Activity Directors

Has anyone here worked as an Activity Director? Either in a Nursing Home or some other type of health care facility? What can you tell me about it? Where can I take the Mepap class and exam (I live in Indiana)? What should the class cost? What kind of payscale can I expect from this job? What perks can I expect? Thanks for the information.

[CCL"Babe", BSN, RN]

Has anyone here worked as an Activity Director? Either in a Nursing Home or some other type of health care facility? What can you tell me about it? Where can I take the Mepap class and exam (I live in Indiana)? What should the class cost? What kind of payscale can I expect from this job? What perks can I expect? Thanks for the information.

I worked as an Activities Director before I went to nursing school. That was in 1978-1980. The pay was not good. I had to become "certified" by taking a series of classes sanctioned by the state. I actually started to pursue a degree in it because I enjoyed it so much. It was the funnest job I ever had. I got paid to do many of the things I loved to do. I worked for a Nursing/Retirement facility and it was like have over 100 grandparents. I got to coordinate parties and other functions, visit museums and other places. I learned to play bridge. Taught exercise classes, bartended, gave Sunday sermons when the ministers didn't show, gardened, and a multitude of other things.

I have no idea what the pay would be like now.