Forum Messages

Hi Activity Professionals!

What are your policies for volunteers who want to run a baking group for residents? And do you have different policies for the different areas of your communities?

If a resident group wants to start their own baking group in a common area, and possibly sell the products (i.e., fundraiser), do they need to have the permit?

If the staff has training and supervises the activity with help from volunteers, is that enough to cover safety issues?

Does anyone have any written protocols to share on this?

Thanks!
Erika

We had a volunteer that used to do a cooking group with our residents. She had to have a food handler's permit. She and the residents that assisted with the cooking group were required to wear gloves during food prep. If your residents will be eating in the activities room, I would recommend having a nurse present should an incident occur. Some state surveyors are now looking to see if a nurse is present while the residents are eating. In regards to your residents being allowed to sell baked goods, they shouldn't require any kind of permit to sell it within the facility. But I would check your state's requirements just to be sure.

What on earth is a food handler's permit? I've never heard of that. We have volunteers that help serve food and they wear gloves, just like we do. And as far as surveyors watching for nurses while we eat. Here in Florida we'd started hearing rumors to that effect so when they were here we flat out asked them. No go in Florida. A nurse is just an overhead announcement's away if needed.

I've never heard that term before, but then again this is my first job back after several years out of the field. I just called the dietary manager and she's never heard of it either. However, I just googled it and yep....there's something about it. Guess I'll be looking into it. But then again....b/c we're a state run facility we go through the state AND federal surveys every year and it's not been brought up yet. Go figure......