ABSTRACT
The activity coordinator needs to be the leader in a specialist field, the person with the expertise to coordinate an overall plan of activity provision in a home. Planned group activities play an important role in any care home. All staff can seize the moment to engage residents in spontaneous activities and tasks of daily living. Seizing the moment for spontaneous activities offers opportunities for all disciplines in a care environment to contribute. In dementia care simply watching another person tending a garden is an obvious way of being involved. Most people have broadly the same understanding of the role of a nurse, a domestic assistant, or a chef. The activity coordinator and care staff are the people best suited to encourage and promote self-occupation, and both disciplines have opportunities to do this during the day. The respect of other care professionals is essential if the activity coordinator is to be able to lead and coordinate activities within a home.
