Your Education

[Lynn56 0]

I realize most of us come from different education levels and types of education. Share what your degree or education is before becoming an Activity assistant or director. For instance was your degree in nursing or social work or something else. What level do you have? An associate degree or bachelors or more? What type of work did you do before entering this field. It will be interesting to see what kind of background we all had before entering or trying to enter this field. Thanks. For instance I have an associate degree in accounting, a bachelor in elementary education and a couple of master degree classes to renew my teaching license, also some medical assisting courses and am planning to take a CNA class. I am trying to enter the field and then get the MEPAP class somewhere. I have worked several types of jobs including daycare, before and after school care, substitute teaching, migrant daycare, retail work, Title one educational assistant and a few other things. Can't wait to hear from all of you.

[kanelamae 0]

Good Morning Lynn,

Found this topic interesting, so thought I would reply.

 

My education in the field of geronotology began when I was born. I can honestly admit, that I feel very fortunate having being born to 'older' parents. My mom's age at the time of my birth was 45 years old. My dad...56 years old. Perhaps I was a surprise to them!

I learned the values of the "elderly" , all the while growing up. My parents were friends with 'the older generation'.

The career field of working in Long Term Care started with me applying for a temporary position in the Activity Department. I had no intentions of continuing. I was going to work for as long as the other worker needed to take time off. (Maternity leave).

Well, to make a long story short. 10 years later, I am still in this career field and loving every minute of it.

Education is an important part of this career field, but NOTHING beats on the job training, and having love and compassion for the elderly. You either love it..or you don't.

I have just completed the MEPAP Part 1 module and anticipating the second part in the Spring.

I attend work shops, conventions...that pretains to 'activities'. I have learned alot...which gives me a better understanding for these residents that I work for.

 

This career field is a wonderful adventure, the rewards are great, as we have the best generation that we could possibly learn from.

Thank you for your time.

 

Sincerely,

Sandra ( kanelamae)

[dawn 0]

Hello, I started working in long term care when I was in high school. Started in the dietary dept. Then in high school I was in health occupation and became CNA. Then in 1992 I was given the opt to do activityies and took both ppart of the activitiy class the it was called 90 basic and 90 hour advance. I have been working on my cert for five years and I am know full cert. Currently working on a Ba degree in nursing. That was my high school dream to become a nurse and know I will be fill that dream in years to come.

[Diana 0]

I started young as well.

 

Then went off and got my Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Sociology and a minor in gerontology. Then I realized I wanted to be an Activity Director, and here I am four years later! I might be expanding my horizons, but for now, I love what I am doing!

[gina 2]

Hi All,

I think this is a great discussion starter!!

I like Dawn,started in long term care when in high school,I was 17 when I took the Social Service Director course and got my certificate for that,worked part time till I graduated from High school,then got the opportunity to become certified to be an Activity Director(My facility paid for it!) and have been an Activit Director since!

I LOVE being an Activity Director!!

I am now working in an Assisted Living Home with 97 residents.

Have fun!! gina :-D

[Flgirl 0]

Hi everyone,

I have a degree in therapeutic recreation and a masters in special education. I taught for 13 years and then decided to go back to recreation. I worked as an activity asistant in nursing homes.I have been an activities director now for 6 yrs. I work in a day center for folks with alzheimer's and dementia and love doing it. I find that my work in special education has helped me to adapt activites easily. I also love doing intergeneratonal activites because of my school connection.

I's great to share activites and information with all of you.

Still can't get into the chat room though. :cry:

Barbara

[Guest Pat8231]

Hi All, I think I"ll share with you all that I have no degree at all. Went to high school and studied in makeup and dancing (just joking). I didn't go to college but got married and had children which my generation did (I am 60 yrs old). I started in activities by accident. I was working as a receptionist at an SNF. Having years of training in office management etc. that was the best area for me at that time. The SNF needed someone to fill in for vacations and sick days in the activities department. Since the receptionist job was at nights 4:30pm to 8pm, I figured I could work 8am to 4:30pm with no problems then do my night job. I did that for about 3 weeks when the activities director said I was a natural with the residents and if I would consider going full time in her department. I did and worked 6 weeks,6 days a week (reception was also on Saturdays 9am to 6pm) until they got someone for the reception position. Seven months went by in the activities department but now here I am without a job (had to leave because of health issues) waiting for something to come along. If you can go to college or get a certificate do so. It's never too late. Pat 8-)

[bigchris 1]

Education---

 

Here goes:

 

I have an art degree.....then went back to school and got a Bachelors in Communication and Psychology, while in school I began a Masters in Gerontology but got Burned out. I am now in Grad School going for an MBA. I would like to run my own place.

 

Chris

[Stacy 0]

I have been in the nursing home business all my life...no joke. Besides everyone in my fmaily working in the business, it was my second home. I had a relative who basiclly owned a home, and that is where I stated as a baby.

 

But, besides volunteering there forever, I started working as a recetionist, dietary, and activities all at the same time.

 

I now have a BS in recreation and am a CTRS. Since working in a nursing home is in my blood (as I believe), I always wanted to do something in a nursing home, but never wanted to be a nurse. I love what I do!

 

Stacy

[Lynn56 0]

Sounds like alot of different routes to being an Activity Director. Just shows I do have a chance to enter this field.

[kris 0]

Hi all!!

I have been in the LTC bussiness since 1987. I started as a CNA, then med tech and back in those days I was an 18 year old med tech charge (sounds scary huh?). I have been in the activity department since 1996 as an activity assistant and mostly worked on scu with Alzheimer's. I have 52 hrs of college with a psycology/sociology major. I have taken an activity directors course that was a week long classes for 8 hrs a day. I have read many books, taken many seminars, but my greatest teachers w\have been my residents. Where would I be without them. I have just recently became the activity director at the facility I have worked for 10 years. I love my job and look forward to sharing thoughts and ideas with you all. Remember keep smilin and have fun!!

 

kris

[flyingfree45 0]

Hi...My backround was with children at summer camp. I went to college to be a Park Ranger, so I was a Recreation and Park Administration major. I fully planned on being outdoors. A twist of fate and a lost bet, turned me toward Therapeutics. My friend who had never worked with kids said she'd help me with my Girl Scout troop if I'd volunteer with her geriatrics group. That was my first exposure to the delights of working with the elderly.

I ended up working at a nursing home part time during college as an evening/weekend Activity Assistant.

I finished my degree in Recreation but my emphasis was in Therapeutics and concentration was in Geriatrics. I worked as an Activity Assistant/SSD for a year and then got a position as an AD which I kept for three years. I moved to California from Illinois and became a consultant in 1982.

 

I taught the AD course in CA for 11 years and am still consulting in the So Cal area.

 

All because I lost a bet :-D The classmate that I lost the bet to left the field and is working for Verizon in FL. We're still in touch.

[cajuncoon 0]

I went to college for a couple of years for nursing and was unable to finish for financial reasons. I did a few odd minimum wage jobs, not sure where I wanted to go with my life so I decided to take a CNA course. Then, the nursing home where I used to work as a ward clerk called me and offered me the job so I kind of fell into it. Now I'm not sure I want to do anything else but what I'm doing now because I just love it so much!