Goal of Arthur’s staff? ‘To bring light into clients’ lives’
What is it like to work with the clients at Arthur’s on a daily basis? For one thing, it feels far less institutional than working at a nursing home or other senior care conglomerate.
So says Paige Domyahn, a University of Minnesota nursing student who has worked at Arthur’s for close to two years, most recently as a shift supervisor. The role is a step up from care attendant and carries extra responsibilities.
“Arthur’s also feels like a home, rather than a facility or institution,” she explains. “It’s much more personalized to the client than other facilities. The client-to-staff ratio is 6:2, so we have more time to individualize care based off of the clients’ wants and needs. It’s cozy, warm and, most of all, comfortable. Arthur’s really does feel like one big family.”
A day in the life
If you’re employed at Arthur’s, Domyahn notes, you can expect every day to be different. But the time generally goes quickly because there’s so much to do. Here’s her description of a typical staff workday.
- The morning staff arrive just before 6 a.m. and get a report on how the night went. Then, each of them generally assists three clients to get up and ready for the day. Med passes are done, mostly, throughout the morning.
- Generally, around 8 to 9 a.m. is when the clients eat breakfast.
- After breakfast, clients are welcome to do what they please. This is a great part of the day for activities to be done. Some clients spend time outside or watching a movie, some take a mid-morning nap, and some just hang out with staff.
- Between 11:30 a.m. and noon is when lunch is served.
- At 2 p.m., the evening staff comes in.
[Related content: Character Counts – Arthur’s Top-Notch Staffing Starts with Key Screening]
Leisure time: All about fun and relaxation
One expectation for Arthur’s staff is that they do their best to try to enhance quality of life for those who live there. And that can mean anything from providing quiet companionship to having a spirited conversation to arranging to do something that aligns with clients’ individual interests.
Some clients like to help with cooking, baking or meal prep. Others appreciate being able to spend time in nature, watch birds and wildlife, read, play games, complete crafts, follow sporting events on TV or radio, look at photo albums, enjoy music, exercise or participate in religious activities. Oftentimes, they can carry on with the same R&R activities they most enjoyed in the past — just at a less-intense pace.
“Throughout the day, small activities done at the house brighten their days,” summarizes Domyahn. “One client loves to garden, so we plant flowers outside or we simply go outside in the morning and water the flowers. Another client likes to sit on the porch and listen to music while he reads the newspaper. We also have a floor piano, so our client who loves music can dance around on the floor piano to create music. Afternoon tea is a big hit at Arthur’s too — staff can sit down with a client, drink tea and chat.”
Helping clients enjoy those things can feel very rewarding for staff, she adds.
“All these activities are very small, but can really positively impact both the clients and the staff. Though the days can get pretty busy, we always have time to individualize care, do fun activities and bring some light into the clients’ lives.”
Have more questions about daily routines and activities at Arthur’s? Get in touch to talk to our caregivers to learn more about our policies and procedures, and what we do to provide our clients quality care.
Learn more about how we provide specialized care in our series “Insights from Arthur’s” featuring educational videos from Arthur’s Direct of Development and Senior Care Consultant, Deb Nygaard.