What Does an Activities Coordinator Do?
A calendar alone isn't likely to get residents out of their rooms if nothing on it appeals to them, but in a well-run home a good activities coordinator can be what gets people talking, moving and laughing again. That's because residents are more than just their care plans. Activities coordinators plan and lead programs in senior living communities, community centers, camps and campuses.
Activities Coordinator Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of an activities coordinator include:
- Plan a monthly calendar of games, crafts, music, exercise and outings.
- Lead group activities and adapt them for people with limited mobility, hearing or memory.
- Visit residents who stay in their rooms and offer individual activities they enjoy.
- Arrange outings, including transportation, tickets and extra staff or volunteers.
- Record participation and responses in each resident's care notes.
- Book entertainers, speakers and community groups for special events.
- Order craft supplies, games and equipment within a small budget.
- Celebrate birthdays, holidays and cultural events that matter to participants.
- Ask participants and families for ideas and adjust the program to match.
- Supervise activity aides and volunteers and show them how to run sessions safely.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as an activities coordinator, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Energy and warmth with groups
- Adapting activities for dementia and physical limits
- Calendar planning and budgeting
- Leading music, arts, fitness or games
- Care-plan documentation
- First aid and CPR
- Activity Director Certified (ADC) credential in senior care, a plus
- Patience and a sense of humor
Education and Training
Nursing homes often require an approved activity course, but a high school diploma and training at work cover the rest. Jobs as an activity aide, camp counselor or nursing assistant give you practice at running programs before you plan your own.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $31,780 - $43,470 per year, with a median of $36,560.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Recreation Workers.
Employment of recreation workers is projected to grow about 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, according to BLS. The wider group, which includes camp and park staff, expects about 67,000 openings a year, many of them part time. Senior living is a steady corner of that market, given that the number of older Americans keeps rising.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Recreation workers.