Care Manager

Brenda Puzzele-Stoltz

Tucson, AZ

Authorized to work in the US for any employer

Work Experience

Certified activities director

Park Avenue Health and Rehabilitation Center - Park Avenue, UT August 2018 to Present

Directs staff, recruits volunteers and interns to help maintain state and Federal regulations and offer a quality of life for long term care residents. Develop a monthly calendar of activities that reflects & serves resident interests and cognitive levels. Complete initial assessments, quarterlies, annuals, MDS, and discharge orders. Run and maintain documentation for resident council and food committee and activity town hall meetings. Places orders for materials, book entertainment for group and one-on- one activities, and plan outings for residents. Plan and help carry out special events, and assist human resources with staff retention issues. Conducts in service training of staff and volunteers on resident rights, diet, cross contamination, and documentation. Activities director

Avalon Southwest health care and rehabilitation - Tucson, AZ October 2017 to August 2018

Nationally certified activities director that manages compliance with state and federal regulations to design, implement and manage the daily programs of a 240 bed facility comprised of the A1 high security lock down unit,B1 dementia lock down unit,C1 drop down behavior lock down unit,rehabilitation floor, long term care and hospice. Responsibilities include working with people having various levels of cognitive capabilities, working with clinical team to manage behaviors and fall prevention, managing resident council meetings and assessing compliance with resident rights, the management of a staff of six, writing/managing MDS, care plans, progress notes, assessments, budgeting, volunteer recruitment/coordinator and the planning/booking of entertainment and community outreach activities to improve resident quality of life, overall enjoyment, and participation in the community.

Activities Director

Manor Care/Haven Health - Tucson, AZ

March 2006 to October 2017

Responsibilities

Develops a monthly calendar of events (7 days a week, 2 nights a week) that requires logistical planning and budgeting (entertainment, food, and a variety of volunteers with inflexible schedules). Trains & manages a staff of employees and volunteers. Sets-up, schedules and maintains a wide variety of quality-of-life activities for residents and their families. Documents activities requirements audited by the state (such as resident participation in group, independent, and one-on-one activities, resident council meetings, etc.) Uses industry Point Click Care software and hard copy notes to maintain up-to-date status info on each resident beginning with an initial assessment questionnaire

(ascertains physical needs, birthday, family POC’s, religion, etc.), and updated through progress notes, care plans and quarterly & annual reviews. Manages an educational program staffed with students sponsored by the Salvation Army. Manages and in-services volunteers for the therapy animal program provided by Pet Partners, Inc. Works with job core to teach interns how to work with people with disabilities, cognitive issues, and such diseases as Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson. Assists HR with staff retention and yearly in-services.

Activities Director

Care One at the Highlands - Edison, NJ

2002 to 2006

Responsibilities

Designed, implemented and managed the daily programs of the sub-acute and long term care facility. Responsibilities included staff management, MDS assessment, care planning, fund raisers, volunteer recruitment and the use of art therapy and structured activities to enhance the lives of both high and low functioning residents. Established a forum for the resident council and management committees. Familiar with hospice, Alzheimer, Dementia, stroke, heart attack, loss of sight, as well as loss of fine and gross motor skills.

Activities Director

Berkeley Meadows - Berkeley Heights, NJ

2000 to 2002

Responsibilities

Responsible for staffing, training and program development (pet therapy, intergenerational groups, community outreach, volunteer programs, trips, etc.) geared to enable the geriatric population to maximize their potential through activities participation Co facilitator of Art Therapy Group

Village Nursing Home - New York, NY

1999 to 2000

Responsibilities

Planning and implementing weekly therapeutic recreation programs, including art and music, team meetings, and individual and group therapy sessions. Co-facilitator of Art Therapy group

Foundling Hospital - New York, NY

1998 to 2000

Responsibilities

Worked with foster care children, adolescents and their families on coping with their environment and the development of their self-esteem and self-expression. Also worked with foster care pregnant teenagers in dealing with past experiences, future expectations and goals. Owner and Manager

Creativity One - Belle Mead, NJ

1998 to 2000

Responsibilities

Retail sales of Ty Collectibles

Head Teacher

YWCA - Princeton, NJ

1995 to 1997

Responsibilities

Responsible for training and staffing of new teachers, activities development, art instruction and curriculum, tutoring, and administration of the after school program, and the development of recreational programs

Head Teacher

YWCA - Princeton, NJ

1994 to 1995

Responsibilities

Responsible for the curriculum and administration of the after school program including the staffing and training of new teachers, tutoring and the development of recreational programs. Head Teacher

Princeton University Day Camp - Princeton, NJ

1995

Responsibilities

Responsible for the development and administration of all day camp activities including training and recreational development

Education

A.A. in Liberal Arts

Raritan Valley College, North Branch - Raritan, NJ 1993

B.A. in Art

Edison State College - Trenton, NJ

Skills

• Point Click Care Software, Windows XP OS, Microsoft Word Certifications and Licenses

Activities Director Certification - Alternative Solutions in Long Term Care, Sparta, New Jersey

2002

Art Therapy certificate - School of Visual Arts, New York City, New York 2000

2800 hour hands-on internship requirement for the art therapy certificate was fulfilled partly at Village Nursing Home and partly by providing mentoring/training, and behavior modeling to high school students at Washington Irving High School, NYC NY, to be advocates for elderly care Additional Information

Conferences/Exhibits:

• Annual educational conferences for activity director national certification, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson Arizona

• SOVA-Art Therapy Conferences, New York City, NY 1998 & 1999:

-Vicarious traumatization and the creative art therapist

-Trust Versus Mistrust: alternatives to incarceration

• Artist exhibits, West Side Gallery, New York City, NY 1999-2001 Individual contributor to two exhibits:

“Life Stories: Portraits of the Art Therapist”, Spring Exhibit

“Developments in Art Therapy”, Winter Exhibit

Specialized in:

-Black & White photography, Jewelry fabrication, Abstract water color & acrylic paintings, three dimensional/wire/foam/sculpture/painting pieces

• Therapeutic use of Technology conference, Star Bright Children’s Program Mt. Sinai Medical Center, NYC, NY 1989, learned techniques for using lights, vibrations, sound, and touch - with children that have brain injuries

• Shows at Kean University Gallery, Union, New Jersey, 1996 Submitted three dimensional acrylic paintings, ceramics, tactile jewelry, and abstract art forms.

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