Sarbear 0 Report Share Posted December 2, 2004 Hello. My name is Sara. I'm in college and doing a presentation on Activity Directors. I need some information on what they do, how they do it, what they need to do in school to become one... and so on. Whatever information would be gratefully appreciated! Thanks! :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gina 2 Report Share Posted December 2, 2004 Hi Sara ! Well, the better question is what don't we do!!!LOL! Now really, the answers will vary from director to director depending on what type of facility they work at. At a skilled nursing home/hospital(LTC),the director is responsible for all medial records pertaining to activities of each resident,MDS records,Careplanning,attendance records and a initial assesment and quarterly reviews(WOW, :-o ),then we must plan and implement a comprehensive recreational program for each and every resident on the census,this will include room visits,outings,religious,physical,mental,social and various other activities. Most of us are also responsible for attending weekly and monthly meetings,shopping for the facility(decorations,supplies,etc.),planning a monthly budget,hiring/firing staff(if you are lucky enough to have any help in you dept.!),training other staff,being a good listener to res.needs,keeping up on continuous education,decorating you facility each month,tranportation of residents to/from activities,creating a newsletter each month,creating a monthly calendar and printing it up and putting in each res.room, and numerous other things that pop up during the day!!! I am sure I've missed a few things so come on guys and gals and tell her what I missed!!LOL!! :-P All in all, it is truly the best job in the world! :-) Have fun! gina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarbear 0 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2004 Thank you so much, Gina! I really appreciate your help! What you said is helpful. Yeah, if anyone could also give some information on being an Activities Director, that would be awesome!! Maybe what kind of schooling I would need, what do I need to get hired before anyone else, or anything else. Thanks so much for your help! It is definitely greatly apprectiated! This is something I would like to do in the future. It sounds like lots of fun. Sara :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pennie 26 Report Share Posted December 3, 2004 Hi, Activity Directors ......We use therapeutic leisure activities to enhance the quality of our residents' lives. WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY! This will not help you, but it sums up our profession in a fun way. My consultant gave me this way back in the 70's. Activity Professions... Conduct more interviews than......Jay Leno Do enough exercise to be on......Sprotsworld Put on as many specials as......Bob Hope Ad Lib as much as......Joan Rivers Play as many games as......Sesame Street Know as much trivia as the contestants as......Jeopardy Live through as many family traumas as......Dallas Deal with as much illness as......General Hospital Have as much compassion as......Little House on the Prairie Analyze current events like......The Today Show And - We are ready to go into reruns..... At any time Above and Beyond all This, We must... Sing like ......Kate Smith Play the piano like ......Peter Nero Do stand up comedy like ......George Burns M.C. like......Georgie Jessel Act like......Katherine Hepburn Edit newspapers like......William Randolph Hearst Read like......Orson Wells And do bulletin boards like......Norman Rockwell 8-) Adapted from a speech by Madge Schweinsberg, Sept. 1981 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy 0 Report Share Posted December 3, 2004 As far as schooling, to be certified, you need the 36 hour activity director course. There is also a 4 year degree to become a CTRS - Certified Therapeutic Rec Specialist. Stacy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lllucas 0 Report Share Posted December 3, 2004 Hi, Sara! :-) Here's a little article to help you out. Best Wishes, Linda Lucas, AD ;-) http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com __________________________________ A Tribute to Activity Professionals! Thank You! Thank you for all that you do to improve the quality of life for those who matter the most, your residents! They appreciate it! Thank you for all your creativity. The residents are thankful. Thank you for the extra effort you put into each day. Thank you for helping out in the dining rooms for meal programs. They need you! The nursing staff does appreciate it! Thank you for all the special trips and community events. They love being a part of the community. Thank you for all the effort you put into your volunteer program, it definitely does not happen without you! Thank you for smiling even when you don't feel like it. Thank you for spending time with those residents who can not come out of their rooms. They especially appreciate the pet visits. Thank you for a great survey. It takes your entire team and a dynamic program. Thank you for giving all of your self. Thank you for filling the resident's days with meaningful activities. Thank you for pushing so hard to get extra special programs approved. The extra effort paid off! Thank you for all the extra hours you put into planning and implementing elaborate events. It was appreciated! Thank you for attending seminars and association meetings, even when sometimes you have to use vacation days. Thank you for supporting other activity professionals. Thank you for taking a chance and trying something new. Thank you for dressing up for all those holidays. Thank you for all the hugs and love you give to them. Thank you for developing all the children's programs. Thank you for all the spiritual programs, because it means more to them at this point in their life. But most of all Thank You for dedicating your life to this very special profession, Activity Professionals! We can't imagine any facility without you! by: Sandra Stimson, Executive Director Alternative Solutions in Long Term Care http://www.activitytherapy.com/ Used with Permission Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gina 2 Report Share Posted December 3, 2004 Hi Pennie, Thanks so much for sharing that poem from the 70's.I remember reading it in the mid 80's and I never made a copy of it and I really have been watching out for it to resurface again!! Thanks! :-D Gina ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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