Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Course meets State of Oregon certification requirements for activity directors in long term care facilities, and successful students receive State of Oregon Certificate. Course also focuses on marketing, promotion, community relations, time and stress management, and prevention of professional burnout. Students must provide proof of high school diploma or GED.

Successful students will be able to:

·         Design and implement long-term care programs with cognitive, social, educational, sensory stimulation and independence-enhancing activities appropriate for high and low functioning and special needs individuals

·         Manage an activity department and work as an interdisciplinary medical team member in a long term care facility, working within a budget and managing time and staff

·         Assess and document residents, maintain all documentation in conformity with state regulations, and prepare for successful regulatory surveys

Course sessions are presented in a didactic and interactive format, including peer interaction, team project planning and problem-solving, and application in a long term care facility. Course may be taught in a classroom, on a worksite or online, together with application activities on-site in a long term care facility with qualified supervision and documentation.

·         Students will successfully complete three quizzes and one comprehensive final, with a score of at least 75%, and complete all lessons and projects to receive state certification.

·         Project 1: Students will design and submit on state-mandated forms the outline of a complete year of activity planning for a long term care facility, including a calendar of events and outings for one month demonstrating supportive, maintenance, and enhancing programming; and a weekly Alzheimer’s calendar with repetitive programming of normalization, cognitive, social and physical activities for three levels of cognitive functioning.

·         Project 2: Students will submit a complete documentation project for a high functioning and a low functioning resident, which includes initial assessment, Minimum Data Sheet, Resident Assessment Protocols, care plan, and quarterly reports for each resident.

·         Project 3: Students will design a craft, physical exercise or sport, cooking, and sensory activity. Using state-mandated forms, students will analyze the purpose, type of equipment, leadership skills, and special approaches needed to successfully implement each activity. Students will share their designed activities with other class members, so that each student completes an activity planning book.

·         Capstone Project: Students will compile a manual including the three outcome assessments, above, as well as guidelines on management of an activity department, to guide them through their first year on the job.

CONTENT of the course includes:

·         Management of an activity department and state-mandated documentation

·         Age related biological and behavioral processes, including illness patterns, impairment and body loss, and other changes and their impact on functioning, self-image, and socialization skills

·         Program planning and activity analysis, goal setting and planning for positive activity outcomes

·         Program design to meet the need of diverse populations and the areas required by law

·         Program implementation based on the principles of recreational therapy, sensory stimulation methods, reality orientation and validation therapy

·         Use of adaptive equipment and design of adaptive environments for gross motor skill exercises and modified sports appropriate for the limitations and potentials of residents

·         Use of crafts and musical techniques for various impairments and cognitive levels

·         Use and training of volunteers

·         Effective approaches to difficult behaviors

·         The impact of institutionalization, family dynamics, grievance procedures, effective resident council meeting, and respect for resident rights

·         Hiring, orientation and management of activity staff

·         Time management, team work, training, and discipline

·         Education of nursing staff and administration on the role of activity programs for resident health and well-being, staff morale, and community outreach through marketing and public relations

·         Recognition and prevention of professional burnout

SKILLS developed in this course include:

·         The ability to write clear and concise reports and documentation of activity assessment and programming, conforming to state regulations

·         The ability to apply knowledge of age-related biological and behavioral processes to activity and program design appropriate to various cognitive and functioning levels and to special needs individuals

·         Ability to manage an activity department, including programming, scheduling, time, personnel and resource management, budgeting, working in an interdisciplinary team, and conducting community outreach and education, marketing and public relations