Coordinates, organizes and carries out therapeutic recreation/activity programs and services to meet the recreational, social, religious, cultural and educational needs of residents and their families needs in order to maximize quality of life and quality of care.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:
1. Recreation Programs: Leads scheduled recreational activities including classes, games, music, entertainment, religious services and specialized therapies. Ensures that programs are age-appropriate, non-threatening and successfully communicated.
2. Special Events: Assists in organizing and implementing special events including holiday celebrations, monthly birthday parties, cookouts and other special events involving residents, families, guests and the community. Assists with making arrangements, and coordinating with other departments including Nursing regarding resident attendance and availability, and Dining Services to plan menus and coordinate meal service for those attending events. Provides support for pastoral services. Assists with maintaining monthly birthday list. Assists with arrangement for recognition of resident’s birthday if desired.
3. Outings: Plans and schedules various trips and community outings such as shopping, eating out, events and outside functions. Accompanies residents to and from outside locations. Assists residents in participating. Communicates with point of contact at the destination.
4. One-to-One Visits: Plans individualized, patient-centered one-to-one programming for residents who are confined or choose to remain in their rooms. Ensures that visits provide for sensory and mental stimulation and socialization. Such visits may include reading, doing fingernails, companionship, conversation, etc. Arranges for reading materials.
5. Documentation: Completes recreation documentation for residents in assigned units. Records residents’ attendance and participation in individual and group activities. Reports unusual or inappropriate behaviors to nursing staff. Communicates residents’ concerns and responses to interventions to Director of Recreation.
6. Care Planning: Completes recreation assessments and updates progress notes. Creates an individualized care plan for each resident for the discipline of Recreation that incorporates resident choices, preferences, functional capacity and customary routines in activities. Attends quarterly and annual care plan meetings for assigned residents.
7. Personal Assistance: Escorts residents to and from activities and programs. Operates equipment safely, according to established procedures. Assists residents with participation in activities and programs.
8. Volunteers: Assists in training and orienting volunteers, students and groups regarding their roles in recreation programming. Works with Community Relations regarding the placement of volunteers in recreation programs. Works with volunteers by assigning their duties.
Performs other duties as assigned, including assisting with evacuations and emergencies.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Requires High School diploma or equivalent; Associate’s degree in arts or recreation is preferred
LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION:
Certification as an Activity Assistant is preferred. Certification as Geriatric Nursing Assistant is preferred.
WORK ORIENTATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Requires 3 years experience in a social or recreational program within long-term care, assisted living, medical adult day service, senior center, or working with the geriatric population within the last 5 years.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & ENVIRONMENT/WORKING CONDITIONS:

Works in an office environment with constant visits to a healthcare setting. Work involves sitting, standing, walking, stooping and bending intermittently throughout the day. Frequently pushes residents in wheelchairs and lifts and carries objects up to 30 pounds. Constant use of computer keyboard and monitor, and need for reaching with the hands or arms, and use of hands to finger, handle or feel. Constant use of the spoken word and hearing ability. Requires close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and ability to adjust focus. Frequently required to work on evenings, weekends and holidays, during emergent situations such as extreme weather conditions or disasters, and attendance at special events. Occasional local travel to off-site locations for resident outings. 

Occasional exposure to body fluids, infectious waste, or blood borne disease requiring standard precautions. Employees will be instructed in the proper use of personal protective equipment and specific protocol if assigned duties where they may be at risk. 

Keswick is an Equal Opportunity Employer.