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Director of Activities

Elderwood

Lancaster, NYFull-timeup to $72K/yrTracked 1mo agoSeen in employer's feed 5 days ago
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At a glance

Compensation
up to $72K/yr
Location
Lancaster, NY
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

New York State Qualified Activities Program CredentialRecognized Therapeutic Recreation CredentialActivities-Professional CredentialOccupational Therapy CredentialState-Approved Training Course CompletionBachelor's degree

Job overview

Elderwood is hiring a Director of Activities. The Director of Activities will lead a resident engagement program at Elderwood, designing group and individualized activities that promote physical, cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual wellness, while overseeing documentation, volunteer coordination, community partnerships, and team development to enhance quality of life for residents.

Key focus areas include Design and lead a comprehensive program of group, individual, and independent activities based on resident abilities and interests., Create programming that supports movement, cognition, social connection, creativity, learning, emotional wellness, and spiritual well-being., and Lead, mentor, schedule, and support Activity Leaders in delivering consistent resident‑centered programming..

Successful candidates bring Bachelor's Degree With Training In Recreation, Meet Applicable New York State Qualifications For Directing Skilled-Nursing Activities Program, and Recognized Therapeutic Recreation Or Activities-Professional Credentials Or Qualifying Therapeutic-Program Experience Or Occupational Therapy Credentials Or State-Approved Training Course. Important skills include Designing Recreation Programs, Implementing Recreation Programs, Overseeing Recreation Programs, Coaching, Planning Activities, and Directing Activities. Preferred (not required): Recreation Therapy, Create Purposeful Programming, and Inspiring Others.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Designing Recreation ProgramsImplementing Recreation ProgramsOverseeing Recreation ProgramsCoachingPlanning ActivitiesDirecting ActivitiesScheduling ActivitiesPromoting ActivitiesCommunicating ActivitiesDirecting Activity LeadersPlanning Volunteer ProgramsRecruiting VolunteersOrienting VolunteersTraining VolunteersDirecting VolunteersCultivating Public RelationsMaintaining Public RelationsInterviewing ResidentsPreparing Initial Assessment InformationMDS+Attending Resident Care Planning MeetingsReviewing Resident/Family Care Plan SessionsWriting Activities Plan of CareReviewing Activities Plan of CarePreparing DocumentationReviewing DocumentationRelating Well With Geriatric ResidentsWorking With Geriatric ResidentsCommunicationAdaptabilityPatienceSensitivity to Resident NeedsLeadershipWorking Well With OthersDeveloping RelationshipsPerforming Tasks to Standards of ExcellenceEnglishRecreation TherapyRecreation Program DesignProgram ImplementationProgram OversightPlanningDirectingSchedulingVolunteer RecruitmentVolunteer OrientationVolunteer TrainingPublic RelationsInterviewingAssessmentDocumentationSensitivity to NeedsRelationship BuildingEnglish Language ProficiencyDesign Recreation ProgramImplement Recreation ProgramOversee Recreation ProgramLead Activities TeamPlans Monthly ProgramDirects Activity LeadersPlans Volunteer ProgramRecruits VolunteersOrients VolunteersTrains VolunteersDirects VolunteersCultivates Public RelationsMaintains Public RelationsInterviews New ResidentsPrepares Initial Assessment InformationAttends Resident Care Planning MeetingsReviews Resident/Family Care Plan Review SessionsWrites Activities Plan of CareReviews Activities Plan of CarePrepares Required DocumentationReviews Required DocumentationRelate Well With Geriatric ResidentEnjoy Working With Geriatric ResidentSensitivity to Needs of ResidentsLeadership QualitiesWork Well With OthersDevelop Good RelationshipsPerform Tasks to Established StandardsPromoting Monthly CalendarPlanning Volunteer ProgramPreparing Required DocumentationReviewing Required DocumentationDeveloping Relationships With ResidentsDeveloping Relationships With StaffDeveloping Relationships With VolunteersDeveloping Relationships With FamiliesDeveloping Relationships With VisitorsReading EnglishWriting EnglishSpeaking EnglishUnderstanding EnglishPlan Monthly ProgramDirect Activity LeadersPlan Volunteer ProgramRecruit VolunteersOrient VolunteersTrain VolunteersDirect VolunteersCultivate Public RelationsMaintain Public RelationsInterview New ResidentsPrepare Initial Assessment InformationAttend Resident Care Planning MeetingsReview Resident/Family Care Plan Review SessionsWrite Activities Plan of CareReview Activities Plan of CarePrepare Required DocumentationReview Required DocumentationWorking With Geriatric ResidentPerform Tasks to Established Standards of ExcellenceCreate Purposeful ProgrammingInspiring OthersRead EnglishWrite EnglishSpeak EnglishUnderstand EnglishLeadership AbilitySound JudgmentSensitivity to Residents' Individual NeedsProgram DocumentationResident Assessment CompletionCare Plan DevelopmentProgress Note WritingAttendance Record KeepingVolunteer Program DevelopmentCommunity Partnership DevelopmentEnglish Proficiency Intermediate or AdvancedPhysical StaminaTeam ManagementProgram DevelopmentActivity PlanningVolunteer Recruitment and TrainingInterdisciplinary CollaborationVerbal and Written CommunicationDocumentation AccuracyResident AssessmentVerbal Communication SkillsWritten Communication SkillsSensitivity to Residents' NeedsActivity Program DesignEnglish Intermediate Proficiency

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree With Training in RecreationNew York State Qualified Activities Program CredentialRecognized Therapeutic Recreation CredentialActivities-Professional CredentialTherapeutic-Program ExperienceOccupational Therapy CredentialState-Approved Training Course CompletionPrevious Experience Working With Older AdultsEnglish Intermediate or Advanced ProficiencyMust Meet New York State Rules and Regulations

Full job description

Salary

Up to $72,000 / Year

Overview

Director of Activities - Resident Engagement & Wellness

Elderwood at Lancaster | Lancaster, New York

Engagement is not an extra at Elderwood at Lancaster. It is part of how residents maintain function, connection, identity, and purpose.

We are seeking a Director of Activities to lead a resident engagement program that reaches well beyond entertainment and event planning. This leader will shape meaningful daily experiences that support physical activity, cognitive stimulation, social connection, lifelong learning, emotional well-being, and spiritual wellness.

Elderwood at Lancaster is a 96-bed skilled nursing community providing long-term care, memory care, and subacute rehabilitation, including orthopedic, cardiac, and post-surgical services. Our residents have different abilities, interests, histories, and goals. The right leader will build a program that recognizes those differences and creates opportunities for every resident to participate in a meaningful way.

More Than a Monthly Calendar

This is a department leadership role with responsibility for resident assessment, individualized programming, care planning, regulatory documentation, team development, volunteer engagement, and community partnerships.

The Leader We Are Looking For

You understand that meaningful engagement looks different for every resident. You can build an energetic group program while also ensuring that residents who prefer—or require—individualized engagement are not overlooked.

You bring creativity, but you also bring structure. You can inspire a team, manage documentation, collaborate with clinical partners, communicate with families, and maintain a program that meets professional and regulatory expectations.

Lead the Experience of Daily Life

The quality of a resident’s day is shaped by more than a schedule of events. It is shaped by whether they feel known, included, capable, connected, and engaged.

If you are ready to lead a department that influences resident well-being, function, community, and quality of life every day, we invite you to apply to Elderwood at Lancaster.

Responsibilities

As Director of Activities, you will:

  • Design and lead a comprehensive program of group, individual, and independent activities based on residents’ abilities, interests, preferences, and care needs.

  • Create programming that supports movement, cognition, social connection, creativity, learning, emotional wellness, and spiritual well-being.

  • Lead, mentor, schedule, and support Activity Leaders in delivering consistent, resident-centered programming.

  • Interview and assess new residents, contribute required MDS information, and develop individualized activity plans of care.

  • Participate in interdisciplinary care-planning meetings and resident and family review sessions.

  • Maintain accurate evaluations, progress notes, attendance records, care-plan documentation, and discharge summaries.

  • Develop the monthly activities calendar and communicate upcoming programming to residents, families, and the broader facility team.

  • Build a strong volunteer program by recruiting, orienting, training, and supporting volunteers.

  • Develop relationships with schools, service groups, entertainers, cultural organizations, faith communities, and other community partners.

  • Evaluate participation and resident response, then adapt programming to improve access, relevance, and engagement.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree with training in recreation required.

  • Previous experience working with older adults or in an elder-care setting strongly preferred.

  • Must meet applicable qualifications under New York State rules and regulations for directing a skilled-nursing activities program.

  • Candidates must qualify through an applicable pathway, which may include recognized therapeutic recreation or activities-professional credentials, qualifying therapeutic-program experience, occupational therapy credentials, or completion of a state-approved training course.

  • Demonstrated leadership ability and the ability to direct, support, and hold a team accountable.

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.

  • Patience, flexibility, sound judgment, and sensitivity to residents’ individual needs.

  • Ability to build productive relationships with residents, families, employees, volunteers, visitors, and community partners.

  • Ability to complete required assessments, care plans, progress notes, and other program documentation accurately and on time.

  • Physical stamina to participate in and support an active resident-engagement program.

  • Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English at an intermediate or more advanced level to support safe and effective communication with residents, employees, visitors, and supervisors.

  • This position requires regular interaction with residents, coworkers, visitors, and/or supervisors. In order to ensure a safe work environment for residents, coworkers, visitors, and/or supervisors of the Company, and to permit unfettered communication between the employee and those residents, coworkers, visitors, and supervisors, this position requires that the employee be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language at an intermediate or more advanced level.

EOE Statement

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. Applicants and employees are considered for positions and are evaluated without regard to mental or physical disability, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status or any other protected Federal, State/Province or Local status unrelated to the performance of the work involved.

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Posted Date1 week ago(8/10/2026 12:48 PM)

Requisition ID2026-36331

of Openings1

Area of InterestSocial Work

CompanyElderwood

LocationElderwood at Lancaster

Position TypeRegular Full-Time

Shift8:00am-4:00pm, every other weekend

SalaryUp to $72,000 / Year

Reporting CategoryManagement

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