National Activity Professionals (NAP) Week was January 17th – 23rd. Each year, facilities across the nation pause to celebrate the role activity professionals play in improving the quality of life for elders across the health care continuum. The leisure and recreation the activities department provides touch the lives of many and give new meaning to the residents’ lives.
This year’s theme was: Big Things to Accomplish. National Activity Professionals Week is celebrated the fourth week in January. The week long recognition was created by the National Association of Activity Professionals (NAAP). It was created to provide a format to honor and recognize the dedicated activity professionals who make a significant contribution to the residents’ quality of life.
Bri Sather, Care Center Director of Nursing said “Each month I look at the activity calendars and am amazed at the wide variety of activities available at our facility. Musical entertainment, bingo, exercise, crafts, bus outings, trivia….. the list goes on!”
Since the activity staff provides activities for residents seven days a week they wear many hats. They are fitness gurus, walking encyclopedias, gardeners, public speakers, artists, party hostesses, travel guides, and of course empathetic listeners.
The care center at Johnson Memorial Health Services has a large activity room with kitchen area, pool table, large screen TV with surround sound, and solarium. They also have a Wii game system and internet access. Books, videos and CDs are available from their library. The activities department books bus outings and provides golf cart rides on the 8 passenger limousine golf cart during the warmer months.
Johnson Memorial Health Services would like to recognize and thank our Activities Staff which includes: Manager Gail Ochsendorf, Amanda Baird, Kris Consentino, Nancy Fosse, Sallianne Gottschall, Colleen Nelson, Kiana Ochsendorf and Diane Seefeld. Their hard work and dedication to providing quality activities to our residents give them an enhanced sense of pride, positive self-esteem and self respect.
For more information on the JMHS Activity Department please contact Gail Ochsendorf, Activities Manager at 320-769-2350.
