Activities Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

Activities Assistant - Skilled Nursing Facility

Join our dedicated Activities team in creating meaningful experiences that support the physical, cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial well-being of our residents. The Activities Assistant plays an important role in helping residents maintain their interests, routines, independence, self-esteem, and connection with others while promoting a welcoming, engaging, and homelike environment.

The Activities Assistant provides and supports individual and group activities based on each resident’s interests, preferences, abilities, cultural and religious background, customary routines, and comprehensive care plan. This position works closely with the Activity Director and interdisciplinary care team to ensure residents have opportunities for meaningful engagement and participation.

Activities may include social, recreational, cognitive, creative, physical, educational, spiritual, and therapeutic programs, as well as individualized activities for residents who are bed-bound, room-confined, or have cognitive or physical limitations.

Reporting: This position reports directly to the Activity Director.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with gathering information from assigned residents to support completion and updating of activity assessments and individualized activity plans of care.

• Communicate resident preferences, interests, concerns, customary routines, choices, and activity needs to the Activity Director and other appropriate members of the care team.

• Provide and facilitate individual and group activities that are appropriate to each resident’s functional abilities, needs, interests, and preferences.

• Support activities that promote residents’ physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and psychosocial well-being.

• Incorporate residents’ lifelong interests, hobbies, cultural traditions, religious interests, and personal preferences into activity programming whenever possible.

• Provide meaningful one-on-one activities for residents who are bed-bound, room-confined, or otherwise unable to participate in group activities.

• Visit residents in their rooms and provide appropriate activities such as music, reading, conversation, crafts, games, personal projects, visits with people who share similar interests, and other individualized programs.

• Assist residents with activities as needed while encouraging independence, participation, choice, and self-esteem.

• Adapt activities to accommodate residents with varying cognitive, physical, sensory, and functional abilities.

• Use appropriate techniques such as task segmentation, verbal prompts, demonstrations, set-up assistance, and physical assistance to encourage resident participation.

• Observe resident responses and participation during activities and communicate relevant observations or changes to the Activity Director and appropriate caregivers.

• Assist the Activity Director with developing and maintaining monthly activity calendars.

• Post activity calendars on resident units and distribute calendars or activity information to residents as directed.

• Encourage residents to participate in scheduled activities while respecting each resident’s right to choose whether or not to participate.

• Assist with social dining programs and other resident-centered socialization activities.

• Help create an environment that is welcoming, comfortable, engaging, and consistent with a homelike atmosphere.

• Maintain activity rooms and designated activity areas in a clean, organized, safe, and inviting condition.

• Properly organize, store, maintain, and inventory activity equipment, materials, supplies, games, crafts, books, and other program resources.

• Ensure furniture, equipment, and activity supplies are arranged safely and appropriately for resident use.

• Monitor activity and resident areas for safety hazards, fire hazards, environmental concerns, or other conditions that could affect resident safety.

• Immediately correct or report identified safety hazards, maintenance concerns, housekeeping issues, or other environmental problems to the Activity Director, supervisor, or charge nurse.

• Report resident injuries, employee injuries, accidents, unsafe conditions, or other incidents immediately to the appropriate supervisor or nursing supervisor.

• Document activity participation and other required information in resident records according to facility policies and supervisor instructions.

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation related to resident activities and participation.

• Assist the Activity Director with preparation for county, state, and federal inspections and surveys.

• Interact with state or federal long-term care surveyors as instructed by the Activity Director or immediate supervisor.

• Attend survey preparation training and all required in-service education programs.

• Apply information learned through training and in-service education to daily responsibilities.

• Participate in fire drills, disaster drills, and emergency preparedness activities.

• Follow assigned emergency procedures to help protect and ensure resident safety during an emergency.

• Follow facility policies and procedures related to infection control, universal precautions, bloodborne pathogens, personal protective equipment, workplace safety, and hazardous materials.

• Maintain confidentiality of resident information, facility information, medical information, and other protected or confidential information.

• Demonstrate honesty, integrity, and appropriate care in the use of resident and facility property.

• Respect and protect the rights, dignity, individuality, privacy, and choices of every resident.

• Maintain professional and respectful communication with residents, families, volunteers, nursing staff, activity staff, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.

• Prioritize responsibilities and complete assigned activities and projects within established timeframes.

• Respond positively to changing resident needs, schedules, priorities, and facility requirements.

• Assist with additional activities, programs, projects, and responsibilities as assigned by the Activity Director.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Certification

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.

• Additional education, training, or certification in activities, recreation, therapeutic recreation, social services, gerontology, healthcare, or a related field is a plus.

• Any applicable activity-related certification or training is preferred.

Experience

• Previous experience working in a skilled nursing facility, assisted living community, hospital, senior living community, healthcare, recreation, activities, social services, or a related environment preferred.

• Experience planning or facilitating recreational, social, therapeutic, educational, or group activities is a plus.

• Experience working with older adults or individuals with physical or cognitive impairments is preferred.

• Experience working with residents with dementia or other cognitive impairments is a plus.

• Experience providing individualized activities or one-on-one engagement is preferred.

Qualifications and Skills

• Genuine interest in working with older adults and creating meaningful resident experiences.

• Ability to interact appropriately and respectfully with individuals who have cognitive, physical, emotional, or behavioral impairments.

• Ability to understand and follow written and verbal instructions.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Friendly, patient, compassionate, and approachable personality.

• Ability to encourage resident participation while respecting individual preferences and the right to decline activities.

• Ability to recognize and respond appropriately to residents’ changing needs and abilities.

• Ability to adapt activities based on residents’ physical, cognitive, sensory, and functional limitations.

• Creativity and enthusiasm for developing engaging and meaningful activities.

• Ability to work effectively with residents, families, volunteers, coworkers, and members of the interdisciplinary team.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and complete assigned projects within established timeframes.

• Ability to maintain accurate resident activity documentation according to facility requirements.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality of resident and facility information.

• Knowledge of emergency and disaster procedures and ability to respond appropriately to emergency instructions.

• Ability to follow facility policies regarding attendance, punctuality, dress code, workplace safety, infection control, and hazardous materials.

• Ability to work scheduled shifts, including weekends and holidays, as required.

• Ability to respond productively to changing priorities and take on additional responsibilities as assigned.

• Commitment to maintaining resident dignity, individuality, privacy, independence, and confidentiality.

• Demonstrates honesty, integrity, dependability, and respect in all interactions.

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation without posing a current, substantial risk to the health or safety of oneself or others.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to move intermittently throughout the workday.

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.

• Ability to lift and carry at least 25 pounds.

• Frequent bending, squatting, pushing, pulling, stooping, reaching, and other movements necessary to perform resident activities and maintain activity areas.

• Sufficient mobility and strength to safely move throughout the facility and respond to resident needs.

• Ability to safely assist residents with activities and provide appropriate physical assistance within the scope of the position and facility procedures.

• Ability to see and hear adequately, with or without assistive devices or prosthetics, to perform essential job duties and communicate effectively with residents and staff.

• Ability to safely navigate resident rooms, hallways, activity areas, dining areas, and other facility spaces.

• Ability to cope with the mental and emotional demands associated with working in a 24-hour skilled care environment.

• Must meet applicable facility health requirements, including annual TB screening and physical examination.

Work Environment

This position is primarily performed indoors in a healthcare and skilled nursing environment, including activity rooms, resident rooms, dining areas, resident units, hallways, and other designated facility spaces. Working conditions may include normal indoor temperatures, noise, occasional fumes and odors, cleaning chemicals, and potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

The position involves working in an intimate, 24-hour skilled care environment serving residents who may have physical disabilities, cognitive impairments, behavioral challenges, and complex care needs. Employees may encounter emergency health or safety situations, unusual or impaired resident behaviors, family concerns, state and federal surveyors, ombudsmen, consultants, attorneys, medical staff, and the emotional aspects associated with aging, illness, death, and dying.

Weekend and holiday work may be required.

We are seeking a dependable, compassionate, creative, and resident-focused Activities Assistant who genuinely enjoys making a difference in the daily lives of older adults. The ideal candidate is energetic, patient, organized, and comfortable engaging with residents with a wide range of physical and cognitive abilities.

A successful candidate understands that activities are more than entertainment—they are an important part of resident care and quality of life. Every conversation, game, craft, music session, social gathering, or one-on-one interaction can help a resident maintain meaningful connections, independence, self-esteem, and a sense of purpose.

The ideal Activities Assistant brings enthusiasm and creativity to the role while always respecting each resident’s individual preferences, dignity, choices, cultural background, and abilities.