Activity assistants and activity directors
produce and facilitate recreation events for senior citizens. The need
for these professionals is likely to increase due to the aging of the
U.S. population. People who want job security and have an interest in
helping the infirm are good candidates for online activities assistant
certificate programs or for activity director associate's degree
programs.
Overview of an Activity Assistant Online Certificate
An activity assistant online certificate program introduces students
to the duties of workers who carry out daily entertainment programs for
the elderly and infirm. Basic workplace relationships and cultural
sensitivity are also part of the curriculum. Schools prefer but don't
require certificate program enrollees to have a high school diploma or
GED. Online certificate programs for this subject are rare.
All course readings, lectures, assignments and chat sessions in an
activity assistant online certificate program are accessible through a
school's website. Courses have deadlines, but students may study and
turn in finished work as their schedules allow. An activity assistant
online certificate may be completed entirely online in a year or less.
Students need a multimedia-capable personal computer, Internet access
and productivity software to participate in an online program. Schools
are likely to use some form of educational content
management software, such as Blackboard or Desire2Learn.
List of Common Activity Assistant Courses
Courses in these programs deal with the theories and practices
associated with activity assisting. These theories pertain to activity
planning, crisis intervention, first aid and more. A certificate program
may include one or more general education courses as electives.
Aging Services Introductory Course
This course surveys the history of the activity profession and the
settings where activity services are provided, such as retirement
communities or nursing homes. Students learn the organizations and
agencies that provide care and the regulations governing them.
Activity Development Course
Students in this course learn how leisure programs are planned and
implemented. Topics covered include the use of surveys and evaluation
techniques.
Cultural Diversity Course
This course examines the effects cultural diversity has on workplaces
and how to accommodate differing cultural perspectives. Communication
and sustaining relationships in the workplace are a central emphasis of
the course.
An online certificate in activity assisting enhances a certificate
holder's prospects of finding employment as an activity assistant in
elder care facilities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (
www.bls.gov), employment of recreation workers, of which activity assistants are a sub-group, will increase 15% from 2008-2018.
Payscale.com reports that as of May 2010, activity assistants with 1-4 years of experience earned a median salary of $19,011-$24,689.
Overview of an Activity Director Online Associate's Degree Program
An online activity director associate's degree program is concerned
with the planning and monitoring of daily activities for elderly and
disabled people living in assorted care facilities. In addition to
planning, students learn about issues facing the aging, office
management, personnel management and first aid techniques. A high school
diploma or GED is the minimum requirement to enroll in an associate's
degree program. Online programs are rare but available from a small
number of schools. Those with an associate's degree in the field are
likely to have an edge in the job market over those with only a
certificate.
An online activity director associate's degree program may be
completed entirely online. Coursework consists of readings, lectures,
assignments and chat sessions. Not all classes may be available at any
given time; programs often rotate the online classes, and careful
academic planning is advised. An associate's degree is typically earned
in two years.
List of Common Activity Director Courses
Students take many of the same courses that they would in the
certificate program, but the associate's degree includes more
management-oriented courses. An online associate's degree program
includes a core liberal arts component.
Volunteer Management Course
Students engage with the process of establishing and administering a
volunteer program in this course. Topics covered include recruiting,
training, deploying and evaluating volunteers.
Activity Management Course
This course covers the fundamental duties of an activity director.
Students learn approaches to leadership and the importance of
accountability and responsibility.
Crisis Prevention Course
Students learn how to defuse conflict, disruptive behavior and
assaults in this course. Negotiating tactics and safe restraint are
among the topics covered.
An online activity director associate's degree prepares graduates for
positions as activity directors in adult day care facilities, nursing
homes, senior centers and retirement communities. Growth will be driven
by expanded demand for care services by a growing population of aging
individuals, offset by budget constraints among state and local
governments. According to May 2010 figures from
Payscale.com, the median annual salary of activity directors with 1-4 years of experience was $20,696-$28,704.
Activity directors who want to move on to better-paying positions as
care facility administrators need to earn a bachelor's degree or
master's degree in business administration. Master's degree programs in
business administration are available online. Higher-level activity
director degrees are not available either online or offline.
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