Activities Assistant for Memory Care

Activities and Resident Assistant, Memory Care

Department: Memory Care

Reports to: Memory Care Director

FLSA Status: Hourly, Non-Exempt

SUMMARY OF POSITION FUNCTIONS

The Resident Activities Assistant assists the memory care director in creating and carrying out activities for our memory care unit. This position also provides care services to residents consistent with each resident's comprehensive assessment and plan of care. The Activities Assistant maintains a homelike environment for the residents, protects and promotes resident rights, and assists the person to maintain independence and control to the greatest extent possible. This particular role works with residents who have been diagnosed with Alzheimers and other dementia related diseases.

***must have a heart for Memory Care***

***must be able to work most weekends***

ESSENTIAL POSITION FUNCTIONS

• Carries out monthly activity calendar with varied activities.
• Recruits, organizes, trains and recognizes volunteers to expand and supplement the activity program while including the largest number of residents possible.
• Involves resident families, the community and volunteers in activities to help the resident transition and maintain a satisfying well-being and positive state of mind.
• Encourages residents to participate in meaningful activities.
• Maintains all activity areas in a neat and orderly manner.

• May assist in activities of daily living (ADLs) including bathing, grooming, dressing, mobility, transferring, and feeding of assigned residents by providing set-up assistance, verbal prompts, physical support, or more extensive assistance as more fully described below:

• Bathing — Assists transporting resident to tub or shower, adjusts water temperature, washes/rinses resident, and dries body thoroughly with clean towels while maintaining privacy for resident at all times. Gives complete baths at frequency stated in the Care Assignment. Gives bath as necessary to each patient when bed linen and/or clothing is wet or soiled. Provides extra care to the skin of incontinent residents, and those who have been sitting in chairs for periods of time.

• Dressing — Locates, selects, and obtains clothing for resident. Assists residents with snaps, zippers, and buttons after donning clothes or removing them. Recognizes clothing in need of repair and communicates clothing needs to resident and to Wellness Director.

• Elimination/Toileting — Promptly assists resident to bathroom according to toileting schedule or promptly brings clean bedpan or urinal. Opens, removes clothing in preparation, cleans resident if

Assists with:

• Mobility — Assists resident or provides range of motion exercises to all joints. Provides weight- bearing assistance or physical support for ambulating. Maintains safe environment for mobile resident by removing obstacles, inspecting equipment, and reporting defects to Wellness Director.

• Transfer — Positions resident for transfer. Uses correct body mechanics and transfer technique and equipment according to plan of care, resident ability, and self-ability.

• Eating — Provides set-up assistance for meal tray. Opens, pours, unwraps, and cuts food if resident is unable to help self. If indicated, actively encourages residents to chew, eat, and swallow.

Socializes with resident during mealtimes. Assists or cleans resident after meals. Serves nourishment and snacks as ordered. Prepares resident for meals including washing face and hands, repositioning, and applying a bib as instructed. Reports any change in resident's appetite to supervisor.

• Grooming — Shaves, trims, shampoos, and combs hair of residents as instructed. Cleans and soaks finger and toenails (as instructed) before trimming. Assists patients with oral hygiene as instructed.

• Provides care in a manner that protects and promotes resident rights, dignity, privacy, confidentiality, self-determination and active participation. Offers and respects resident choices in matters of daily routine. Refers to residents by proper names unless resident requests otherwise.

Avoids use of all pet names. Handles all resident property with respect.

• Observes and immediately reports to director, unusual occurrences, significant changes in resident's physical or behavioral condition, patterns of decreased social interaction, angry or sad behaviors, and refusals of treatment.

• Assists with the planning, implementation, and evaluation of plans of care for assigned residents and reports information about conditions, responses to interventions and suggestions for alternative approaches to the Wellness Director.

• Assists with preparation for state inspections as directed. Attends survey training and interacts with state surveyors as directed by Wellness Director or other management.

• Uses personal protective equipment properly whenever indicated.

• Records accurate, legible information about resident care, conditions, and observations made in appropriate sections of resident records.

• Monitors physical environment for safety or fire hazards, malfunctioning equipment including call lights, and corrects or reports potential problems to housekeeping and maintenance immediately and to Wellness Director. Cleans up all spills immediately.

• Immediately reports injury to Memory Care Director.

• Participates in fire and disaster drills. In the event of an emergency, carries out assigned duties to assure resident safety.

• Reports to Memory Care Director at the beginning and end of each shift and before and after meal and rest breaks.

• Performs all resident care duties in the way in which he/she has been trained, directed and approved by instructor/supervisor.

• Washes hands before and after taking care of every resident.

• Cleans and stores equipment and personal care items. When caring for a resident, responsible for keeping the whole unit clean and in good order (includes making beds and cleaning mattresses).

• Passes clean water pitchers, glasses, and ice water as scheduled providing each resident with an individual pitcher with a lid.

• Monitors and reports evidence of rodents or pests to supervisor.

• Monitors workplace for safety and fire hazards and corrects or reports potential problems.

• Operates laundry equipment according to manufacturer’s instructions.

• Hangs, bags, folds, and bundles laundry/linens for delivery to resident knocking and announcing before entering resident rooms.

• Maintains proper separation between soiled and clean laundry.

Note: The essential functions of this job may be revised or updated as community needs dictate.

NON-ESSENTIAL POSITION FUNCTIONS

• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• This position has no supervisor responsibilities.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work overtime.

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

RA
Position Description

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. All RA’s must:

• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age

• Demonstrate an ability to read, write and understand job-related information and directions in

English.

• Have first-aid training within sixty (60) days of hire

• Have the following training prior to providing personal care without supervision: o Correct techniques of providing personal care services, o Observation, reporting, communication & interpersonal skills.

• Training shall be provided by an RN or LPN under direction of an RN.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Ability to recognize changes in resident's conditions evidenced by physical symptoms, verbal expression, or observation of change in mental or psychosocial status.

• Ability to coordinate numerous activities at any given time and make rational, sound judgments and judicious decision quickly, often under pressure.

• Ability to prioritize tasks and use good time management.

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

• Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's. Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume, and distance.

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.

• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Never Occasionally Frequently Continuously
0% (1-30%) (31-60%) (61-100%)

Lifting/Carrying

1-10 lbs. X

11-25 lbs. X

26-50 lbs. X

Pushing/Pulling

20-50 lbs. X

Over 50 lbs. X

Climbing/Balancing X

Stooping/Bending X

Standing/Sitting X

Walking X

Travel X

Overtime X

WORK ENVIRONMENT DEMANDS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Never Occasionally Frequently Continuously
0% (1-30%) (31-60%) (61-100%)

Cold X

Hot X

Humid X

Wet X

Dry X

Dust X

Noise X

Fumes X

Odors X

Chemical
X

Exposures

Infections X

Video Display
X

Terminals

Mechanical and
X

Electrical Hazards

Gloves Necessary X

RA
Position Description

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $12.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

COVID-19 considerations:
We are providing all employees with PPE and asking they wear masks for resident care.

Experience:

• Computer skills: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: One location