Long Time, No Blog!

Hello to All of our Wonderful Volunteers!

I know that it has been a very long time since we used the blog to comunicate. But I think it is time to bring it back to life! Don't you?

I will be using the blog to post volunteer activities such as, meetings, outings, cookie baking, etc. Also to share encouraging stories from our line of work.

If you would like to post anything, please let me know. It can be our own little social network! :)

Here is a picture that is long over due!

Hello to all of our Volunteers! This is a test entry to make sure the blog is up and running! :)

Tis' The Season

Mark your calendar for Thursday, Dec. 18th and Monday, Dec. 22nd.
This is truly my favorite time of the year - the food, family, decorations, giving and receiving of gifts, and on-and-on. It is a tremendous blessing to be in a position to help others in need. Based off your ideas, I have coordinated some fun and rewarding activities that I hope you will join in to participate to bring some joy and light to the sick and needy.

CAROLING: Monday, Dec. 22nd, 4:00 to 5:30PM - Let's go caroling at a few Norman/Noble Nursing Homes with Heartland Staff! Feel free to dress up in Xmas colors, wear your Santa/elf hats, and bring jingle bells.

ADOPT-A-FAMILY:

We will be adopting a family of 4 in Oklahoma City through Integris. Our "adopted" family will be thrilled. The best part is that we have the opportunity to personally deliver the gifts to them. The wrapping and visit to the family will take place during our Volunteer Meeting on Thursday, Dec. 18th, 5:00PM. Please let me know if you're able to donate wrapping paper/ribbon.

5:00 to 5:45PM - Wrapping of gifts
5:45 - 7:00PM - Delivery of gifts to family

See below for gift suggestions/family wishes. In addition, we'd like to collect pantry items or canned goods. Please leave a comment or email me at 4638officestaff7@hcr-manorcare.com, listing (1) the gift you'd like to donate and (2) the family member it's for on this post. You can do so by clicking the comment button at the end of this post. You can also view what others have signed up to donate by reading the comments. The goal is 2-3 gifts per person. This will ensure that every family member gets around the same # of gifts and avoid duplicate gifts.
GIFT DONATIONS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 5PM ON THURSDAY, DEC. 18th!!!

Grandmother, 55 yrs
Gift suggestions: short socks, small earrings, shoes (6.5W or 7)

Dad, 29 yrs
Gift suggestions: clothes, eye glass lenses (not frames)
Sizes: Pants - 31x30; Shirts - L

Mom, 33 yrs
Gift suggestions: PJ's, short socks, perfume
Size: 4X

Child, 5 yrs
Gift suggestions: clothes, My Little Pony, anything Princess, Beginner Books
Size: Kids 10-12

Let's take advantage of these opportunities to bring the joy of Christmas to others! We'll carol to our patients/others at the nursing homes and Adopt-A-Family. Santa will surely put you on his "nice list". =). Merry Christmas to you and your families! We appreciate all you do!

It's Time for Your Volunteer Annual Inservices/Education!

Only for volunteers who started before January 1, 2008.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

8AM - 12PM

(may get done early, especially Level 1: Administrative/Special Project volunteers)

Please make it a priority to attend because this will be the only day to complete Annual Inservices. This date is not a game-day and Heartland staff have agreed to come in on the weekend to present information.

It has been a requirement that all volunteers must complete a number of Inservices/Education annually in order to continue volunteering. This is crucial to patient and work safety, compliance, and to continue providing the best quality of care! Material will be presented to help you stay compliant with state health regulations, corporate compliance, and patient and work safety, policies, and procedures. This is similar to the material that you were given during your volunteer training, but some of you have indicated that your training was quite different than what has been outlined by the company due to various Volunteer Coordinators in the past. Therefore, we will also go over the important basics such as proper documentation, visit frequencies, various Volunteer levels, etc.

Please feel free to contact me if there are any extenuating circumstances that will prevent you from attending or questions.