Activities Assistant

Activities Assistant

Ivy Hall Nursing Home, Inc. - Elizabethton, TN 37643

Position Overview

Assist in implementing Residents' activity programs to ensure that individual social, educational, recreational, emotional, and spiritual needs are addressed within the parameters established by current Long-Term Care regulations. Promotes positive interpersonal relationships throughout the facility and community.

Qualifications

Sincere desire to work with elders and others who have a limited capacity for self-care. Establish positive rapport with Residents, family and facility staff. Mental and physical capacity to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations. Work with and provide care to individuals of a wide range of personality types and maturity levels. Willing to receive consultation from others more qualified by education or experience. Demonstrate creative initiative and mature judgment in making competent decisions. Consistently maintain courteous, empathetic, and professional attitude. Transportation accessible to enable flexibility of work schedule. Knowledge of computer applications relating to job. Communicate and comprehend orally and in writing to effectively receive and share information as necessary to perform job duties.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Assure Resident safety at all times. Willing to address each Resident with his/her preferred name as well as learn and abide by Residents' Rights, rules and regulations. Assist in planning, developing, and implementing, facility's activity programs according to written objectives. Assist in scheduling social and recreational events such as: parties for special occasions, movies/music, games, outside activities/entertainment, exercise, crafts and other activities requested by Residents and/or family members. Ensure that Resident needs are effectively addressed. Establish and maintain positive rapport with administration, interdepartmental personnel, volunteers, Residents, visitors and outside agency representatives. Help coordinate activity programs with other facility activities and services to avoid conflicting events. Assist in keeping alert Residents aware of current news events. Considerate of individual as well as group interests. Assist in providing intellectual challenge or stimulation by maintaining ample reading material in large print, providing "talking" material for blind, and inviting guest speakers. Accurately completes documentation in the clinical records of individual Residents regarding involvement in response to activities. Encourage therapeutic activities that will positively contribute to restorative and rehabilitative goals for Residents. Assure preservation of dignity, individuality and independence, reports any violation of Residents' Rights to the charge nurse, ADON, DON or Executive Director immediately. Commitment to work well with other staff avoiding petty conflicts that disrupt a productive work environment. Does not participate in facility gossip and rumors. Assist Residents to participate in civic events as requested. Promote positive self-esteem and independence by encouraging participation in activities that commensurate with abilities and interests and by praising accomplishments. Maintain confidentiality of all activities, persons, and records. Ensure adherence to Residents' Rights by respecting privacy, allowing verbalization of complaints or dissatisfaction and reporting any situations or individuals that fail to comply with Residents' Rights. Assist in establishing and maintaining a clean, safe, and pleasant working environment. Report unsafe/hazardous conditions immediately. Resident preferences are followed when providing care and service. Maintain Resident privacy, values and right for decision making. Immediately notify supervisor and Executive Director for any injury, illness, or if develop a condition, that might impact the aptitude to perform job functions.

Ancillary Duties and Responsibilities

Perform duties in compliance with established policies and procedures. Assist in notifying family members or significant others of special events. Identify self when conversing with physician or office staff. Maintain activities and subsequent documentation in compliance with physicians' plan of care. Implement in-room activities when necessary. Promote and maintain positive interpersonal relationships. Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis throughout the facility. Involve community volunteers in facility activities. Remain receptive to Resident, family and visitor complaints by hearing and documenting complaints then reporting to department manager. Documentation in clinical record adheres to current policies, procedures and regulations. Submit timely incident report regarding unusual occurrences. Particularly attentive to safety when transporting Residents to activities. Note changes in Resident's condition and report immediately to charge nurse or Director of Nursing. Maintain supplies within budgetary guidelines. Retain invoices or receipts of all items purchased for activities. Report on/off duty as scheduled. Assist in coordinating activities with other departments and disciplines. Participate in employee health and safety program by knowing and following infection control policies. Using proper body mechanics when assisting Residents and staff or when lifting heavy objects. Respond according to policies and procedures during fire/disaster drills and emergencies. Demonstrate a progressive and cooperative attitude regarding implementation of necessary changes. Read current literature related to Long-Term Care activities. Strive to promote own professional growth by utilizing new ideas and updated knowledge to enhance job performance. Receptive to constructive feedback from supervisors and co-workers. Assist in publicizing activities by helping to maintain updated, easily read and highly visible schedule of activities. Announce selected items over facility loudspeaker. Accurately completes documentation in the clinical records of individual Residents regarding involvement in response to activities. Assist in planning, developing, and implementing, facility's activity programs according to written objectives. Assist in scheduling social and recreational events such as: parties for special occasions, movies/music, games, outside activities/entertainment, exercise, crafts and other activities requested by Residents and/or family members. Emphasize interdepartmental cohesiveness in achieving facility objectives. Make routine rounds to speak to Residents, visitors and staff. Legally and safely operate automotive equipment. Adhere to and comply with any applicable facility insurance guidelines to enable coverage under the policy. Accept additional assignments within scope of education, training or experience.

Resident Rights

Maintain the confidentiality of all Resident care information including protected health information. Report known or suspected incidents of unauthorized disclosure of such information. Participate in Resident/group council meetings as requested and provide support services to such council. Review complaints and grievances made by the Resident and make a written/oral report to the Activity Director indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow facility's established procedures. Knock before entering a Resident's room.

Safety and Sanitation

Ensure that you and all facility personnel, Residents, visitors, etc., follow established safety regulations, to include fire protection/prevention, smoking regulations, infection control, etc. Ensure that the building and grounds are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner as well as in good working order by reporting all concerns to management. Ensure that you and all facility personnel follow established regulations governing the use of labels and SDSs for hazardous chemicals. Ensure that facility procedure manuals identify safety precautions and equipment to use when performing tasks that could cause bodily injury or exposure to a hazardous chemical or infectious waste. Ensure that you and all facility personnel follow established ergonomics policies and procedures to prevent selfinjury. Ensure that you and all facility personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood, body fluids, or hazardous chemicals are appropriately trained prior to performing such tasks.

Working Environment:

All statements addressed in the "Working Hours," "Environment" and "Physical/Sensory Demands" sections below are applicable to all jobs maintained by the employer.

Working Hours: The employee will Be employed on a full-time, part-time, or PRN (as needed) basis. May be subject to change after employment. Work unusual hours as necessary and as required. Be expected and required to adhere to policies and procedures regarding attendance.

Environment: The employee will Work in a well-lighted, heated or air-conditioned, ventilated area, unless otherwise noted. Be subject to frequent interruptions. At times be subjected to falls, cuts, bruises, caustic substances, infectious diseases and odors. At times be subjected to hostile and emotionally upset family members and Residents. Be expected to work cooperatively with others. Be expected to handle multiple tasks effectively and organize work efficiently. Be expected to show courtesy to co-workers, Residents, families and others with whom contact is made while on the job. Be expected to maintain a professional attitude and good relations with co-workers. Be economical and careful with use of supplies and equipment. Adhere to established policies and procedures including safety regulations to ensure that quality Resident care is maintained at all times.

Physical/Sensory Demands: The employee must Often walk for long periods or long distances within the building, or sit, stand and walk intermittently. Frequently carry up to 50 pounds and move up to 75 pounds. Occasionally squat, bend/stoop, push/pull, climb, reach above shoulder level, crouch, kneel, balance, carry and move up to 75 pounds. Perform repetitive hand and foot action with or without reasonable accommodation. Communicate information and ideas orally and in writing, and in a manner that others will understand. Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. Respond to and assist with emergency procedures, including evacuation of Residents from the building. Hear, with or without the aid of mechanical devices, adequately enough to respond to soft, verbal communications and instructions and answering of telephone. Read and see, with or without the aid of mechanical devices, and respond to and/or interpret written material or instructions. Be free of all communicable diseases and agree to testing of same, under which federal and/or state regulations would prevent you from working at this facility.

Risk Classification

All employees performing within this job classification are at high risk of exposure to