Life Enrichment Assistant-Dartmouth

Fallon Health is a mission-driven organization that prioritizes equitable, high-quality coordinated care for its members. Founded in 1977 in Worcester, Massachusetts, we are continually rated among the nation’s top health plans for member experience, service, and clinical quality. Summit ElderCare®, our Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), helps individuals 55 and older live safely at home as an alternative to nursing home care. We embrace diversity in all its forms—age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, ability, sexual orientation, and life experience—to better serve our members and foster an inclusive workplace.

About the role

Serves as a member of the PACE interdisciplinary team, assessing the needs, interests, and capabilities of participants and developing individualized therapeutic recreational care plans. Plans, organizes, directs, and participates in a comprehensive therapeutic recreation program tailored to the general and individualized needs of participants, promoting an “active ageing” mindset where mental health and social connections are as prioritized as physical health.

Responsibilities

• Conducts a variety of large and small therapeutic recreational groups and individual activities targeted to improve or maintain participants’ cognitive, physical, social, psychosocial, spiritual, and artistic needs.
• Contributes activity ideas for incorporation into the monthly activity planning calendars.
• Demonstrates and appreciates programming for regular educational and culturally competent activities, including but not limited to exercise, arts and crafts, music appreciation, and spirituality.
• Ensures participant choices and engagement when planning and conducting activities.
• Builds and fosters a sense of community and a warm social atmosphere, treating all participants with respect and dignity, and providing a solid support system at the Adult Day Health Center (ADHC).
• Maintains the cleanliness of all recreational supplies and equipment according to procedure; notifies supervisor of damaged or unsafe equipment.
• Contributes suggestions for supplies/equipment that may benefit the activity program.
• Participates as a member of the Interdisciplinary Team and attends team meetings as assigned.
• Participates in individual and/or family meetings or case conferences as assigned.
• Informs supervisor of changes noted in participants’ condition or of complaints registered by participants.
• Completes assigned work with a high degree of reliability and within identified time frames.
• Documents PACE center attendance daily as assigned.
• Documents participation in activities and other record-keeping requirements daily as assigned.
• Demonstrates flexibility in meeting various department needs.
• Communicates and interacts effectively and personably with participants, co-workers, and external customers; displays a positive manner and works as a team member at all times.
• Consistently strives to understand, anticipate, and respond to participants’ needs within the scope of duties.
• Attends staff and other meetings as assigned.
• Performs all duties in accordance with Fallon Health and Summit ElderCare policies and procedures.
• Completes activity assessments as needed and within the timelines required by PACE regulations.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Access to reliable transportation to facilitate travel throughout the service area.
• One or more years of experience in an activities program in a health care setting providing services to a frail or elderly population within the last 5 years, or completion of a Fallon Health-offered training program.
• CPR and Alzheimer’s certifications, or willingness to obtain them.