Activity Director

The professional opportunities to care for the growing number of people who will use the supportive assistance offered in day treatment, assisted living, and long-term care settings are expanding faster than professionals can be trained. These positions can be rewarding, challenging, and fulfilling. Activity directors are responsible for directing, implementing and evaluating all resident activities as well as completing comprehensive assessments and care plan goals. Directing the activity course includes planning of activities for both individuals and groups, implementation of the programs, and monitoring the response to the programs in order to determine if the activities meet the care plan goals for residents.

This course will teach you about professionalism, documentation and ethics, working with residents with special needs, and adapting ideas to certain demographics within a facility. It enables activity directors to excel by emphasizing the diverse nature of long term care residents and by providing a variety of activity ideas: creative, spiritual, physical, social, educational and sensory. It also focuses on developing caring and passionate professionals that are able to create, implement and evaluate resident centered activities that are part of the individualized care plan.

This training is valid in the following states: Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Students in California should enroll in the Activity Assistant course instead.

What you will learn

• Identify the role of the activity director in today's long-term care environment
• Demonstrate knowledge of a variety of programming options
• Show awareness of the role of various therapies in activity programming
• Identify the availability, options, and uses for adaptive equipment and interventions
• Discuss the management of resident and community volunteers, including recruitment, training, and recognition
• Demonstrate ability to perform needed documentation
• Structure planning for optimal use of an environment
• Establish and facilitate group and individual participation

How you will benefit

• Prepare to work as an activity director at a long-term care or assisted living facility, adult day program, retirement community, or community center
• Develop the skills needed for a career that will enable you to help others and your community at large
• Learn how to best interact and communicate with senior citizens
• Jump-start your career and develop managerial skills

1. Unit 1
   1. History of long-term care
   2. Philosophy of person-centered care
   3. Basic knowledge of the aging process
   4. Misconceptions
   5. Physical Changes
   6. Cognitive changes: Dementia, Alzheimer's
   7. Mental Health/Illness
   8. Psychosocial needs
   9. Overview of applicable regulations
   10. The Survey Process
   11. OBRA resident rights
   12. Regulations
   13. Advocacy in self-determination
   14. Resident/family councils
2. Unit 2
   1. Types and techniques used for the admission and discharge process
   2. Principles of documentation
   3. Basic performance skills
   4. Management of internal support staff, budgeting, supplies and outside resources
   5. Getting to know the person
   6. Person Centered Care Plan Development
   7. Evaluation of care plan effectiveness
3. Unit 3
   1. Role of the Activity Director
   2. Programming Options
   3. Various therapies in activity programming
   4. Options and Uses for Adaptive Equipment and Interventions
   5. Management of resident and community volunteers
4. Unit 4
   1. Documentation
   2. Infection Control
   3. Optimal use of environment
   4. Establish and facilitate group and individual participation
   5. Clinical experience

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 12 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader .
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• Long Term Care

Please note: You will receive a digital book if the physical book is on backorder.

Prerequisites:

You should be familiar with using a personal computer, mouse, and keyboard. You should be comfortable in an Internet environment, and have the ability to launch and close activities and navigate to multiple websites.

State Requirements:

This program is designed to meet the educational requirements to apply for professional licensure or certification in the states of Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Students in California should enroll in the Activity Assistant course instead.

Each state's licensure or certification authority is responsible for establishing the requirements for professional licensure or certification in its state. Completing this program does not guarantee professional licensure or certification. Eligibility may also depend on factors like work experience, professional examinations, passing a background check, and other criteria. Students are encouraged to contact the appropriate state licensing authority to confirm the requirements for licensure or a certificate in the state where they live, work, or intend to live or work.

Cindy Gaschler

Cindy Gaschler has worked in the healthcare field since 1999. She began her career as a CNA, then completed her LPN, and continued with an ADN degree. She functioned as a Long-Term Care charge nurse, Inpatient Rehabilitation nurse, MDS Coordinator, and Director of Nursing. Following this she re-enrolled in college and obtained a BSN while performing duties of Human Resources, Staff Development Coordinator, Risk Management, Health Information Management, and Senior Living Manager.

Does this course prepare you for a certification?

No.

When can I start the course?

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

How long does it take to complete this course?

This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive six (6) months to complete the course.

What if I don't have enough time to complete my course within the time frame provided?

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

What kind of support will I receive?

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.

What happens when I complete the course?

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.

Am I guaranteed a job?

This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

Can I get financial assistance?

This course is non-credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements. Financing is available from select schools. Learn more about financial assistance.

How can I get more information about this course?

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us" form.