Course Overview
This interactive online course is designed for activity coordinators to support and engage people living with dementia and provides a comprehensive framework for designing activity programmes that are both meaningful and achievable. Participants will explore the standards and best practices for activity coordination, learn how to assess and plan engaging schedules, and discover practical methods to make the most of limited budgets.
Using real-world examples and guided exercises, Karen Meenan will demonstrate how simple, low-cost activities can deliver significant emotional and cognitive benefits for people with dementia and other care needs. The session empowers participants to leave with actionable ideas, templates, and renewed confidence in their ability to create joyful, impactful experiences in their care environments.
About the Topic
Whether you work with older adults, individuals living with dementia, or people with other care needs, evidence-based activity programs can significantly enhance their quality of life. This online training course explores how to design activity programmes that promote wellbeing, stimulate cognition, and strengthen connection with people living with dementia using low-cost, evidence-based approaches.
Bring joy, connection and purpose to people living with dementia by tapping into their interests, abilities and life experiences. These activities help improve mood, reduce anxiety and agitation, and enhance quality of life by providing purpose, stimulation, and social connection.
Intended Audience
Who is it for?
This course is ideal for:
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Activity Coordinators working in care homes, hospitals, or day centres.
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Healthcare professionals seeking to make their care more engaging and person-centred.
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Volunteers and caregivers looking to create enriching experiences within limited budgets.
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Managers and team leads aiming to introduce evidence-based engagement strategies in their organisations.
No prior training required — suitable for all care settings and experience levels.
Your Learning Journey
Learning Objectives
By the end of this half-day workshop, you will be able to:
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Understand the role of an Activity Coordinator, including assessment and documentation.
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Plan and distribute a structured, evidence-based activities schedule.
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Build a repertoire of meaningful activities suitable for diverse participants.
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Apply strategies to create engaging experiences on a limited budget.
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Manage pacing, energy, and flow of activities to maintain interest and comfort.
Delivery Format
Delivered online or inhouse on request
Certification / Accreditation
Those who complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion.
About the tutor
Karen Meenan
Karen Meenan is a versatile marketer and communicator with 30+ years’ experience as a marketing and public relations consultant, events manager, theatre director, radio presenter, trainer, coach, retailer and dementia supporter.
She completed a fellowship at Trinity College Dublin in 2020–2021 and was selected as a Senior Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health with the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI). She organised the successful launch of Dementia Trials Ireland in 2022, along with numerous online and in-person events.
Karen is also a Sonas tutor with Engaging Dementia and a founder volunteer with the dementia-inclusive The Forget-Me-Nots choir. She is also co-creator of Creative Brainwaves, a series of talks, podcasts and workshops exploring the role of the creative arts in brain health.
The course was developed by Stella Farrell who has over a over a decade of experience working in residential and community care settings, and has supported countless activity coordinators in delivering programmes that foster joy, inclusion, and connection. Her expertise lies in transforming limited resources into meaningful experiences, using creativity and evidence-based principles.
Book Now
Take the Next Step in Dementia Care Training
Join our dementia care training courses and gain practical, evidence-based tools you can apply right away. Limited spaces available — reserve your place today and make a meaningful impact in care and connection. If you have any queries about any course, email admin@engagingdementia.ie or call +353 1 260 8138.
Price range: €60.00 through €80.00
