Community Life Part II

So the questions regarding the instance in the previous post in which the Bookkeeper ran a craft group included:

1. Well, who gives the bookkeeper PERMISSION to leave her office twice a week?
2. Does she have to CLOCK OUT?
3. Is she PAID EXTRA for that time?

First, I have to say that though valid, these questions come from a medical model perspective that has been conditioned to be focused on a top-down management style. First, why does the Bookkeeper need permission? I she wants to bring life and spontaneity and creativity and enjoyment to the elders that live in the home, shouldn't we instead say "Wow! How can we support her in doing that, and get other individuals to want to behave similarly?"

Secondly, why should she HAVE to clock out? If it is only two hours a week, let's afford her the opportunity to step outside her job silo and PARTICIPATE in the community. I would ask of course, that she assure us that she can complete her job responsibilities, and that if a crisis comes up, she be able to get some back-up for leading her group.

And third, the issue of being paid extra: if you have employees that are only willing to go above and beyond their job description if they are paid extra, then you have two deeply systemic problems. 1) You don't encourage a work environment where folks feel free to step outside of their job description and 2) If they will only do something extra for the money, they are not the right people to support a change to person-centered care. PERIOD.

If we can start to think about Community Life as an opportunity to build on the practices of Therapeutic Recreation and create a wider focus that embraces both the needs of the residents and the gifts of the staff, we are taking an important step toward building true community.

--Allison Lantieri