GENERAL SUMMARY:
The Activities Aide carries out an activity program under the direction of the Activities Director or Housing Manager. An employee in this position is responsible for assisting in planning, organizing, and implementing a program of activities designed to meet the social, spiritual, intellectual, emotional, educational, and physical needs and interests of clients in accordance with the comprehensive client care plan.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assists, instructs, and supervises clients in arts and crafts and other activities as appropriate.
- Implements activities of varying ability levels for clients; provides activities on a one-on-one or group basis.
- Encourages and remind clients of activities or community functions they may attend, on a daily or weekly basis. Assists as needed to locate activity areas.
- Assists clients with personal mail.
- Assists in decorating for holidays and special events making use of existing materials; encourages client participation in making decorations.
- Updates the daily reality orientation board including scheduled activity, time, and daily menus.
- Completes daily and monthly charting of clients as assigned by Activities Director or Housing Manager. Completes assigned food/fluid intakes as needed.
- Waters plants, keeps activity space organized and articles put in their place.
- Accompanies clients on outings such as bus trips, picnics, and other events; assists them on and off the bus, in and out of buildings, to and from activities, etc.
- Aids clients in crafts, outdoor activities such as gardening, parties, art and music, cooking, group games, movies, or other sensory stimulation activities.
- Observes and reports all changes in client goals and care plan to Activities Director or Housing Manager.
- Reports to Activities Director for supplies and materials needed for activity program.
- Picks up and straightens lounge areas.
- Encourages and supports client participation in self-governing.
- Obtains refreshments for clients for morning coffee and encourages fluid intake.
- Helps with feeding those clients who need assistance where applicable.
- Straightens and helps to keep organization in supply closet and activities area and desk.
- Assists volunteer workers supporting activities.
- Assists with transporting, serving, and assisting clients at activity functions as needed including driving van.
- Assists with fundraisers.
- Performs any other duties as assigned by Activities Director.
- All employees are expected to be available for work at the start of the scheduled shift and remain on the job until the conclusion of the shift. The Activity Director must authorize absences.
MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
Knowledge of patient care standards and practices in relation to patient activities normally acquired through completion of a high school diploma or GED equivalent required. Musical talent and creative ability desirable.
- Possesses CPR certification for all facilities.
- Employees are required to be certified in First Aid and Choking within 90 days of hire.
- Valid driver’s license with safe driving history.
- Possesses the ability to assume responsibility in carrying out an activity program, flexible enough to change plans when the situation warrants and capable of enthusiasm and willingness to learn new ideas and skills.
- Must be able to work well with clients as a professional. Must have a sincere desire to work with the elderly and the developmentally disabled. Patience, tact, cheerful disposition, enthusiasm, and dependability are essential. Ability to handle clients based on the maturity level at which they function. Ability to treat client information as confidential.
- Possesses ability to establish and maintain a working relationship with other staff persons.
Possesses ability to understand where her/his job ends and someone else’s begins.
- Yearly competencies in Bloodborne Pathogens and Potentially Infectious Materials, Fire Safety, Corporate Compliance, Customer Service, HIPAA, Population Specific Care and Diversity, Hazard Communication, Hand Hygiene, Infection Control, and Caregiver Misconduct must be completed prior to working in a healthcare organization.
