Resident Assistant-Dementia

Resident Assistant-Dementia

The purpose of the Resident Assistant-Dementia is to care for and supervise residents with distressing dementia-related symptoms who are housed in the O'Rourke DSU. Must be 18 and graduated from High School. Hiring for full time nights 10:30pm-7am.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

1. Complete the duties and responsibilities as assigned, following the individualized care plan that is located in each resident room as well as in the resident charts. These services include: oral care, denture care, hair care, bathing, dressing, grooming, transferring, ambulation, range of motion, nail care, skin care, toileting, serving meals, serving nutritional supplements, positioning in bed, positioning in wheelchair.
2. Monitor that residents have the assistive devices needed for safety including monitoring of safe transfer and ambulation techniques.
3. Assist ambulatory residents moving around. Transfer non-ambulatory, non-weight bearing residents. Re-position residents.
4. Use mechanical devices for resident transfers (E-Z Lift, E-Z Stand, Hoyer, etc).
5. Assist with meals according to the needs of each resident. Be available to assist with the serving of the meal as well as clean up after the meal. Offer dietary supplements following the care plan. PM Shift will offer meal nourishment prior to bedtime.

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living

1. Assist with telephone or video calls, mail, or other correspondence.
2. Change bed linens. Adjust beds. Keep the resident room clean and neat.
3. Keep the supply room, the kitchenette, the shower room, the clean and soiled utility room and day rooms neat and clean.
4. Laundry.
5. Transport residents to and from dentist, podiatrist, beauty shop, and on/off unit recreational activities.

Medication Assistance

1. Assist resident with administration of medications, including monitoring of medication supplies and documentation.
2. Demonstrate competence in administering medications and treatments to the RN delegating the task.

Health Maintenance and Monitoring Tasks

1. Report changes in resident behavior or condition to unit nurse/ Manager immediately.
2. Record residents' vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiration, weight as directed; taking the vitals within the assigned timeframe.
3. Record treatment, food input, bowel movements and other nursing tasks and resident information.
4. Document events, behaviors, or resident actions as noted in a behavior support plan.
5. Monitor for environmental safety hazards.
6. Document incidents, errors, and/ or accidents.
7. Answer call lights promptly and meet residents' needs/requests.

Activity Program

1. Responsible for participating in and supporting the resident-centered activity program.
2. Participate in holiday activities.
3. Document resident's participation in activities.
4. Provide feedback to management on the benefits/ effectiveness of programming.

Resident Rights

1. Maintain the confidentiality of resident health care information.
2. Uphold Resident Rights.
3. Report allegations of resident abuse or neglect immediately to the Manager. Safeguard the resident from harm.

Emergency Preparedness

1. Is familiar with emergency procedures.
2. Use Passive Protection Techniques as appropriate.
3. Safeguard other residents as appropriate.
4. Respond appropriately to emergency or disaster situations.

Leadership

1. Complete duties with minimal direction from supervisor.
2. Use tactful and diplomatic communication techniques in potentially sensitive or emotionally charged situations.
3. Work collaboratively with other team members.
4. Assist with training new employees.
5. Up with appropriate staff, residents, or other individuals regarding reported complaints, problems or concerns.
6. Act as an ambassador and public relations representative to guests and visitors.
7. Maintain all certifications required for employment.

Administrative Responsibilities

1. Thoroughly completes appropriate records, service plan and other documentation and submit in a timely manner.
2. Order and monitor appropriate use of resident care, office, and other needed supplies.
3. Attend and participates in scheduled orientation, in-service training, and staff meetings.

Personnel Function

1. Understand and follow the Green County Employee Handbook.
2. Follow facility guidelines and read and understand updates, memos, and educational sessions.
3. Fulfill work schedule by arriving to the workstation at the start of the shift. Meet attendance standards. Will fill in for open shifts.
4. The facility computer for resident documentation only. Understand that the computer is facility property and is not to be used for personal use for any reason or method.
5. Understand that job performance will be reviewed for a clear understanding of expectations.
6. Understand that job performance that does not meet standards and guidelines may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education and/or Experience

• High School Diploma or GED with Resident Assistance Experience.

The O'Rourke DSU is a 24-hour facility which requires continuous care for residents, therefore employees must meet attendance standards by arriving to work on time, work all scheduled shifts and extra shifts that are agreed to work and have an overall excellent attendance record.

Physical and Mental Abilities Required to Perform Essential Job Functions

• Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication
• Ability to assemble, copy, record and transcribe data and information, following a prescribed plan. Ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure and/or sort data and information.
• Ability to explain, demonstrate and clarify to others within well established guidelines and standards, as well as the ability to follow specific instructions and respond to simple requests.
• Ability to utilize descriptive data and information, such as O'Rourke DUS policy and procedure manual, emergency plans, regulations, medical charts, nurse's notes, treatment orders, and general operating manuals.
• Ability to communicate effectively with residents, resident's families, other workers, therapists, and other outside providers.
• Mathematical Ability
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide.
• Judgment and Situational Reasoning Ability
• Ability to use functional reasoning development in the performance of semi-routine functions involving standardized work with some choice of action.
• Ability to apply situational reasoning ability by exercising judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information measurable criteria.
• Ability to operate in unpredictable and challenging circumstances.
• Ability to recognize and intervene in escalating circumstances.
• Ability to recognize circumstances that require help from supervisor or outside resources.

Physical Requirements

• In an eight-hour work day have the ability to sit approximately 2-3 hours, stand approximately 5-6 hours and walk approximately 4-5 hours or longer when needed.
• Ability to stoop, squat, bend, kneel, reach, twist, climb and balance approximately 1-33% and have hearing acuity, vision acuity far, vision acuity near, color vision and depth perception approximately 67-100% of the time working.
• Ability to use both right and left hands for repetitive actions such as grasping, grasping and turning, fine manipulation, speed work.
• Ability to operate equipment and machinery requiring simple, periodic adjustments. Ability to move and guide material using simple tools. Ability to operate mechanical lifts, stethoscope, sphygmomanometer, and thermometers.