1. A. The facility shall provide an ongoing activities program designed to stimulate and promote the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual well-being of each resident and encourage normal activity and return to self-care.

2. B. Resident Activity Director. The facility's activities program shall be under the direction of the resident activity director (RAD).

   1. 1. The nursing facility shall have at least one RAD. An additional RAD per resident census in excess of 100 shall be required. The RAD employees shall be full-time or sufficient full-time equivalent employees shall be maintained to comply with these standards. Regardless of the number of RAD employees required, one full-time RAD shall be certified.

   2. 2. Responsibilities of the RAD include the following tasks:

      1. a. scheduling and coordinating group activities and special events inside and outside the facility;
      2. b. developing and using outside resources and actively recruiting volunteers to enhance and broaden the scope of the activities program;
      3. c. posting monthly activity calendars in places where applicants/residents and staff can easily see them;
      4. d. planning and implementing individual and group activities designed to meet the applicants/residents' needs and interests.

   3. 3. A resident activity director may be one of the following individuals:

      1. a. a qualified therapeutic recreation specialist:

         1. i. who is certified with the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification; and
         2. ii. eligible for certification as therapeutic recreation specialist by a recognized accrediting body on August 1, 1989;

      2. b. a person having the following experience:

         1. i. two years of experience in a social or recreational program within the last five years;
         2. ii. one year of the experience shall have been gained as a full-time employee in a health care setting involving resident activities programs;
      3. c. a qualified occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant;
      4. d. An individual who has completed a training course approved by the Department.
      5. e. An individual who is enrolled in a training course approved by the department.

3. C. Activities Assessments

   1. 1. Within 14 days after admission, the RAD shall complete a written assessment of each resident's interests and hobbies and note any illnesses or physical handicaps which might affect participation in activities.

   2. 2. The activities assessment shall:

      1. a. become the basis for the activities component of the plan of care;
      2. b. be signed, dated, and filed with other elements in the medical record;
      3. c. identify specific problem/need areas along with specific approaches formulated to meet the problems/needs; and
      4. d. be included in the interdisciplinary staffing.

4. C. Activity Services Progress Notes. Activity services progress notes shall:

   1. 1. be written to document the services provided and/or changes in activity needs or approaches at least every 90 days (quarterly); and
   2. 2. document the activity level of residents, specifically describing their day to day activities.

NOTE: Prior to the effective date of this document the Resident Activity Director (RAD) was referred to as Patient Activities Coordinator (PAC) or Patient Activity Director (PAD).

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 36:254.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of the Secretary, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 22:34 (January 1996).