Life Enrichment Specialist-Part-time

About the role

Part-time position (16 hours/week) assisting long-term care residents with leisure and recreational activities to support improved quality of life and socialization. Must be available to work weekends in addition to weekdays (typically every other weekend).

Responsibilities

• Assist in creating a therapeutic atmosphere conducive to the mental health of residents.
• Provide resident care to meet individual activity needs, including physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs.
• Organize and plan group and individual activities to meet residents' social and emotional needs.
• Collaborate with others to establish and plan monthly groups and create monthly activity calendars.
• Maintain a clean, comfortable, and safe environment for residents in conjunction with the facilities department.
• Provide supportive care, including feeding and simple food prep related to activities, after necessary training.
• Implement individualized activity interventions as outlined in resident care plans.
• Take residents on community outings for recreational or educational purposes and assist with transportation needs.
• Observe residents and report any changes in behavior or condition to the Registered Nurse immediately; respond to emergencies.
• Maintain confidentiality of all residents and business information.
• Attend staff meetings, in-service, and outside agency training sessions as appropriate.
• Assist with Minimum Data Set interviews and documentation after necessary training.
• Complete quarterly progress notes on each resident's status and participation in activities.
• Maintain necessary documentation according to applicable requirements, codes, and policies.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Physical demands

• Lift up to 30 pounds with assistance; frequently lift and/or carry objects weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Extended periods of standing, walking, sitting, and occasional driving.
• Use hands for repetitive grasping, fine manipulation, pushing, pulling, and operating controls.
• Frequent bending, twisting, squatting, climbing, reaching, and grappling.
• Communicate orally in a clear manner.
• Distinguish sounds at various frequencies and volumes.
• Distinguish people or objects at varied distances under different light conditions.
• Must be free from communicable disease.

Qualifications

• Ability to organize, plan, lead, and participate in activities such as arts and crafts, holiday events, outdoor activities, music, drama, and religious activities to foster socialization, relaxation, and daily living skills.
• Ability to recognize and address the physical, psychosocial, mental, and emotional needs of residents.
• Ability to motivate residents and observe individual responses during activity groups.
• Ability to carry out nursing care plans and follow oral and written instructions as directed by the Registered Nurse.
• Ability to handle stress associated with unpredictable or threatening behavior.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with residents and family members.
• Ability to communicate positively and effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to understand and carry out policies and procedures governing resident care.
• Current knowledge of procedures and techniques in providing routine, non-professional nursing care to geriatric, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill clients.
• Knowledge of principles of documentation and basic principles of active treatment.
• Knowledge of behavior modification techniques and their appropriate application.

Schedule

Part-time, 16 hours per week. Must be available to work weekends (typically every other weekend) in addition to weekdays.