I'm happy to report that I'm finally a certified activity professional! I can't say certified activity director, because I still have to be hired as a director first, right now I'm still an assistant.
For those who aren't familiar with the world of nursing homes and recreational therapy of the people who live in them, here is the nutshell version of what it's all about.
The Activity Director is responsible for assessing the recreational needs of the people who are there, and these needs encompass physical, spiritual, cognitive, social and artistic activities. The range of abilities, ages and medical conditions of the nursing home population varies widely, which makes the activity director's job challenging.
Even more challenging than being able to provide services to the people are being able to do so with limitations. The biggest limitation is lack of cooperation from other departments, and others include budget and staffing. A successful director is able to inspire her assistants, recruit help from the other departments, and use community resources and volunteers to round out her program.
I did a salary search for my geographic location, and the salary is considerable higher than for a director that isn't certified. So I'm hopeful when my time comes, I'll be adequately compensated for my hard work!
Before I go any further, I want to point out that being a director has prestige and "glory" attached to it, but the unsung heroes who really break their butts are the assistants. For the physical toll alone, the pay should be better.
Having done both jobs during the past 13 years, I can tell you the director position is equally difficult in a different way.
Mainly, the director's job is more mentally draining, and stressful. You have to wear many hats, be everywhere at once, and meet deadlines. You have to please your administrator, nursing director, and the residents themselves. Even harder than that, you have to satisfy family members who don't always have realistic expectations.
You have to keep your assistants happy and motivated, and make sure they do their jobs. You have to have thick skin while various staff throw their two cents in on how you should do your job. You have to expect criticism, and respond to it constructively. I've been told I was defensive when I was director before, and it was probably true. It's frustrating when you kill yourself to do your best, and people who have no clue are finding fault. It happens all the time.
Another pitfall of being the director is having to be "bubbly" when maybe that isn't what you really are. I like to think I have personality, but I'm not a naturally outgoing person. Ending up in this profession in the first place is kind of a miracle, as I think about it.
As I listed all the pitfalls, the director position kind of justifies the pay. There are some days that no amount of money is worth it, but I suppose that's true in any profession. In reality, it's not about the money, it's about making a difference and being able to make decisions that improve the lives of your clients.
While activities aren't as essential as nursing care, they are important!! I could write pages about how much our role is taken for granted, but I'll save that for another day. What I strive for is the opportunity to see real teamwork in action. If we all worked together, the improvement would be unbelievable. I know I can make it happen, I just have to wait for my chance.
Thank you to everybody who pushed me to get certified. It feels great!
