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16 Ways To Boost Staff Morale Over The Holidays

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Santa Claus listening to his heartbeat with stethascope.

One of the most common requests I’m getting these days is for ideas to boost staff morale during the COVID pandemic. We know this will be especially crucial during the holidays when the coronavirus turns our traditions upside down. 

Today I’m sharing sixteen ideas for activities you can do with your nursing home staff to brighten their days leading up to Christmas. Coronavirus rules vary across the country, so I realize some of these suggestions won’t be practical for everyone. But I know you’ll find several fun ideas that you can adapt to your individual nursing homes.

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8 Common Myths About Alzheimer’s Disease

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The words "Alzheimer's Disease Awareness" next to a purple ribbon.

Way back in 1983, President Ronald Reagan designated November as Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. Our understanding of the condition has increased dramatically since then. However, several myths about Alzheimer’s disease persist. Let’s put them to rest today!

1. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are the same thing.

Dementia is not a specific illness. Rather, this umbrella term covers a wide variety of conditions that affect memory, reasoning, and personality to the point where they interfere with daily activities.

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Just For Fun Thanksgiving T-shirts

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This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links.A "Happy Thanksgiving" wooden sign surrounded by autumn vegetables.

Over the past few days, I’ve been searching for ideas to make Thanksgiving more fun for our residents and staff. Because of the pandemic, we need to be more creative this year than ever before.

That’s why I was excited to find these fun Thanksgiving T-shirts. Residents will get a kick out of them, and they’ll make the holiday more fun for staff, too.

I found these T-shirts on Amazon. However, you could also be creative and design your own shirts. Or, you could have them printed locally to support businesses in your community. 

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16 Ways To Celebrate The Great American Smokeout At Work

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This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links. 

Picture of a hand offering a cigarette to another hand.

For over 40 years, the American Cancer Society has sponsored the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday in November. In 2020, we’ll celebrate the event on November 19. I hope you’ll promote the Smokeout at your senior living community and help smokers quit once and for all.

Quitting smoking becomes especially urgent this year because of the pandemic. Lung damage resulting from smoking makes people more likely to develop symptomatic COVID-19, and the outcome is often worse for people who smoke. (You can learn more in this article from the University of California.)

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What To Do When You Don’t Feel Appreciated

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This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links. 

Elderly man and woman with expressions of annoyance on their faces.

Earlier this week, I posted an article suggesting ways to express appreciation for our loved one’s caregivers. Afterward, I received an interesting email from one of my readers.

She asked what we can do when we feel unappreciated. What about those residents and their family members who never express a word of thanks? Rather, they seem to nitpick everything we do.

I suspect every caregiver can relate to this experience. Here are several tips to help you cope with these situations.

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