ACTIVITY DIRECTOR CERTIFICATION
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025/2026
continuum of care - ANSWERSLevels of care beginning with care at home, care
provided in the community such as adult day centers and institutional care through
assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.
professional organization - ANSWERSnonprofit organization that works to improve the
image, working conditions, and skill levels of people in particular occupations
activism - ANSWERSThe practice of pursuing political or other goals through vigorous
action, often including protests and demonstrations
CMS - ANSWERSCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services federal agency
overseeing skilled nursing facilities
life course perspective - ANSWERSHow one experiences a timetable of life events and
society looks upon how a person chooses his / her life choices
Theories of Aging - ANSWERSVarious theories as to why we age - two categories -
genetic and wear and tear theories
Abraham Maslow - ANSWERSHierarchy of needs with self-actualization being the
ultimate psychological need
Lower level needs=survival/safety
Higher level needs=intellectual achievement and finally self-actualization
Erik Erikson - ANSWERSKnown for his 8-stages of life and how one responds to life
experiences in those stages would mold personality
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross - ANSWERSpsychologist who created the 5 stages of grief:
denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance
cohort effect - ANSWERSconsequences of being born in a particular year or time period
and dealing with its own pressures, problems, challenges, and opportunities
cumulative disadvantage - ANSWERSthe negative effects of inequality in wealth, status,
and opportunity over the life span
social clock - ANSWERSthe culturally preferred timing of social events such as
marriage, parenthood, and retirement
, social gerontology - ANSWERSa specialized field of gerontology that examines the
social (and sociological) aspects of aging
functional age - ANSWERSactual competence and performance of an older adult, as
distinguished from chronological age
palliative care - ANSWERSCare designed not to treat an illness but to provide physical
and emotional comfort to the patient and support and guidance to his or her family.
Similar to hospice but with no end of life time frame
age grade - ANSWERSan organized category of people based on age; every individual
passes through a series of such categories over his or her lifetime
Wellness Model - ANSWERSencompasses the physical, intellectual, emotional, social,
spiritual, and vocational aspects of health
medical model - ANSWERSthe concept that diseases have physical causes that can be
diagnosed, treated, and, in most cases, cured.
metamessage - ANSWERSUnderlying message of what's being said
autonomy - ANSWERSindependence
Spirit of life - ANSWERSThe force within the body that gives life energy and power
Accommodation of needs - ANSWERSIndividuals needs and interests need to be taken
into account in order to maintain independent functioning, dignity, well-being and self-
determination. This is the care giver and community adapting to the elders needs rather
than forcing elder to adapt to care community schedules.
Rai - ANSWERSResident Assessment Instrument - Federal form.
made up of two parts - MDS and CAA
Cats - ANSWERSCare area triggers are Resident responses for one or a combo of
MDS elements. The triggers ID residents who have or at risk of developing specific
functional problems and require further assessment
Care Plan Meeting - ANSWERSWhen the team gets together to discuss the written care
plan. Families and residents are sometimes invited. Conducted upon admission and
every 90 days.
remotivation therapy - ANSWERS5 step group process for people with Alzheimer's or
early stages of dementia. Utilized real objects, stimulates senses, and encourages new
motivation for life. Example: poems, pictures, animals, hobbies, group interaction
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025/2026
continuum of care - ANSWERSLevels of care beginning with care at home, care
provided in the community such as adult day centers and institutional care through
assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.
professional organization - ANSWERSnonprofit organization that works to improve the
image, working conditions, and skill levels of people in particular occupations
activism - ANSWERSThe practice of pursuing political or other goals through vigorous
action, often including protests and demonstrations
CMS - ANSWERSCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services federal agency
overseeing skilled nursing facilities
life course perspective - ANSWERSHow one experiences a timetable of life events and
society looks upon how a person chooses his / her life choices
Theories of Aging - ANSWERSVarious theories as to why we age - two categories -
genetic and wear and tear theories
Abraham Maslow - ANSWERSHierarchy of needs with self-actualization being the
ultimate psychological need
Lower level needs=survival/safety
Higher level needs=intellectual achievement and finally self-actualization
Erik Erikson - ANSWERSKnown for his 8-stages of life and how one responds to life
experiences in those stages would mold personality
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross - ANSWERSpsychologist who created the 5 stages of grief:
denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance
cohort effect - ANSWERSconsequences of being born in a particular year or time period
and dealing with its own pressures, problems, challenges, and opportunities
cumulative disadvantage - ANSWERSthe negative effects of inequality in wealth, status,
and opportunity over the life span
social clock - ANSWERSthe culturally preferred timing of social events such as
marriage, parenthood, and retirement
, social gerontology - ANSWERSa specialized field of gerontology that examines the
social (and sociological) aspects of aging
functional age - ANSWERSactual competence and performance of an older adult, as
distinguished from chronological age
palliative care - ANSWERSCare designed not to treat an illness but to provide physical
and emotional comfort to the patient and support and guidance to his or her family.
Similar to hospice but with no end of life time frame
age grade - ANSWERSan organized category of people based on age; every individual
passes through a series of such categories over his or her lifetime
Wellness Model - ANSWERSencompasses the physical, intellectual, emotional, social,
spiritual, and vocational aspects of health
medical model - ANSWERSthe concept that diseases have physical causes that can be
diagnosed, treated, and, in most cases, cured.
metamessage - ANSWERSUnderlying message of what's being said
autonomy - ANSWERSindependence
Spirit of life - ANSWERSThe force within the body that gives life energy and power
Accommodation of needs - ANSWERSIndividuals needs and interests need to be taken
into account in order to maintain independent functioning, dignity, well-being and self-
determination. This is the care giver and community adapting to the elders needs rather
than forcing elder to adapt to care community schedules.
Rai - ANSWERSResident Assessment Instrument - Federal form.
made up of two parts - MDS and CAA
Cats - ANSWERSCare area triggers are Resident responses for one or a combo of
MDS elements. The triggers ID residents who have or at risk of developing specific
functional problems and require further assessment
Care Plan Meeting - ANSWERSWhen the team gets together to discuss the written care
plan. Families and residents are sometimes invited. Conducted upon admission and
every 90 days.
remotivation therapy - ANSWERS5 step group process for people with Alzheimer's or
early stages of dementia. Utilized real objects, stimulates senses, and encourages new
motivation for life. Example: poems, pictures, animals, hobbies, group interaction
