Life Enrichment Director

Franklin Park Alamo Heights, is seeking someone with experience in memory care and therapeutic recreation to join the staff as Life Enrichment Assistant. This is a Part-Time position scheduled to work twenty hours a week. Pay rate is depending on experience.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Develops and implements a comprehensive activities program to help meet the intellectual, spiritual, physical, psychosocial and recreational needs of the residents. 

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Schedules recurring activities along with special events and holiday specific events to enrich the daily lives of the community residents. Ensures a mix of small-group and large-group, and fulfilling a range of human needs, from mental stimulation to creativity to physical fitness. Works as needed with other departments (e.g. fitness director, food service) on design and implementation. Follows community/company policy regarding 7 day/week programming, including evenings and weekends.
• Creates printed monthly activities calendar and community newsletter.
• Oversees community volunteers: screens and orients individuals/groups who wish to volunteer, and supervises their services.
• Facilitates Person-Centered Care.
  • Documents residents’ social histories, family structure, likes/dislikes and social-behavioral needs on standardized form for all staff to reference in order to personalize services and
  • Works with caregivers on an ongoing basis to help them understand how to engage residents, how to encourage and assist residents to participate in group activities, and how to adapt their communication styles and ways of providing care in order to give residents choice and control
  • Builds in opportunities for residents to lead/co-lead programs and to be able to engage individually and spontaneously in art projects and other pastimes.
  • Works with families as partners, and actively models that philosophy
  • Stays current in and can teach best practices in validation therapy, reality orientation, de-escalation techniques and other therapeutic modalities
• Provides one or more forums (e.g. resident council) for residents to meet regularly and share their ideas, thoughts, and concerns regarding life enrichment programs and other community operations.
• Maintains an adequate inventory of equipment and supplies for activities, keeping within budgetary guidelines.
• Manages memory care therapeutic music program
• Plans and executes group excursions, arranging details as required, e.g. reservations, transportation, staff escorts, etc. Follows company protocol for keeping track of residents during outing and ensuring a meaningful and safe trip for all.
• Serves as Manager on Duty as assigned.
• Hires, orients and supervises Life Enrichment Assistants, including drivers.
• Maintains activity participation records.
• Manages monthly expense budget; authorizes payment of bills, including drivers’ records of vehicle expenses
• Attends required trainings and meetings.
• Becomes familiar with emergency response procedures, including fire evacuation.
• All employees are responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for all community residents.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Able to read, write, speak and understand the English language. Bi-lingual in Spanish a plus
• Able to communicate effectively with all levels of management, employees, residents, family members, and outside contacts
• Prompt and reliable and able to perform the required duties on a regular, predictable basis
• Clean driving record with license to operate Class B vehicle (or ability to obtain such license)
• Able to make independent decisions
• Able to seek out new methods and willing to incorporate them into existing practices when applicable
• Must possess a passion to work with older adults
• Able to follow missing person policy and procedure and understand the Safe Return program.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• Trained therapeutic recreation specialist/assistant or activity professional, certified by an accrediting body such as The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation or National Association of Activity Professionals
• Degree preferred but not required

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of two years’ experience in a senior care community
• Experience working with persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and related disorders
• Experience in volunteer recruitment and training preferred

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The following physical demands are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position:

• Stand, walk, sit, push, climb and/or balance, bend, stoop, kneel, use hands and fingers, reach with arms, talk and/or hear throughout the work day
• Will assist in lifting and/or transferring residents weighing up to 250 pounds
• Close vision, distance vision and peripheral vision is required
• Subject to infectious diseases, substances, odors, etc. throughout the work day.

Franklin Park Alamo Heights is located at 230 W. Sunset, San Antonio, TX 78209. 

Franklin Park is dedicated to providing residential communities where seniors and their families feel right at home immediately upon entering our doors. We’re inspired by excellence and committed to “dedication in every detail.”