Activity Professionals Week 2023
This week is Activity Professionals Week and within this week is Activity Professionals Day: Friday, January 27th. 

An Activity Professional is defined as a person or group of people who design and implement recreational activities to improve the health and wellbeing of others. They are a vital part of the SPRINT Senior Care team and help our clients and residents to live lives that are full of enjoyment and meaningful engagement. The activities that are offered to our clients are based on a holistic approach. Meaning they encompass the whole person and meet our clients and resident’s physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual needs.

This is an important week to recognize all the wonderful Activity Professionals that are stationed at many sites throughout SPRINT Senior Care. Within our sites, we have seven (7) Activation staff at the Adult Day Program, three (3) at Ewart Angus, one (1) at Pine Villa and one (1) Community Wellness Coordinator in our Community Wellness Department. That brings us to twelve (12) amazing people who all dedicate their work life to the health and wellbeing of our clients and residents though activity and engagement. They inspire, engage, enrich, and make the lives of their clients and residents better! Let us thank them for all the great work they do to enrich the lives of others.
Here are some reasons why Activity Professionals are so important:
1.    They put their clients first
Activity professionals are incredibly selfless. They make such a large impact on the daily lives of older adults.

2.    They can improve the moods of their clients and lift their spirits
Knowing the individuals they work with and understanding what makes them unique is a part of an activity professional's daily tasks. They notice when one of their clients is feeling down and through engagements and caring, lift their spirits and infuse positivity into their day.

3.    They help to improve physical and psychological well-being of their clients
Activity professionals run activities for every dimension of wellness. They help to improve clients’ emotional, intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual well being through a variety of carefully planned programs. Ensuring that all these dimensions are captured in a wellness program is incredibly important for clients' quality of life.

4.    They inspire creativity
They are required to come up with new and exciting activities constantly which is no easy feat. Their creativity inspires residents, keeping them excited and engaged!

5.    They wear many hats
Activity professionals do a lot more than planning activities. They must know their clients’ diet, medical needs, and mobility along with understanding their likes and dislikes.

6.    They prevent loneliness and isolation
Social isolation was associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia. This is why activity professionals are so important to the health of their communities. Even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, they ensured their residents were getting daily interaction via technology, one-on-one interactions, or distanced gatherings.

7.    They create enriching life experiences
Whether it be through creative experiences, helping clients stay active, planning special events, or creating a relaxing environment, activity professionals create enriching life experiences that help their clients feel fulfilled.
See what our clients, families, and staff have to say about our Activity Workers:
George G. - Adult Day Program Client
“I like coming here [to the ADP]. I enjoy the puzzles, trivia and the exercise classes. Exercise is important to me, that is one of the reasons I wanted to come here. I very much enjoy the exercise classes when Shameem teaches them. The staff are great!”

Lisa - Adult Day Program Staff
“My favourite part of being an Activationist is programming for the clients. I also love hearing about their experiences and the lives they lead.”

Ramona - Adult Day Program Staff
“I like working as an Activationist because I enjoy the variety of people that I get to work with. It’s an active job where I am always moving and on my feet. It also gives me an opportunity to share my interest/talents of baking, art, and exercise with seniors.”

Erica - Community Wellness Client
“I enjoy Afternoon with Lukas on Tuesdays, Origami club with Kai and Hailey (students), Concerts in Care and Active Fingers with Lukas. I don’t go out very much, so these programs are a God send for me. Thank you SPRINT for providing them.” 

Isobel T. - Community Wellness Client
“This is a nice way to be able to say thank you to Lucas who is one of the most kind and caring people I know. His programs are always so interesting, and I can only imagine the amount of research he has to do on them. He never fails to remind “old”, forgetful, people about the up coming features. His exercise classes are also first class and never too strenuous for us and his cheerfulness really makes our day. We are so lucky to have him.”

Margaret - Community Wellness Client
“Lukas is amazing. He has brought more people into our group Active Finger's. He has helped our group reach out to so many areas to donate our crafts to different charities. With his help we have donated so much to charities over the last 3 year's. It has been so rewarding having Lukas as our leader.” 
Lukas – Community Wellness Staff
“What I like the most about my job is the interaction I have with the clients. Since our clients' backgrounds and needs are very diverse that gives me an opportunity to learn and create new things.”

Keria - Ewart Angus Staff
“Activationists do selfless work to improve the lives of the elderly population. It inspires us to make this world a better environment for them. Activationist go beyond expectations without being tired to keep the elderly population engaged. As little as smile and active listening makes a huge difference.”

Qazi - Ewart Angus Staff
“Activationists are creative in a way where many other professions lack. Activationists create countless non-pharmacological activities every day to improve the quality of life for seniors without medicines. Aren’t they helpful, kind, sincere and dedicated?”

Matee - Pine Villa Client
“Coming to the activities gives me a reason to get up and get dressed.”

Etta - Pine Villa Client
“I think it’s wonderful that I can spend my time here in a way that I enjoy. The staff know what I like and invite me to activities that I will enjoy. I really appreciate that.” 

Ellen - Pine Villa Client
“I find the art programs very soothing. So much better than watching T.V.”