An activity director is a professional who plans and oversees recreational activities for different groups of people, such as the elderly, the disabled, or students. Some of the common duties of an activity director are

• Creating activities that enrich participants’ lives with physical and cognitive exercise and socialization
• Managing staff and volunteers who assist with the activities
• Performing administrative tasks, such as budgeting, grant writing, and promotion
• Developing calendars and schedules for activities and events
• Maintaining spaces and equipment used for activities
• Organize transportation for off-site activities.
• Enforce rules for safety.
• Promote activities and encouraging residents to participate.
• Get to know residents and patients and finding out their interest to inform organizing activities.
• Consult with nurses, doctors, and other caregivers to best help residents.
• Administer basic first aid as needed and being prepared to call for help.

What are the typical qualifications for Activity Director jobs?

• A leader with a positive attitude and professionalism.

• Can solve problems with a positive attitude and confidence.

• Sound time management and attention to details.

• Can collaborate with others and use leadership skills to guide in planning and decision making.

• A critical thinker with computing and budget planning skills.

• Experience with writing protocols and computer literacy.

What are some expectations for all SBC Employees?

• Stay professional 
• Keep boundaries
• Maintain SBC company Mission: "Our mission is to help meet the physical, mental, and emotional needs of those we serve by improving their quality of life, delivery of humanitarian excellence, extraordinary quality of service, and compassionate care"
• Adhere to all policies and procedures that guide SBC
• Promote SBC to the greater community to attract customers and clients

A good activities director is in place to overcome those barriers and ensure that residents and patients do have opportunities to engage in recreation. They take away those barriers by providing a range of options and ensuring that activities are appropriate to ability levels or that they can be modified in such a way that residents can participate in and enjoy the activities. Studies show that residents particularly benefit from activities that are meaningful, that stimulate thinking, that produce something, that allow for socialization, and that re related to the work a resident previously did.

Quality activities provided by a caring director who ensures recreation is safe and enjoyable can provide a number of benefits: reduced pain, improved fitness, improved overall health, better mood, more socialization, improved mental health, an improved sense of purpose, and an overall increased quality of life, enjoyment, and satisfaction with living situation.