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The four-month Activity Assistant program provides specialized professional development for individuals who have previous education and training in health care (LPNs, RNs, health care assistants and home care aides) or community support (education assistant/community support graduates). During the program, you will have opportunities to apply classroom knowledge and skills to hands-on experience in two supervised practice experiences, working with adults in a variety of care settings in facility and community settings.
Upon completion, your specialized knowledge and applied experience will qualify you to work alongside an activity coordinator to lead group activities and recreational programs in community and facility settings such as intermediate care facilities, assisted living settings, adult day care programs, clients’ homes, seniors’ centres and residential group homes. All students must have a desktop or laptop computer with a working camera, audio and Internet service in order to complete this program.
The program consists of three core courses as well as two practice experiences:
In Framework for Practice (HSR 160), you will be introduced to the activity assistant role as well as the concept of activity and how it influences and is influenced by the components of health, age, interests, values and environment. You will gain an understanding of aging and dementias in the context of activity, how groups can be used for clients and residents with complex care needs, theories in activity programming and much more.
In Activity for Well-Being (HSR 161), you will explore dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease, and learn a wide range of strategies for activity involvement for clients who have cognitive impairments. Course highlights include the fundamentals of program development, client assessment and recreational assessment tools, client-specific goal development and working with volunteers and family - to name only a few.
In Programming for Individuals with Cognitive Impairments (HSR 162), you will develop strategies for therapeutic recreation and program development for individuals with dementia, including how to use a care planning approach to provide effective client-centred programming.
Health considerations
Please note, the work of activity assistants can be physically demanding and may require bending, lifting or lengthy periods of standing, which may be problematic for those with back, neck or arm injuries.
If you have significant health challenges, please discuss your concerns with your physician and consult with the program coordinator.
Career Opportunities
Common job description titles for Activity Assistant grads can include:
- Activity assistant
- Activity aide
- Activity worker
- Care/activity aide
- Activity coordinator
- Therapy recreation wellness assistant
- Recreation assistant
- Recreation aide
- Recreation worker
- Recreation programmer
- Life enrichment assistant
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