Activity Director Program

Aging senior citizens need people who appreciate older generations to work with them every day. Ridgewater’s Activity Director and Activity Assistant programs train you for rewarding careers that combine compassion with purpose and fun to help senior citizens enjoy their later years while living in assisted living or long-term care facilities. You become the reason they have a social life that might include game days, field trips, memory-building activities, and more!

Program delivery

• Online – fully
• Fall and spring starts

Activity Professional

Activity professionals plan and coordinate social, physical and cognitive activity programs to enhance and promote quality of life for elderly in long-term care, assisted living, retirement communities, and other aging services. They plan weekly and monthly activity calendars, implement a variety of intervention methods and techniques for working with residents or clients in group activities or in a one-to-one setting. Activity Professionals are also responsible for calendar planning, coordinating social and special events, and leading various activity groups.

Activity Director
The Activity Director manages the activity department and program. Duties include supervising and training staff, planning and implementing activity programs and calendars, communicating with department supervisors, and maintaining records and policies. Some positions may also include volunteer management.

Activity Assistant
Activity Assistants plan and carry out the daily activity program. The assistant leads large and small groups, works one-on-one with residents/clients, and plans specialized activities for special populations. The Activity Assistant works closely with the Activity Director in the daily operation of the activity program.

Skills you will learn

• Activity resources, planning, and delivery of activity programs
• Care planning and documentation
• Current aging issues
• Volunteer management
• Cultural diversity
• Activity department management
• Communication and leadership skills

Choose Ridgewater

Ridgewater’s Activity Director program is the longest-standing program in the country for teaching students to work with the elderly population. Students benefit from our industry-recognized instructor who has 33 years of experience in activity programming, delivery, and management. She helps develop students’ compassion and understanding of the aging generation to meld a perfect mix of caring for and caring about grandparents like yours.

Program distinction

Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals (MEPAP) online classes are nationally certified through Quality Matters.

Program attributes that help students thrive

• Flexible online program format which opens the door for students near and far
• Experienced online instructor well known in activity profession
• Internships, volunteer experiences and community service to garner support and build confidence
• Hands-on activity assignments and projects for students to gain experience in the field or enhance current work position
• Prior learning/work experience credit for those who are eligible
• Continuing collaboration and networking with current and past students through Facebook

Our most successful Activity Director and Activity Assistant students are good at time management, self-motivation, computer skills, and have reasonable reading and writing communication skills. There’s a growing, aging population waiting for people like you!