Page 90 - Vibrant Living Scrapbook

Components of the Community Meeting (cont’d)
• Jokes. This, too, can be such fun. At Clear Creek, the young maintenance assistant became the joke teller. Imagine all the email jokes he received!
• Introductions of new residents and staff. We often skim over or skip this altogether. When you were a new staff member, how were you introduced to the larger group? Were you? Residents, how were you introduced? This feature of Community Meetings is one of the most important. In addition to introductions,
perhaps staff and residents could ask the new person questions in the spirit of getting
to know him or her better.
• Visitors are introduced. Introducing visitors in our home is a very lovely and normal social etiquette in any culture.
• Announcements of staff members leaving, and of residents moving away or dying.
Yes, dying residents. This was so beautifully done at Clear Creek. The administrator announced that “Mrs. Smith” and “Mr. Jones” were dying and anyone wishing to say goodbye to them should do it very soon as they may not be with us much longer.
Many people ask if such announcements might violate confidentiality rules established by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) of 1996. One way to look at
HIPPA is, “We can’t.” Another view – the glass- is-half-full perspective – is, “We can if we have permission.” HIPPA was not in effect at the time of the meeting described here, but imagine walking to the residents’ rooms and asking them or their families if they approve of such an announcement. Chances are if
the person is dying, the power of attorney is present.
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