Elder Life Specialist

About the role

Join Community Health Network as an Elder Life Specialist (ELS), an integral member of the Geriatric Evaluation Management (GEM) team operating the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP). The ELS evaluates and enrolls older adult inpatients at high risk of developing complications in the hospital. Under the supervision of the inpatient geriatrics team, the ELS assists in training and assigning volunteers to deliver patient interventions, including the Daily Visitor Program, Therapeutic Activities, Early Mobilization Program, Nutritional/Hydration Program, and Sleep Enhancement Program.

Responsibilities

• Participates in the implementation of the Hospital Elder Life Program by assessing and implementing therapeutic programming for an assigned population.
• Assesses, implements, and evaluates appropriate eligibility for older adults to participate in HELP.
• Assesses, implements, and evaluates the preparation and educational needs of volunteers working with HELP patients.
• Participates in interdisciplinary healthcare services to achieve patient and family-centered care.
• Documents and maintains updated patient information pertaining to services provided, including data tracking and monitoring.
• Participates in team-building activities and is accountable for professional development.

Individuals may not perform all of these duties or may perform additional, related duties not listed here.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a Health Science field of study required. Preferred discipline: Recreational Therapy.
• 2+ years of prior healthcare experience, preferably with the geriatric population.

Skills

• Ability to collaborate with others in a team setting.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Positive attitude toward problem-solving.

About Us

Community Health Network was created by our neighbors, for our neighbors. Over 60 years later, “community” remains the heart of our organization. We provide exceptional care through state-of-the-art technology, community involvement, and dedicated caregivers. At Community Health Network, we build teams that deliver exceptional care through empathy, communication, and collaboration. We consider ALL an integral part of the exceptional patient experience and take pride in our caregivers.