SUMMARY: Provides group and individual activities incorporating laughter, song, music, interaction, and cognitive stimulation with a personalized, warm approach. Creates an atmosphere for residents, family, staff, and visitors that is welcoming, stimulating, nurturing, and engaging, through activity, entertainment, and person-centered programs in accordance with the overall philosophy of care.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Engages residents in meaningful conversation and activities related to their individual interests.
- Assist with answering the phones and greeting visitors
- Adaptability and strong organization and time management skills.
- Patience and compassion when dealing with elderly residents.
- Willingness to adhere to and enforce all safety policies and procedures.
- Keep records regarding event, participant interest, and other notable information, such as injuries or behavioral incidents.
- Report medical concerns or observations.
- Adaptability and strong organization and time management skills.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating procedures, policies and employee manuals. Ability to speak effectively before groups.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations.
COMPETENCIES:
1. Focus and Composure - The nature of senior care requires plenty of focus, particularly when residents exhibit medical needs. A qualified activities assistant remains professional, composed, and focused during all activities (without sacrificing fun!).
2. Creativity - Creativity plays an essential role in senior communities just as it does anywhere else. A creative team member typically thrives in the activities department by making activities more unique. Additionally, creativity often produces solutions to problems that arise throughout the day.
3. Reliability - Of course, an activities assistant must be reliable. Punctuality, a consistent work ethic, and a ready smile all increase the reliability and value of an activity’s assistant.
4. Encouragement - Activities assistants must be prepared to encourage residents in their pursuit. Growth rarely occurs without some outside encouragement, and it is amazing what a little cheerfulness can do for the confidence of others.
5. People-Centeredness - Perhaps most importantly, an activities assistant must care for people. A love for others and a desire to see them enjoy life greatly improves success in this field.
6. Patience - Another necessary quality for this role is patience. Many activities require practice, and practice requires patience on the part of both resident and assistant.
7. Trustworthiness - Reliability and trustworthiness share similarities, but trustworthiness remains a little more personal. Residents must be able to trust the team members helping them. A good activities assistant works hard to build honest connections with others, including the other team members.
8. Organization - It never hurts to be organized, especially as an administrator. Keeping an organized schedule actually helps you be more flexible, an excellent trait for any activities assistant.
9. Love for Having Fun - Of course, the simplest skill of the job is simply a love for fun!
10. Initiative - Finally, a high-quality activities assistant knows how to take initiative in planning, preparation, and problem situations.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Required to stand and walk regularly, occasionally sit, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.