Activity Aide

About the Role

The primary purpose of this position is to assist in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of recreational, social, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual programs in accordance with the resident’s assessment and care plan.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, and evaluating activity programs and the quality assurance program for the Activities Department.
• Observe resident attendance, mood, behavior, and degree of involvement to evaluate facility activities and resident progress; note, report, and chart resident behavior.
• Assume authority, responsibility, and accountability for the role of Activity Assistant/Aide.
• Ensure all charted activity progress notes are informative and descriptive of services provided and indicate the resident’s response.
• Develop and maintain a good working rapport with other departments to ensure daily activities are performed without interruption.
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the facility.
• Assist in preparing activity rooms/areas for scheduled programs.
• Recommend equipment and supply needs of the activity department to your supervisor.
• Assist in cleaning up activity areas after completing activity functions.
• Follow the care plan in providing daily activities for residents.
• Purchase department supplies, clothing, and personal items for residents.
• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information, including protected health information, and follow facility guidelines for reporting non-compliance.
• Treat residents with dignity at all times.
• Oversee residents engaged in scheduled activities to promote their physical, social, and mental well-being by applying experience and knowledge of diagnoses and conditions.
• Assist in-room residents by visiting with them, writing letters, running errands, and providing help with crafts or projects as necessary.

Requirements

• Experience in a Long-Term Care Activities Department is preferred.
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition, and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle residents based on their current maturity level.
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must function independently, demonstrate flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.
• Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times, hostile individuals within the facility.
• Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of 25 pounds to a minimum height of 5 feet and carry such weight a minimum distance of 50 feet.
• May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.