ACTIVITIES ASSISTANT

Description

POSITION: 
The Activity Assistant provides therapeutic activities to residents that are designed to meet the interests and to improve the physical, mental and psychosocial well-being of each resident according to the comprehensive resident assessment and plan of care.  Individual resident programs assist the resident to maintain life-long interests and self-esteem while promoting physical, cognitive and emotional functioning.  Activities provided are in accordance with facility policies and procedures and consistent with county, state and federal laws and regulations, as applicable. 
 
REPORTING: 
This position is responsible to the Activity Director.   
 
FLSA STATUS:      Non-Exempt 
 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: 
 
•    Gathers data from assigned residents to complete and update activity assessments and plans of care.  Communicates information to immediate supervisor.  Seeks and identifies ways to support resident’s individual needs and preferences, customary routines, concerns and choices.  Communicates information to immediate supervisor and other caregivers as appropriate 
 
•    Carries out individual and group activities that meet the functional levels, needs and interests (including cultural and religious interests) of each resident 
 
•    Provides activities to bed-bound residents and other residents confined to their rooms that reflect life-long interests (such as music, reading, visits with people of shared interests and in-room projects) and that are appropriate to the individual’s functional abilities and level of participation.  Assists residents with these activities as needed 
    
•    Adapts activities to match the cognitive and physical functional levels of the residents through the use of task segmentation, verbal prompts, set-up assistance, physical assists and demonstrations 
 
•    Assists Activity Director in development of activity calendars.  Posts calendar on resident units and distribute to residents 
 
•    Monitors physical environment for safety or fire hazards and corrects or reports potential problems immediately to supervisor or charge nurse.  Promptly reports housekeeping and maintenance problems to supervisor or charge nurse 
 
•    Keeps activity equipment and supplies in the proper storage areas.  Maintains activity space in clean and orderly manner that appears “homelike” and is safe for residents, including proper placement of furniture and orderly storage of equipment and supplies in drawers, cupboards, closets, etc.  Performs additional tasks as assigned by 
Activity Director 
 
•    Assists Activity Director with preparation for state and federal inspections.  Interacts with long term care state or federal surveyors as instructed by immediate supervisor 
 
•    Attends survey training and all required in service education classes.  Applies information learned to daily job tasks 
 
•    Reports injury to resident or self to supervisor or nursing supervisor immediately 
 
•    Records information in resident records according to facility policy and as instructed by supervisor 
 
•    Participates in fire and disaster drills.  In the event of an emergency carries out assigned duties to assure resident safety 
 
•    Assist with social dining program 
 
JOB  FUNCTIONS: 
 
•    Demonstrates knowledge of, and respect for, the rights, dignity and individuality of each resident in all interactions 
 
•    Appreciates the importance of maintaining confidentiality of resident and facility information 
 
•    Demonstrates honesty and integrity at all times in the care and use of resident and facility property 
 
•    Carries out all duties in accordance with the facility mission and philosophy 
 
•    Able to understand and to follow written and verbal directions.  Effectively able to communicate with staff members, volunteers and residents through verbal and/or written means 
 
•    Able to interact appropriately with individuals who are cognitively and/or physically impaired 
 
•    Knowledge of emergency and disaster procedures of facility 
 
•    Sufficient mobility, and strength to move freely through the building, to assure resident safety at all times and to assist, transfer or otherwise move residents of facility out of danger in case of emergency 
 
•    Demonstrates respect for co-workers and responds to needs of residents by complying with facility policies on attendance and punctuality and dress code.  Able to arrive and to begin work on time and to report for duty as scheduled on all shifts, including weekends and holidays 
 
•    Working knowledge and ability to comply with facility policies and procedures for workplace safety including infection control procedures, application of universal precautions for blood borne pathogens, use of personal protective equipment and handling of hazardous materials 
 
•    Demonstrates ability to prioritize tasks/responsibilities and complete duties/projects within allotted time 
 
•    Able to respond to change productively and to handle additional tasks/projects as assigned 
 
•    Able to carry out the essential functions of this job (with or without reasonable accommodation) without posing specific, current risk of substantial harm to health and safety of self and others 
 
•    Other duties as assigned 
  
PHYSICAL CAPACITIES:      
Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met. 
 
 Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which includes an annual TB screening and physical examination. 
 
Must be able to lift a minimum of 25 pounds.     
 
Must be able to move intermittently during working hours. 
 
Must be able to stand for and walk for extended periods of time. 
 
Must be able to bend, squat, push, stoop and pull as needed especially in fulfilling resident care activities.  
 
Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position. 
 
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:      
Primarily inside work, normal temperatures, some noise, occasional fumes/odors, chemical exposure, and potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens. 
 
This job cannot be performed without exposure to the stresses associated with an intimate, 24 hour skilled care environment that delivers care and services primarily to disabled and cognitively impaired residents in an aging population.  Examples of these stresses include, but are not limited to: emergency health or safety response, weekend and holiday duty, unusual or impaired behavior by residents, family reactions to having a loved one in a nursing home, death and dying, oversight of state surveyors, ombudsmen and federal officials, presence of consultants and attorneys, and variable involvement of medical staff. 
 

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS: 
 
Education:       
     High School Diploma or equivalent  
License:       
     None 
Work Experience:     1 year experience in long term geriatric nursing 
                                 Experience providing activities to individuals is preferred 
        
Language Skills: 
•    Must be able to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical information, and to be easily understood through verbal communication in the English language.   
 
Mathematical Skills: 
•    Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. 
•    Ability to perform these operations using units of weight measurement, and volume. 
 
Communication Skills: 
•    Must have exceptional communication and customer service skills, and be empathetic.   
•    Ability to effectively communicate with patients, families, responsible parties, staff and outside resources and agencies.   
 

Salary : $15 - $16