Holidays in MC

forbarbara

This is our first holiday season with MIL in MC. Should I be doing something (money) for the staff? They get low pay and cruddy benefits and yet most do an amazing job and truly care. If I should, how do I include the people I rarely see such as night staff? I’m not particularly interested in thanking the management team or nurses - more the CNAs and housekeepers.

Quilting brings calm

Bring in a basket of snacks to be left in the break room for all shifts.

M1

My experience is that the administration will have a mechanism for you to contribute to an employee appreciation fund that is distributed to all staff, proportioned by seniority. Gifts to individuals are discouraged.

Marp

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/190945#Comment_190945

In the facility where my sister is, accepting individual gifts is grounds for termination.

MN Chickadee

I did a number of things over the years. A bunch of small gift bags with treats and goodies for everyone to take home, a large fruit basket for each shift to take what they want, one year I paid for pizza to be delivered for each shift (worked with the administrator to arrange that.) A bunch of fancy chocolates, really any little thing to show your appreciation goes a long way. If you have an exemplary aide who works with your LO most often a $10 gift card may be appropriate.

mommyandme (m&m)

CNAs are not suppose to accept gifts. A nice card with a basket for all may be nice. Maybe verbally showing your appreciation individually will bring happiness to them.

HollyBerry

You can also ask a supervisor what the staff appreciates. It may not be sweets, maybe fruit or lunch for everyone some day. Maybe it's good coffee for the staff area.

JDancer

See if the facility has a program to recognize employees. A nice note about special care you appreciate means a lot. And some facilities reward employees that receive thank you notes.

BassetHoundAnn

One evening when I was visiting my mom I heard some aids raving about energy drinks someone had left if the frig for the aids. They sounded mighty grateful. In that particular memory care the aids could only get beverages from a for-pay vending machine in the aids' break room. So I bought a variety of energy, fruit juice and pop drinks for the aids and left it in their frig with a note saying that it was from my mom. I also left a basket of cookies.

CatsWithHandsAreTrouble

I have heard others having flowers sent to the facility. They said even the cook came out to give thanks when they visited

Jo C.

I sent foods; candy, cookies, etc. at intervals. The facility had an annual Christmas party on sight each year. Every staff member got a ticket for a drawing of multiple different items even if they were on duty during the party.

So; what I did was to get a box of candy; wrapped it and put it into a gift bag BUT also put a card in an envelope on top of the candy . . . I put $100 in the card . . . you should have heard the gasping and laughing and rollicking when the staff member won that drawing. Did it each year; the staff does not earn much and this way it was not breaking any rules re giving gifts; and it was a lot of fun to do and the staff member sure could use the "prize.".

J.

forbarbara

thanks everyone for the great suggestions. I got a list of employees (first names only) from MC, including custodians, dishwashers, the night caregivers I’ve never met. I’m going to give each of them a $10 gift card to Dunkin Donuts from MIL.

I wish I could thank all of you on these forums for your kindness and support for me - and for the incredible and thankless work you do every day for your PWD. I didn’t really believe in angels until now.