff fun planning
Often there are staff planning being done to get through the day. Who is working the holiday? Are we going to do a potluck lunch as a work family?
Residents having fun
Of course there has to be some fun for the residents. We have fall parties and themed bingo days. And of course there has to be the turkey.
For those that do not go out with families, usually the kitchen will do a Thanksgiving meal for lunchtime including the usual foods. All morning long all we can smell is the turkey roasting. And of course there is always a slice of pumpkin pie to finish it off.
Be thankful and grounded
As a Healthcare worker in skilled nursing a holiday like Thanksgiving certainly makes you look in the mirror and be grateful for whatever you have. We unfortunately are surrounded by those that as coworkers need to work on the holiday as well. We also need to remember about the residents that do not have the opportunity to leave the facility with family. It could be that they need too much care to safely go out, or have no family around. So when you are sitting at the dinner table with whoever you spend the evening with, just remember how lucky you are and be very grateful for all that you do have. Have a happy Thanksgiving.