How Do I Become a Nursing Home Activity Director?

Nursing home directors typically obtain their positions through a combination of education and personal passion. People in these positions frequently spend their time not only planning activities and outings for elderly patients and residents of nursing homes, but also forging relationships and friendships with them. Most nursing homes require activity directors to be certified one or more local agencies that oversee elderly care or so-called “leisure professionals,” who are people who work to enrich the lives of the infirm, disabled, or ill. You’ll almost certainly be subjected to a criminal background check as well.

Because these jobs don’t always have a high turnover rate, flexibility is also important. To gain experience and make yourself known to the people who will likely be doing the hiring for activities positions, you may need to start out doing more general activity planning for a different type of group, or alternatively work in a different nursing home capacity — answering phones, for example, or assisting in the kitchen — These jobs can also be a good way to keep busy while you work on your license.

Job Responsibilities in General

A nursing home activity director’s main responsibility is to organize social events and outings for patients, many of whom have mobility issues, mental impairments, or health issues. Games, parties, holiday celebrations, religious activities, outings, and crafts are just a few of the activities available. This person is usually in charge of making life in the home more exciting and giving residents something to anticipate.

In many cases, actually carrying out events is far more difficult than simply planning them. Coordinators must consider a variety of contingency plans, such as what might go wrong, and are usually in charge of coordinating transportation, negotiating group rates, and ensuring that all guests are accommodated appropriately at any off-site meeting. To put it another way, a great deal of planning is required. The job is often compared to that of a party planner or general event organizer, but it comes with its own set of challenges. As a result, most nursing homes require activity directors to have experience planning activities as well as working with the elderly before they can be hired.

Requirements for Formal Education

Typically, obtaining a university education is a good place to begin. Although nursing home activities are rarely covered in undergraduate programs, elder care, health sciences, and even sociology and psychology can be beneficial. Hiring boards and credentialing agencies prefer to see evidence of aptitude and formal education over specific credits in specific areas most of the time.

Certification

For candidates who are otherwise very compelling, some nursing homes will overlook educational deficiencies. When it comes to credentialing and licensing, however, this isn’t always the case. Different jurisdictions and localities have different rules, but it’s very common for all nursing home workers to be licensed some sort of oversight group; in some places, such as the United States, there are additional requirements for those involved specifically in leisure activities. Because these can take a lot of time and effort to complete, it’s usually a good idea to look into the requirements in your area as soon as possible.

The National Certification Council for Activity Professionals is the governing body in the United States (NCCAP). Candidates typically need 4,000 hours of hands-on experience working or volunteering in this field over the previous five years in addition to a bachelor’s degree. In addition, you must have completed 30 hours of continuing education in the previous five years.

Nursing homes are inspected health boards and other government agencies to ensure that they are in compliance with regional and national regulations. Nursing homes must follow strict guidelines in order to receive grants, insurance coverage, and other forms of funding. For these reasons, the majority of nursing homes in the United States will not hire an uncertified activity director.

Experience Has a Wide Range of Value

Nursing home hiring managers frequently select candidates from pools of people who have recently received credentials, but there are a few things you can do to make yourself more appealing. In most cases, you’ll want to demonstrate that you have the ability to plan events for the elderly as well as a genuine desire to complete the task. There are a few ways to demonstrate both, or to structure a resume in such a way that both areas are highlighted as strengths. Experience with party planning or event planning in general, as well as volunteer or paid work in a nursing home or elder care facility, can be beneficial.