Director of Activity

The Courville at Nashua•Nashua, NH

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Courville at Nashua, a locally owned senior healthcare community in Nashua, is seeking a full-time Activities Director to enrich residents’ lives through a varied, resident-centered activities program. The Director develops and coordinates activities based on resident assessments, abilities, limitations, preferences, and goals, and provides both group and individual activities. The role includes regular personal interaction with residents and coordination with staff, families, community partners, vendors, and other departments. The schedule is 40 hours per week, generally 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with alternating weekends; the schedule may also include some evenings and holidays. Activities may include social gatherings, indoor and outdoor events, arts and crafts, music, exercise, educational and spiritual programs, games, lectures, travel, outings, speakers, and musical events. The Director prepares monthly calendars, encourages resident involvement in planning and participation, documents progress and outcomes, and helps ensure residents’ rights, safety, and well-being. The role also involves maintaining supplies and equipment, keeping storage areas organized, supporting the activity budget, and contributing to facility quality-of-care efforts through meetings and training. The position requires nursing home experience, a high school diploma or equivalent, good communication skills, flexibility, and the ability to work with elderly, ill, disabled, and emotionally sensitive residents. Activity-director or therapeutic-recreation qualifications and certification or licensure are described. A valid driver’s license and CPR/first-aid training are also listed. LNA licensure or interest in obtaining an LNA license is preferred. Physical requirements include moving intermittently throughout the workday and being able to stand for extended periods, squat, bend, lift heavy objects, and safely transport residents to and from activities. The employee must pass the facility’s required physical examination. Benefits for eligible employees include competitive wages, medical and dental insurance, earned time, a 401(k), flexible spending accounts, and paid life insurance.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Nursing home experience is required; the posting also describes skilled nursing environment experience as a plus.
Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.
Good communication skills, flexibility, a positive personality, and ability to work as a team player.
Ability to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, and emotionally sensitive residents.
Ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant.
Ability to safely and successfully perform job-related functions, with or without reasonable accommodations.
Ability to move intermittently throughout the workday; stand for extended periods; squat, bend, and lift heavy objects; and safely transport residents.
Meet facility general health requirements, including a medical and physical examination, and pass the physical required by the facility.
Driver’s license.
CPR and first-aid training/licensure.
Activity director certification or licensure by DHHS and/or therapeutic recreation specialist or activities professional certification, as described in the posting.

Nice To Haves

LNA license or interest in obtaining an LNA license.
Qualification as a therapeutic recreation specialist or certified activities professional.
Budgeting experience.

Responsibilities

Develop and provide an ongoing activities program tailored to resident assessments, abilities, limitations, preferences, and goals.
Plan and lead daily group and individual activities, including social, indoor and outdoor, arts and crafts, music, flower arranging, sing-alongs, painting, exercise, educational, spiritual, and other programs.
Create a monthly calendar of activities and develop new activities that appeal to residents’ varied interests.
Encourage residents to participate in planning and implementing the activities program, and facilitate participation for residents needing additional attention.
Coordinate the activities program with other departments, families, community partners, and outside vendors.
Assess residents’ needs and develop activity goals for written care plans; review goals and progress notes and document participation, outcomes, MDS reports, and other required records.
Observe residents’ physical, emotional, social, and spiritual status; report changes to nursing staff and respect residents’ rights.
Conduct appropriate one-to-one activities in keeping with residents’ strengths, limitations, and cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial needs.
Safely transport residents to and from activities and assist with resident evacuation in emergencies.
Obtain and organize supplies and equipment, maintain accessible and orderly storage areas, and keep staff informed about resident supplies.
Participate with the administrator in developing a budget and maintain community support for the activity program through newsletters, networking, and family involvement.
Attend care plan, department head, QAPI, in-service, and activity director association meetings as required.
Work cooperatively with other departments, assist as needed in emergent situations, report to work dependably and punctually, and perform other duties as assigned.