Activities Assistant (Must Have Nursing Home Experience)

JOB SUMMARY: The primary purpose of this position is to plan, organize, develop, and implement activities on the units and on community outings with current federal, state and local standards, guidelines, and regulations, facility established policies and procedures, and as may be directed by the Director of Activities, to assure that an on-going program of activities designed to meet, in accordance with the comprehensive assessment, the interests and the physical, mental, and psycho-social well-being of each resident is maintained.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Must have a high school diploma.
2. Demonstrate adequate English oral and writing skills.
3. Must have a high level of organizational skills, initiative, creativity, and communicate well with others.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

1. Must be physically and mentally capable of performing routine, repetitive job duties.
2. Uses skill and understanding in handling residents.
3. Be considerate, pleasant, and professional in the performance of his/her duties.
4. Must have compassion, tolerance, and understanding for the elderly.

MAIN DUTIES:

1. Support the facility's philosophy of care and strive to achieve its goals and objectives.
2. Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the facility.
3. Assist in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing the activity programs of the facility.
4. Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of activity care plans and resident assessments.
5. Contact new residents within seventy-two (72) hours of admission and interview resident and families in order to obtain activity information in a private setting.
6. Assist the Director of Activity in developing and carrying out a written plan of care for each resident that identifies problems/needs of the resident and staff approaches for each problem identified. Involve the resident and families in planning activity programs as well as goals and objectives when possible.
7. Assure that all activity progress notes charted are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the resident's response to the service utilizing the EMR system.
8. Review progress notes from activities and other disciplines to determine if the activity care plan is being followed.
9. Assist the Director of Activities in maintaining a reference library of written material, laws, etc., necessary for complying with current standards and regulations, and will provide assistance in maintaining a quality activity program.
10. Assist in providing library service for residents through cooperation with the local library.
11. Complete the MDS and RAP activities worksheet for each assigned resident. 
12. Participate in community planning related to the interests of the facility and the services and needs of the resident and family.
13. Assist bed residents on a one-to-one basis by visiting with them, writing letters, making appointments, etc. as necessary and keep current one-to-one lists with time and days resident is to be seen and give a copy to the Director of Activities.
14. Maintain a balance of small, medium, and large group activities, as well as a balance of programs held on the varied floors and in the activity room.
15. Complete current calendars of events posted on the Activity boards on each wing and in resident rooms.
16. Keep storage areas locked after acquiring supplies and be responsible for the care of and maintenance of supplies, storage rooms, mini-kitchen and other activity areas.
17. Record residents' participation in daily activities and chart their progress according to JCAHO, Federal, State, and VA requirements or more often as needed.
18. Ensure the activity program includes a minimum of the following program areas: a) recreational activities, b) crafts, c) religious activities, d) service activities for the community and facility, e) intellectual and educational activities, f) community activities
19. Support departments as necessary by-passing trays, returning rooms to their original order after groups and updating out trip lists.
20. Pass mail and newspapers daily.
21. Be responsible for the daily preparation and cleanup of materials and supplies. Inform the Director of Activities of equipment and supplies that need to be acquired for upcoming programs monthly.
22. Work with volunteers for the benefit of the residents.
23. Attend staff meetings, in-services, etc. as scheduled or called.
24. Maintain a good working relationship with other departments and coordinate the activity program to assure that daily activities can be performed without interruption.
25. Turn in Days Off Request forms and supply sheets timely.
26. Follow established fire, disaster, safety, infection control, and evacuation policies and procedures.
27. Ensure that department work areas are maintained in a clean, sanitary, and safe manner (i.e. cleaning supplies and knives are locked in the closet, glue, scissors, and paint are locked properly.
28. Participate in all fire, safety, and disaster preparedness drills in a professional manner.
29. Perform other related duties as assigned by the Director of Activities and the Administrator.