Demo

Director of Activities

Elderwood
Elderwood Salary
Tonawanda, NY Full Time
POSTED ON 10/23/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 11/21/2026
Salary

$23 / hourly - $29.90 / hourly

Overview

Director of Activities - Resident Engagement & Wellness

Elderwood Assisted Living at Tonawanda|Tonawanda, New York

Engagement is not an extra at Elderwood Assisted Living at Tonawanda. 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.

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

  • Plans, directs and schedules a monthly program of group, individual, and independent activities for residents; the activities are geared to individual capabilities and interests of residents; promotes and communicates the monthly calendar of activities for residents.
  • Directs Activity Leaders in implementing all phases of the Activity Department programs.
  • Plans Volunteer Program and recruits, orients, trains, and directs volunteers.
  • Cultivates and maintains good public relations and contact with service groups, and other community organizations.
  • Interviews new residents and prepares initial assessment information, including assigned sections of MDS .
  • Attends Resident Care planning meetings and/or reviews Resident/Family Care plan review sessions; writes and/or reviews the Activities plan of care in the Medical Record Chart of each resident.
  • Prepares and/or reviews required documentation including initial evaluations, progress notes, attendance at activities program and discharge summaries.

Qualifications

  • A baccalaureate degree and training in recreation required; qualifications as stated in NYS Code, Rules, and Regulations necessary.
  • The activities program must be directed by a qualified professional who is a qualified therapeutic recreation specialist or an activities professional who —
    • Is licensed or registered, if applicable, by the State in which practicing; and
    • Eligible for certification as a therapeutic recreation specialist or as an activities professional by a recognized accrediting body on or after October 1,1990; or
    • Has 2 years of experience in a social or recreational program within the last 5 years, one of which was fulltime in a therapeutic activities program; or
    • Is a qualified occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant; or
    • Has completed a training course approved by the State
  • Ability to relate well and enjoy working with the geriatric resident.
  • Ability to communicate well verbally and in writing necessary.
  • Flexibility, patience, and sensitivity to the needs of residents.
  • Leadership qualities and ability to work well with others in implementing the activities program.
  • Ability to develop good relationships with residents, staff, volunteers, families, and visitors.
  • Physical stamina for constant activity.
  • Ability to perform tasks to established standards of excellence.
  • 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.

Salary : $23 - $30

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Director of Activities?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Director of Activities career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$57,446 - $71,378
Income Estimation: 
$81,296 - $139,424

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs with skills like those required for the Director of Activities.

Click the checkbox next to the jobs that you are interested in.

  • Crisis Communications Skill

    • Income Estimation: $71,085 - $91,088
    • Income Estimation: $92,664 - $115,984
  • Media Relations Skill

    • Income Estimation: $58,961 - $76,665
    • Income Estimation: $59,410 - $73,897
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Elderwood

  • Elderwood Grand Island, NY
  • Salary up to $20.00 / hour Overview Become a COOK at Elderwood - NO LATE NIGHTS! Are you a passionate Cook looking to make a difference in the lives of oth... more
  • 5 Days Ago

  • Elderwood Cheektowaga, NY
  • Salary $16.51/hr - $19.35/hr Overview Elderwood at Cheektowaga is seeking a full-time maintenance assistant to join our plant operations team! Maintenance ... more
  • 5 Days Ago

  • Elderwood Waverly, NY
  • Salary $27 / hr - $37.72 / hr Overview Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Elderwood at Waverly Love Where You Work. Choose How You Work. At Elderwood at Waverl... more
  • 5 Days Ago

  • Elderwood Hornell, NY
  • Salary $18.20 / hourly Overview PAID NURSE TRAINING TRACK! Have you always been a caretaker by nature? Perhaps you are a nursing student, former CNA, HHA o... more
  • 5 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Director of Activities jobs in the Tonawanda, NY area that may be a better fit.

  • Elderwood - Pediatric Specialty Care - Woodmark Pharmacy - PostAcute Partners Tonawanda, NY
  • Overview Director of Activities - Resident Engagement & Wellness Elderwood Assisted Living at Tonawanda|Tonawanda, New York Engagement is not an extra at E... more
  • 9 Days Ago

  • DePaul Cheektowaga, NY
  • Overview Glenwell, a DePaul Senior Living Community is hiring a full-time Activities Director. The pay range for this opportunity is $19.00 - $19.60 Why wo... more
  • 11 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!