Director of Activities

Lancaster SNF; Town of Lancaster (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

Elderwood at Lancaster in Lancaster, New York, seeks a Director of Activities to lead a resident engagement program that extends beyond events, shaping daily experiences supporting physical activity, cognitive stimulation, social connection, lifelong learning, and emotional and spiritual wellness.

This department leadership role oversees resident assessment, individualized programming, care planning, regulatory documentation, team development, volunteer engagement, and community partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with training in recreation required.
• Experience with older adults or elder-care setting preferred.
• Must meet New York State qualifications for directing a skilled-nursing activities program.
• Credentials in therapeutic recreation or activities-professional pathways may apply.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Leadership ability

Verbal and written communication

Relationship building

Team mentorship

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Documentation and regulatory awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in recreation

Training in recreation required

Job description

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.

Salary: Up to $72,000 / Year

Position Type: Regular Full-Time

Shift: 8:00am-4:00pm, every other weekend

Location: Elderwood at Lancaster, Lancaster, New York

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.