Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Activities Director

🎯 Role Definition

The Activities Director (also known as Life Enrichment Director or Recreation Director) is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing robust activity and engagement programs that promote quality of life, socialization, cognitive stimulation, and emotional well-being for residents/participants in senior living communities, assisted living, memory care units, or community centers. This role partners with clinical and caregiving staff to align programming with individual care plans, ensures regulatory compliance (CMS, state regulations), manages volunteers and activity staff, maintains accurate documentation, and builds relationships with families and community partners to deliver dynamic, person-centered experiences.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Activity Assistant / Recreation Aide
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) transitioning to life enrichment
Volunteer Coordinator or Program Assistant

Advancement To:

Director of Resident Services / Director of Wellness
Regional Life Enrichment Manager / Area Activities Director
Executive Director (senior living) or Program Director

Lateral Moves:

Social Services Coordinator
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Memory Care Program Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design and deliver a varied, person-centered calendar of activities (social, recreational, educational, spiritual, therapeutic, and cultural) that supports physical, cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial needs for residents in assisted living, memory care, or community settings.
Conduct initial and ongoing assessments of resident interests, abilities, cognitive status, and life histories to individualize activity plans and integrate findings into individualized care plans and electronic health records.
Create monthly and weekly activity schedules, promotional materials, and resident-facing calendars that maximize participation and communicate program value to residents, families, and staff.
Lead, supervise, and schedule activity staff, recreation assistants, and volunteers; provide onboarding, training, coaching, performance reviews, and a motivating team environment to ensure consistent program delivery.
Plan and facilitate therapeutic programs tailored for residents with dementia and memory loss, employing evidence-based techniques (e.g., validation therapy, reminiscence therapy, sensory stimulation) to reduce agitation and improve engagement.
Coordinate interdisciplinary team meetings with nursing, social services, dietary, and therapy staff to align activity goals with clinical care plans, behavioral strategies, and restorative outcomes.
Manage the activities department budget: forecast expenses, procure supplies, maintain inventory, reconcile invoices, and optimize spending while ensuring program quality and safety.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation of attendance, outcomes, incident reports, progress notes, and regulatory documentation in the facility’s electronic medical record (EMR) system to support quality improvement and inspections.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (CMS, state department of health) and facility policies related to activities, infection control, safety, confidentiality (HIPAA), and resident rights.
Recruit, train, and coordinate volunteers and community partners (schools, faith groups, entertainers, therapy animals, vendors) to augment programming and expand meaningful social interactions for residents.
Plan and execute special events, outings, family nights, holiday celebrations, and intergenerational activities, managing logistics such as transportation, safety protocols, staffing, and risk assessments.
Monitor resident response and program effectiveness through participation metrics, satisfaction surveys, and behavioral observations; adapt programming based on outcomes and feedback to increase engagement.
Develop and maintain sensory and adaptive programming (music therapy, pet therapy, art, horticulture, movement, cognitive games) that accommodate mobility limitations, hearing/vision impairment, and other accessibility needs.
Facilitate resident council meetings, family meetings, and care conferences to gather input, communicate activity plans, and foster resident-led programming and advocacy.
Collaborate with marketing and admissions teams to create public-facing materials, tours, and community outreach events that showcase life enrichment offerings and support occupancy and retention goals.
Implement infection prevention and control measures within activity spaces, including sanitization protocols for shared equipment and observance of isolation/quarantine procedures when needed.
Develop and maintain transportation plans and vendor relationships for off-site excursions, ensuring proper consent, staffing ratios, vehicle safety, and emergency contingency protocols.
Lead continuous quality improvement initiatives for the activities program, including staff training plans, program audits, benchmarking, and corrective action plans following surveys or complaints.
Prepare for and participate in regulatory surveys, internal audits, and accreditation reviews by supplying program documentation, explaining activity processes, and demonstrating resident-centered outcomes.
Support budget planning by providing programmatic reporting, utilization data, and ROI calculations on special programming and contracted services (e.g., music therapists, entertainers).
Oversee purchasing, inventory, and safe storage of activity supplies and equipment (arts & crafts, adaptive devices, audio-visual equipment), ensuring accessibility and cost-effective sourcing.
Maintain strong communication with families through newsletters, phone calls, email updates, and scheduled meetings to set expectations, solicit input, and report meaningful changes in resident engagement or wellbeing.
Mentor and develop volunteers and peer leaders (resident ambassadors) to increase resident autonomy and expand leadership opportunities within the community.
Respond to resident behavioral escalations during activities, employing de-escalation techniques and coordinating with clinical staff for follow-up and documentation.
Track and report key performance indicators (participation rates, program satisfaction, reduced behavioral incidents) to executive leadership and use data to iterate program strategy.
Create and adapt activity content for remote, hybrid, or socially distanced programming (virtual events, in-room engagement kits) in response to public health needs or resident preferences.
Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries while building rapport and trust with residents and families, escalating clinical concerns promptly to the nursing or medical team.

Secondary Functions

Assist leadership with strategic planning for life enrichment services, including annual goals, capital needs, and program expansion.
Partner with Human Resources to identify staffing needs, job descriptions, and competencies for activity team hires.
Participate in community outreach and partnership development to secure guest speakers, entertainers, volunteers, and donor opportunities.
Support admissions activities by presenting life enrichment programming to prospective residents and families during tours and informational events.
Contribute to resident safety plans, emergency preparedness drills, and evacuation procedures as they relate to activity spaces and events.
Collaborate with dietary, housekeeping, and maintenance to coordinate event logistics, refreshments, and room setup/cleanup.
Participate in interdisciplinary training on dementia care, infection control, and person-centered care practices.
Maintain social media and internal community boards with up-to-date photos and descriptions of activities, following privacy and consent policies.
Support grant applications or community funding requests for special programming or capital purchases when applicable.
Backup front-line caregiver duties or administrative tasks during staffing shortages as needed to ensure resident needs are met.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Program development and curriculum design for senior living, memory care, and adult recreation programs.
Clinical understanding of dementia, behavioral health, and cognitive impairment interventions (evidence-based approaches like reminiscence and validation therapy).
Electronic documentation and reporting in EMR systems commonly used in senior care (e.g., PointClickCare, MatrixCare, AlayaCare) and proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
Budget management, purchasing, and inventory control for activity supplies and event logistics.
Volunteer recruitment, training, and management, including background checks, onboarding, and scheduling.
Knowledge of CMS regulations, state licensing requirements, HIPAA, and documentation standards for activities in long-term care settings.
Event planning and logistics: transportation coordination, risk assessments, and vendor contract management.
Basic clinical certifications such as CPR/First Aid and training in infection control and safe transfer/ambulation practices.
Experience with music therapy, art therapy basics, adaptive recreation tools, and sensory programming for memory care residents.
Data collection and KPI reporting: measuring participation, satisfaction, and program outcomes to inform continuous improvement.

Soft Skills

Exceptional interpersonal and written communication skills for working with residents, families, staff, and community partners.
Empathy, patience, and strong resident-centered advocacy to support dignity and autonomy.
Creativity and initiative to design compelling, diverse programming that meets changing needs and interests.
Leadership, team-building, and staff development capabilities to motivate and retain activity staff and volunteers.
Strong organizational and time-management skills to balance scheduling, documentation, and event logistics.
Problem-solving and clinical judgment in responding to behavioral incidents or changing resident needs.
Public speaking and group facilitation skills for leading events, education sessions, and resident council meetings.
Cultural sensitivity and flexibility to adapt programs for diverse backgrounds, faith traditions, and personal preferences.
Conflict resolution and diplomacy when mediating resident or family concerns related to activities.
Attention to detail for compliance, documentation accuracy, and safety checks.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED required. Relevant certification (Activity Director Certification, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, or equivalent) preferred.

Preferred Education:

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Recreation & Leisure Studies, Gerontology, Social Work, Nursing, Hospitality Management, or a related human services field.
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) or state Activity Director certification where applicable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Therapeutic Recreation / Recreational Therapy
Gerontology / Aging Studies
Social Work / Human Services
Nursing / Health Sciences
Recreation Management / Hospitality
Psychology / Counseling

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–7 years of progressive experience in activity programming, life enrichment, or therapeutic recreation with older adults; at least 1–2 years supervising staff preferred.

Preferred:

3+ years as an Activities Director or Lead Activity Specialist in assisted living, skilled nursing, memory care, or a community recreation setting.
Demonstrated experience with dementia care programming, regulatory compliance (CMS/state), volunteer management, and budget responsibility.
Proven track record of increasing resident engagement, implementing innovative programs, and collaborating successfully with interdisciplinary care teams.