Engagement Specialist

If you’re someone who loves creating meaningful moments and building real connections, this could be a great opportunity for you. The Mather is an award‑winning, wellness‑focused luxury senior living community. We are seeking a compassionate, creative, and engaging individual to join our team in this full‑time, hourly role to support resident engagement across Assisted Living, Memory Support, and Skilled Nursing. The position involves leading a dynamic daily schedule of programs within the Life Center, building relationships with residents and families, and translating preferences into personalized experiences. Responsibilities Facilitate group and individual engagement of Life Center residents, implementing best practices for music, movement, art, storytelling, and meaningful celebrations, while considering diverse physical, cognitive, and emotional needs. Deliver programs within the Creating My Possibilities framework for residents with cognitive impairment, utilizing best practices for environmental set‑up, group structure, communication, and transitions. Support the utilization of volunteers within Life Center programs. Participate in resident interview, documentation, and care planning processes, completing intake interviews, care plans, and EMR documentation as required. Develop new program ideas, prepare upcoming experiences, and ensure active participation, including distribution of resident communications aligned with brand standards. Collaborate with colleagues and residents to identify opportunities for engagement, including resource preparation and program logistics. Encourage active participation by promoting programs and calendars, supporting delivery, and incorporating resident feed‑forward into future designs. Communicate with families as assigned, building relationships, assisting with visits, outings, and special events, and inviting family participation in initiatives. Adapt the environment to foster engagement, preparing amenity spaces for 1:1 and group experiences, monitoring therapeutic environment throughout the day, and ensuring meaningful transitions. Maintain holiday decorations and special displays following Mather guidelines to ensure dignity, quality, and brand alignment. Identify areas for improvement, propose solutions, and participate in data collection and process changes as part of the Quality Assurance Process Improvement program. Complete required in‑service training per regulatory or Mather policy. Facilitate successful utilization of technology for engagement, including virtual visits and device use. Communicate with key staff, residents, and families in a timely manner as part of the interdisciplinary team overseeing the resident journey. Collaborate with the broader Resident Engagement team to support engagement across the continuum. Comply with Mather Code of Conduct, Policies, Compliance Program, and applicable laws, reporting suspected violations appropriately. Demonstrate understanding of and commitment to Mather’s Mission, Core Values, and Nextraordinary philosophy. Use discretion in handling confidential information, ensuring compliance with privacy requirements. Qualifications College Degree in Recreation, Arts/Humanities, Hospitality, Psychology, Education, Geriatrics, or related field, OR 1+ years related experience. Strong written and verbal communication skills with excellent customer service orientation. Collaborative, welcoming, positive attitude and enthusiasm for engaging older adults. Self‑initiator requiring minimum supervision. Ability to learn and use a variety of tech‑based services, including Microsoft Outlook, Zoom, YouTube, resident portals, and A/V set‑ups. Preferred: 1+ years’ experience working with individuals living with dementia, long‑term care setting experience, extensive knowledge of person‑centered care, and state and federal Medicare/LTC regulations. Preferred: Experience with care plan and MDS documentation for resident activity programs. Preferred: Experience and skills related to Health and Wellbeing, Lifelong Learning, or Arts and Culture. Benefits Hourly pay range: $23.66 – $26.00 USD Paid time off including vacation, personal days, sick days, and holidays. 401(k) program with employer match and annual contribution. Convenient parking or public transportation subsidy. Wellness Spending Account: up to $300 annually for gym memberships, financial planning, and related expenses. Medical, dental, and vision plans. Adoption Assistance reimbursement. Tuition reimbursement for continuing education. Extended illness benefits and employee wellness programs. Short‑ and long‑term disability insurance. Life insurance free to all team members. The Mather is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to an inclusive workforce. Candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. #J-18808-Ljbffr The Mather in Evanston