Need Outside Opinion

[jacesmom2]

I work at an Adult Daycare at an Intergenerational Center as the Director/Nurse. There is continuous conflict with the Childcare side since there is a different Director who has different rules than I do. The teachers are constantly comparing their side to ours and I am getting frustrated. But i want an outside opinion because maybe I'm just being defensive.

One of the things they argue over is the fact that the Adults can have candy but the Children can't. I allow candy to be used as bingo prizes since they enjoy it and it's cheap. But now the teachers are angry because they think it's unfair to the children. I say the adults should have their choice and enjoy their candy. What do you think? Am I being selfish or are they?

Next thing they complain about is I allow my staff to eat their lunch with the Clients since our busiest time is the lunch hour (10:30-2:00). They get 1 hour breaks but my staff doesn't. Sometimes they bring their own lunch and the teachers think it's cruel we eat in front of them. However, they put their food in containers so the adults can't see. Again, am I wrong or are they?

I am just getting tired of them comparing our side to theirs and I think I'm taking it too personal. It's very difficult having 2 directors with different leadership styles and rules.

Please give me your opinion!

THANKS!

[ukstudent]

I have a few questions. Are the adults and children all in the same room, or do you have separate rooms and some common ones? If it is only one common room then yes it is cruel to the children for the adults to get and eat candy in front of them while they are not allowed any. if you have a separate room then make it a rule that any candy must be eaten there and not near the children. As much as your adults like candy so do children, but neither need it.

As for the lunch, I am confused as to who is eating in front of whom. And why can't your staff get organized lunch breaks, but the children's staff can? Your staff should have a 30 minute break in order to eat without working at the same time. Do the children and adults eat at the same time?

Next thing they complain about is I allow my staff to eat their lunch with the Clients since our busiest time is the lunch hour (10:30-2:00). They get 1 hour breaks but my staff doesn't. Sometimes they bring their own lunch and the teachers think it's cruel we eat in front of them. However, they put their food in containers so the adults can't see. Again, am I wrong or are they?

[jacesmom2]

Yes, the adults and children are in separate parts of the building so the children do not even know we get candy. But the childcare staff wants the same rules on the adult side which I don't agree with.

At lunch time, the 3 staff eat with 20 Clients in the same room. Since lunch is our busiest time of the day (toileting, fixing lunch, cleaning kitchen, tube-feeding, meds) the staff is required to eat with them. All staff is part-time so they don't get more than 30 minutes to eat their lunch elsewhere.

I just think it's difficult to have 2 Directors in 1 facility with two different leadership styles; authoritarian and democratic. She's more strict and I'm more laid back and her staff see that. It's really not about the candy or the fact I let my staff eat with the Clients. I just want to know if I should change my rules to make them happy or stand up for my staff and explain we're two different programs.

Thanks!

[Simplepleasures]

Sorry in advance, I dont mean to make light of your problems, BUT if the lunch and candy issues are the most serious of your problems, count yourself very lucky. I would gently tell the other director that the candy and lunch issues are not priority in the daily care of your ADULTS. Petty, Id say.

[Dixielee, BSN, RN]

If your buildings were side by side instead of rooms, there would never be any question. Since they are separated, you should have your rules and the childcare side can have theirs.

Adults and children have separate needs and you should follow that lead, not what a childcare director says or does.

There ARE some things that adults can do and say that children should not. If your adults want candy as a reward, then by all means do it.

As far as lunch, you do what works for you and your staff and clients. Dealing with children and adults are completely different issues and you can not compare the two.

Stick to what works for you, act as if you are in 2 different buildings and pay no attention to what the whinny little childcare director thinks!

Signed: crotchety old ER nurse

[ukstudent]

Separate parts of the building, separate directors, separate rules. Tell her to get over herself. Would she be this upset over petty things if you had different buildings on the same grounds? If her staff is unhappy in her leadership, then I wouldn't change to make your own staff just as unhappy, she should change to make hers happier.

[Becca608]

Yes, the adults and children are in separate parts of the building so the children do not even know we get candy. But the childcare staff wants the same rules on the adult side which I don't agree with.

At lunch time, the 3 staff eat with 20 Clients in the same room. Since lunch is our busiest time of the day (toileting, fixing lunch, cleaning kitchen, tube-feeding, meds) the staff is required to eat with them. All staff is part-time so they don't get more than 30 minutes to eat their lunch elsewhere.

I just think it's difficult to have 2 Directors in 1 facility with two different leadership styles; authoritarian and democratic. She's more strict and I'm more laid back and her staff see that. It's really not about the candy or the fact I let my staff eat with the Clients. I just want to know if I should change my rules to make them happy or stand up for my staff and explain we're two different programs.

Thanks!

I'm not understanding what makes the childcare staff think that they have any input into the adult care? You don't treat adults like children nor children like adults. I think that your response is based on the generation of the complaints--is it from the Childcare Director or her staff? If its her, then you need to clarify boundaries. If its her staff, then I do not think that you are under any obligation to respond at all.