As a paid profession, the world of therapeutic activities is a new one, having been in existence only thirty four years. The term "activities" was introduced in the 1974 federal regulations for nursing homes which officially introduced our service. Our professional status was strengthened by the development of the National Association of Activity Professionals in 1981, followed by the development of the national activity certification program through the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals in 1986. Our current job title, Activity Professional, was coined in 1992 when revisions to the federal regulations adopted the title. Having just celebrated my thirtieth year as an activity professional, I am proud to see how far we have come as "professionals". However, the truth remains we are still working to earn respect for our programs and the positive outcomes evident in our approaches. Although we have grown tremendously as a profession, we still have a long way to go.
What can you do to ensure our continued growth as a profession and to work toward gaining respect for the work that we do? The first step is to get certified. National Certification through NCCAP is the only certification program which certifies individuals providing therapeutic activities for elders in long term care settings. The certification is recognized in the Federal regulations for nursing homes as a qualifying credential, as well as in many State regulations. If you are not currently certified, develop an education plan to help you in achieving certification. If you have not yet taken the MEPAP (Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals) course, find a local instructor and information about their course schedules. If such programs are not available in your area - the internet has become the new educational meeting place.
Once you are certified and have taken the basic and standard coursework - you need to maintain your certification and professional status. Many activity professionals share difficulty getting out to classes and seminars. Independent study courses are becoming a popular choice for the busy activity staff as the work can be done around a busy schedule. To maintain your national certification, individuals must attend 2-4 (10-20 contact hours) classes per year. My website offers independent study programs, approved by the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals. Current topics include professional development, motivation, programming concepts, quality assurance and documentation. New programs are added monthly.
NCCAP offers an opportunity for experienced activity professionals who may have taken a course prior to the introduction of the MEPAP to become certified. Track 5 requirements include completion of a basic course between 36 and 90 hours between the years 1991 and 2001; six years experience (12,000 hours) in activities in a geriatric setting within the past ten years; and thirty hours of continuing education within past five years, six of which is focused on activity documentation.
Is certification the only answer to professional growth of the individual and our profession as a whole? Obtaining national certification is just the beginning and will provide the activity worker with a foundation of knowledge and understanding to continue moving our profession forward. We each need to become the expert on therapeutic activities and person centered care in our communities. This does not mean become a "know-it-all" but someone who is knowledgeable about the interventions, outcomes and current status of our profession. Knowledge and power are best intermingled. Sir Francis Bacon said it first in the 1600's - "Knowledge is Power". Being knowledgeable and sharing that knowledge in a positive, productive way is influential. Power is the ability to influence others to act.
Another way to contribute to the strength of our profession is to join the professional associations in your local area as well as state and national associations. They have conventions, seminars, newsletters and web sites to support the activity professional. Nationally, they represent the activity department in legislative matters and keep us informed of regulatory changes, survey processes and news. Locally, our State and regional groups allow active networking and communication amongst working activity professionals. I have a listing of National and State associations on my website. If your state has a group that is not listed, feel free to send me information and I will include it in the listing.
The activity profession will continue to grow and prosper if we nurture our never-ending desire to seek out new ideas and to provide the best programs for our elders; participate in continuing education whether you have been in the profession one year or twenty; work cooperatively with fellow activity professionals and interdisciplinary staff; and continuously commit to the values of our profession.
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