Ashley Rohan did a little twist on the Diversity Activity for July.
She started
with how much a gallon of gas was when our residents first started driving in the
30s-40s, then when our younger servers parents started driving in the 60s-70s and finally, how
much it is now.
Then on a poster board she put the amounts that our residents
pay a month for each level of care and below each monthly amount the yearly
amount without telling them what the amounts were for. She asked the servers if
they were given these amounts of money what they would buy with it. Some items
they would buy included tuition at college, a brand new SUV, a trip abroad, 5
months of rent in an apartment downtown, etc. After we had 3 items under each Ashley
explained to them that the residents in each level of care pay that much to live
here. Many were shocked to see the amounts especially the yearly amounts. After
she asked them now that they know how much they pay what do you think they expect
from us. She got some great responses such as, a voice in the community, amazing
atmosphere, everything working at peak performance, excellent quality of
service, etc.
Then Ashley asked them if this made them think differently about how
they serve or work here. One great response was about one of our IL tables where
the same 7 ladies sit every night and they all come in at different times. The
server said she will not find this difficult since they pay this amount. They
should be able to come whenever and if that is where and who they want to sit
with, they deserve that right.
Another great response was about a resident in our
skilled care who doesn’t communicate and is on a puree diet. The server said
they would make sure they always look her in the eye and say hi and give her
compliment and make sure her puree food looks great and tastes great.