Activity Coordinator

Position Authority and Accountability:

The Activity Coordinator develops, coordinates and maintains a program of activities designed to provide mental, physical and social stimulation that meets the identified individual needs, interests, and capabilities of the residents. Functions under the on-site supervision of the Administrator. Utilizes staff, family, volunteers and community resources in the completion of the job duties and responsibilities.

Training/Education/Licensure/Skills or Proficiency Requirements:

Completion of a State approved Activity Director's course; or, baccalaureate degree in Therapeutic Recreation.

Functional literacy in written and spoken English.

Demonstrated effective interpersonal and communication skills.

Working knowledge of state and federal regulations relating to long-term care.

Demonstrated skills in working with the elderly in long-term care.

General Functions:

Accepts assigned duties, instructions, or correction in a cooperative manner, voicing concerns or disagreement in a professional manner through established chain of command.

Assumes accountability for compliance with Federal, State and other regulations within scope of control and of which informed.

Observes safety hazards and emergency situations, and reports to appropriate person or takes corrective action according to establish procedures, works safely without danger to self or others.

Comes to work as scheduled and consistently demonstrates dependability and punctuality, complies with attendance policies.

Assumes accountability for information in personnel policies.

Reports for work with clean, neat personal appearance, consistently presents a professional image.

Maintains confidentiality of resident, employee and facility information.

Participates in in-service training programs and completes assignments and return demonstrations as required.

Assumes accountability for using, maintaining and storing facility property according to established policy.

Acts as a role model for subordinate staff and other personnel.

Job Functions:

Assesses residents with relation to their interests, talents, previous lifestyles, and time use patterns. Organizes and develops this information in order to contribute to the comprehensive assessment and care planning process as a part of the facility's interdisciplinary care planning team.

Develops activity care plans which assure that all residents are provided with recreational activities that are consistent with the needs and wishes of the resident groups, individual residents, bed-bound residents, self-sufficient residents, and the community as a whole. The activity director assures that this care plan is integrated into the overall plan of care for each individual resident.

Establishes community and facility resources that can contribute to the activity program.

Publishes a monthly calendar of activities offered to residents.

Maintains records relating to the participation of each resident in activity programs and documents resident acceptance or lack of acceptance to these activities.

Secures materials, equipment, transportation (as required), entertainment, refreshments, program leaders, volunteers, and anything else that might prove necessary in order to adequately provide for scheduled activities.

Communicates and coordinates with other department heads and staff in order to assure the success of planned activity programs.

Evaluates activities and programs in order to determine resident outcomes. Adjusts activities as necessary to increase the probability of successful outcomes.

Develops and operates within a budget for the activities program.

Recruits, trains, directs, utilizes, and provides periodic recognition for individuals who volunteer in the activity program.

Provides at least one in-service education program per calendar year regarding the activity program, working with the cognitively impaired, and/or other related topics.

Physical, Sensory/Cognitive, Emotional Requirements:

The following not meant to be all inclusive but rather exemplary of the types of activities involved in the performance of the position.

Reaching, handling, fingering and or feeling: Routinely uses tactile sense and manual dexterity while performing required paperwork and documentation. Also uses tactile sense and dexterity in assisting residents with activities and for providing comfort and support to resident through touch.

Lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling (strength: Routinely engages in light to medium physical activity associated with handling activities materials, resident records, manuals, conducting exercise programs, gathering and arranging equipment, and supporting and assisting ambulatory residents. Frequently pushes/pulls occupied wheelchairs and geri-chairs weighing in excess of 100 lbs. while transporting non-ambulatory residents to activities. Routinely lifts up to 20 lbs. and carries for short distances.

Climbing or Balancing: Routinely maintains physical equilibrium to safely move throughout the building, conduct movement activities, transport non-ambulatory residents in wheelchairs and geri-chairs, and assist residents into and out of vehicles.

Repetitive movements: Occasional repetitive movements related to the performance of activity programs, i.e. playing an instrument in a rhythm band.

Stooping, kneeling, crouching and/or crawling: Occasionally engages in stooping/kneeling as associated with retrieving items dropped on the floor, reaching items on lower shelves or in lower drawers of filing cabinets, assisting residents in adjusting footwear, directing exercise and movement programs. On occasion, may be called upon to interact with residents and/or volunteers who are seated or lying on the floor.

Recognition/vision and mental processing: Routinely processes and produces written information such as resident records and reports, care plans, posted calendars and notices, instructional materials, regulations, and departmental policies. Regularly observes and evaluates resident, family, and staff actions, gestures, facial expressions, habits, and daily routines. Observes and objectively evaluates the visual attractiveness of the environment, food, resident appearance, and other issues of quality of life and resident rights.

Hearing: Routinely recognizes operation sounds of equipment and auditory signals or alarms, wanderer monitoring system signal, soft voices of elderly, verbal communication within the work place.

Smell: Routinely observes for odors relevant to maintaining a clean, pleasant environment.