What Does an Activities Assistant Do?

Activities assistants work in places like long-term care units in hospitals, adult day care centers, and senior or elderly residential care facilities. The activities assistant plans a variety of activities to help patients and residents of care facilities improve their quality of life. Depending on the individual’s qualifications and experience level, employment as an activities assistant can be voluntary, full-time, or part-time.

Many of the activities that an assistant plans and participates in are commonplace activities like conversing and playing board games. Certain patients may not have close family or friends with whom to interact and can benefit from human interaction participating in activities with the assistant. To keep patients from feeling depressed and isolated, specific hours are often set aside each day for activities, which can include attending special occasions and holidays.

An assistant also plans and provides entertainment for the patients and residents’ enjoyment. Music is frequently provided to entertain residents in group care facilities, and the activities assistant may be in charge of locating or playing the music. Patients and residents are given the opportunity to discuss their interests, family, and friends with the activities assistant, which is an important activity.

Depending on the needs of each individual, part-time and full-time assistants are hired to plan activities for residents and day care attendees. There are college training courses available that teach how to plan and administer activities that can help patients improve their lives and abilities. Games and arts and crafts are among the types of activities planned the assistant.

Completing academic courses and gaining experience in a medical or elderly care setting can lead to accreditation as an activities assistant. Some countries require completion of college courses in order to become qualified and accredited in the field. People who volunteer as assistants are exempt from educational requirements.