ACC Budget & Resource Management Flashcards

When an unexpected budget cut is imposed mid-year, an activity consultant's best strategy is to:

Answer: Identify lower-cost alternatives and prioritize programs with the highest resident impact

Finding cost-effective alternatives preserves essential programming for residents while staying within revised financial constraints.

Tracking per-resident-per-day activity expenditure is useful because it:

Answer: Allows benchmarking against industry standards and demonstrates cost efficiency

Per-resident-per-day metrics enable meaningful comparisons with peer facilities and support budget justification discussions.

An activity consultant seeking to reduce costs without cutting programs should consider:

Answer: Using free community resources, digital tools, and repurposing existing materials

Leveraging free community resources, technology, and creative reuse of materials reduces costs while maintaining program quality.

Which practice best prevents unauthorized expenditures in an activity department?

Answer: Requiring supervisor approval for all purchases above a set threshold

Approval thresholds create a financial control layer that prevents unauthorized spending without slowing routine purchases.

When justifying a budget increase to facility administration, an activity consultant should present:

Answer: Outcome data showing how current programs improve resident well-being and reduce adverse events

Outcome data ties activity programming directly to resident health and safety improvements, making a compelling case for investment.

Which action ensures responsible stewardship of activity department funds throughout the fiscal year?

Answer: Conducting monthly budget reviews and adjusting spending projections accordingly

Monthly reviews allow the consultant to catch variances early and adjust plans before small discrepancies become large problems.