Assisted Living Resident Assistant

General Purpose:

Perform direct resident care duties under the supervision of licensed nursing personnel. Assist with promoting a compassionate physical and psychosocial environment for the residents.

Essential Job Functions

This facility expects their employees to promote an atmosphere of teamwork with other employees and hospitality and comfort for its residents. Therefore, the following list of duties is not all-inclusive:

• Provide personal care (i.e., grooming, bathing, dressing, oral care, etc.) of residents daily and as needed.
• Change bed linen and maintain appropriate grooming supplies in resident room on a regular basis.
• Ambulate and transfer residents, utilizing appropriate assistive devices and body mechanics.
• Record resident vital signs, weights and measurements, intake and output, food consumption, and other information as assigned.
• Routinely turn and position residents as necessary.
• Observe residents carefully and report changes in condition to Charge Nurse.
• Recognize a resident’s ability to make choices and support these within the constraints of the caregiving environment.
• Participate in collecting data needed for the accurate completion of the MDS and the plan of care. Provide input to the nurses for development of the plan of care.
• Provide adequate hydration to residents at regular intervals each day according to specific resident needs.
• Prepare residents for each meal and transport to dining room (unless resident on bed rest) making sure that food tray is accessible, self-help devices are available (if needed), and assistance is provided to those residents who cannot feed themselves.
• Keep an accurate record of food intake and output, as directed.
• Maintain established housekeeping standards within assigned duty areas.
• Assist nursing staff with the basics of aseptic and sterile techniques to avoid infection of residents and self-contamination of equipment and supplies.
• Be alert for proper ventilation, temperature, light and noise control.
• Take TPR, blood pressure, weighing of residents, etc. as directed.
• Promptly answer call lights and other resident needs.
• Utilize proper body mechanics when lifting or transporting residents.
• Assist in the orientation and training of other staff, as requested.
• Attend in-service education programs in order to meet facility educational requirements.
• Be familiar with Standard Precautions, Exposure Control Plan, Fire Drill and Evacuation Procedures and know how to use the information.
• Maintain confidentiality of resident and facility records/information.
• Protect residents from neglect, mistreatment, and abuse.
• Protect the personal property of the residents of the facility.
• Must adhere to attendance standards per Attendance Policy.
• General facility housekeeping.
• Deep cleaning of resident rooms and bathrooms.
• Others as directed by the supervisor or administrator.

Minimum Qualifications

The successful candidate must hold a High School Diploma or GED. Experience in senior resident services, social work, health care, or customer service is preferred. Strong verbal and written communications skills are essential. Also prefer that the candidate have experience in working with older adults and a knowledge of the aging process. A flexible work schedule is also a necessity.

Working Conditions

• Subject to frustrations in meeting work demands due to frequent interruptions.
• Fast paced, required to make decisions quickly
• Involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
• May work beyond normal duty hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• Subject to call-back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.).
• Subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
• May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals

Physical and Sensory Requirements

• Assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations
• Function independently, and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.
• Meet general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility, which may include a medical and physical examination.