NEW BUILD ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY - Resident Assistant C.N.A.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Resident Assistant is responsible for providing daily care to community residents. The Resident Assistant functions as the primary liaison between residents and community staff. In addition to resident care, this individual is responsible for other clerical, environmental, and organizational tasks. This person must convey a positive image of the community and must have a genuine caring for, and interest in, working with elderly people. The Resident Assistant must, within the individual’s area of focus, assure compliance with Twin Oaks’ quality standards as well as State and Federal regulations. This individual must be highly organized and possess outstanding interpersonal skills with a high level of energy and enthusiasm. The Resident Assistant works closely with the Community RN and Executive Director to ensure operational performance, quality service, and competitiveness with other area facilities. The Resident Assistant must be a firm decision-maker, taking into consideration the impact of that decision on the overall organization. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Resident Assistant reports to the Community RN and Executive Director. The Resident Assistant is responsible for carrying out the primary duties as outlined by the Executive Director. These essential functions include, but are not limited to:

• Demonstrate positive interpersonal relations in dealing with employees, residents, residents’ families, visitors, and coworkers in a professional and confidential manner.

• Initiate and participate in quality assurance and quality improvement activities based on the four components; resident satisfaction, employee satisfaction, process/system refinement, and financial impact. 

• Demonstrate the ability to embrace and project the values of the facility: compassion, positivity, respectful communication, responsibility, trust, community, safety, respect, teamwork, partnership, service, integrity, efficiency and financial responsibility.

• Communicate accurate and pertinent information to facilitate effective and efficient resident care. 

• Provide informative written and oral correspondence.

• Make informative, decisive decisions.

• Oversee the daily operations of resident care.

• Apply problem solving and conflict resolution skills when needed.

• Maintain awareness of governmental, societal, legal, environmental, and competitive factors which effect the facility.

• Work to establish a group culture to enable Twin Oaks to function as a whole.

DUTIES

The Resident Assistant is expected to perform position-related duties that include, but are not limited to:

Dietary

• Encourage residents to safely walk appropriate distances to meal times to preserve their ability to ambulate.

• Remind and escort residents to appropriate meals times when needed. 

• Transfer residents from wheelchair/walker to dining room tables and ensure proper storage of assisted devices during mealtimes so the dining room is safe from fall hazards.

• Observe the food being served and give input according to resident’s needs.

• Visit with residents while they are eating and help clear dishes.

• When advised by Administration to do so, provide residents with feeding assistance.

Residents

• Assist residents with activities of daily living (ADL’s) ADL’s include, but are not limited to, grooming, care and selection of clothing, cleanliness of clothing, shaving, bathing, oral hygiene, shampooing and curling hair, eating and sleeping, planning daily activities, and spending quality time with individual residents. 

• Assist residents that may be incontinent of bowel and/or bladder, including making sure residents are clean and dressed in clean clothing.

• Assist residents to other daily meals, activities, and in preparing for family outings or appointments.

• Supervise residents in medication self-administration according to the Medication policy. Coordinate with the nurse on side effects or concerns.

• Assist with maintenance of resident’s records to include charting medications, recording daily intake, etc.

• Record vital signs, weights and measurements, and other information as assigned. 

• Facilitate staff, resident, and family communication to resolve conflict and create a positive home environment. 

• Ambulate and transfer residents, utilizing appropriate assistive devises and body mechanics. 

• Participate in resident care planning by identifying the needs of residents in accordance with the medical assessment, working with other professionals as necessary.

• Observe and report immediately any unsafe or unsanitary conditions in resident apartments.

• Assist with admissions by greeting and helping with the orientation process to the facility.

• Do resident checks as outlined by the Administrator based on resident’s individualized service plan.

• Communicate any concerns regarding resident health or behavior to the Executive Director so that it may be considered for documentation in the Significant Change Log.

Regulatory and Legal

• Comply with community’s policies and procedures and recommend changes as necessary.

• Bring to the Administration’s attention to any deficiencies that may arise. 

• Ensure compliance to policies relating to blood-borne pathogens, hazard communication, and infection control.

• Ensure compliance with respect to risk management; the dying and the aging process; fire safety; disaster preparedness; residents’ rights; grievance procedures; and medication administration.

Other

• Develop skills and education through other higher educational and/or continuing education opportunities. Annual continuing education requirements shall be determined by State regulations or as required by the Executive Director. 

• Complete full orientation upon hire.

• Attend staff meetings as required.

• Participate in patient care planning conferences.

• Set a good example to all employees of punctuality, dependability, productivity, use of time (no cell phone/texting, social media, or computer use). Display genuine resident care, positive and happy attitude, work ethic, communication skills, confidentiality, and trust. 

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS

Essential Qualifications

Education/Certification

• High School diploma or equivalent.

• A certification from a physician, nurse practitioner, or other health care professional to verify no communicable diseases, open skin lesions, or any other health problems that would interfere with job performance. 

• No previous felony conviction, or conviction for fraud of the federal government.

• CPR certified and first aid certification.

• Criminal background check (BCI).

• TB test.

• Food Handlers Permit.

• CNA certificate.

• 18 years of age.

Skills/Abilities

• Knowledge of the assisted living care industry.

• Decisive, well-informed, decision-maker. 

• Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form.

• Capacity to work effectively with different types of people.

• Ability to work efficiently and professionally under pressure with time constraints.

• Ability to calmly handle stressful situations.

• Demonstrate organizational capabilities. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years of experience working in an assisted living facility.

POSITION ENVIRONMENT

This position requires the ability to manage a diverse group of individuals. Physical demands include varied sitting, standing, bending, reaching, lifting, and walking. Lifting, up to twenty-five pounds on a regular basis is required. Occasional lifting and carrying of items up to fifty pounds is also required. This position requires a full range of body motion including manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination, and requires hearing to normal range and corrected vision. Occasional stress related to a fast-paced environment and multiple responsibilities is expected.