PT Program Coordinator - Day Respite

Come explore Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community as Program Coordinator for our newest resident programming: Day Respite. Deerfield is an outstanding senior living community with a resort-like atmosphere and our commitment to resident wellbeing is prompting this new role. This is a part-time position, approximately 20 hours per week.

Job Summary

The Program Coordinator is responsible for the planning, coordination, and daily operation of Deerfield’s Day Respite Program, designed to provide meaningful engagement for participants living with early-to-mid-stage cognitive impairment and respite for their caregivers. This role ensures the program is delivered with excellence, consistency, and dignity, reflecting Deerfield’s culture of compassion and innovation in aging services. The Program Coordinator will supervise participants and volunteers, lead structured activities, and serve as the central liaison with families, staff, and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

Program Development & Delivery

• Design and lead day respite programming, incorporating structured engagement, socialization, and enrichment.
• Coordinate contracted enrichment services (e.g., art therapy, music therapy, fitness instruction).
• Recruit, train, and supervise resident volunteers, ensuring safe and meaningful integration into daily programming.

Operations Management

• Manage daily logistics of program setup, delivery, closeout, and teardown.
• Maintain attendance, participation, and satisfaction records; prepare period reports on utilization and outcomes.
• Manage program expenses within an approved budget and maintain accurate financial records related to program operation.
• Monitor program supplies, refreshments, and equipment; ensure timely procurement within budget.

Participant & Family Support

• Foster positive, trusting relationships with participants and caregivers.
• Conduct participant intake and orientation; assess participant appropriateness and support individualized needs within program parameters.
• Serve as a responsive resource to families, addressing concerns promptly and professionally.

Safety & Risk Management

• Ensure participant safety and program compliance with internal policies and emergency procedures.
• Maintain vigilant oversight to prevent elopement or unsafe departure of participants; implement and uphold community safety protocols.
• Respond promptly to medical, behavior, or environmental emergencies, engaging security or clinical staff as appropriate.
• Accurately document and report all safety incidents and near-misses in compliance with community policy.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required. Continuing education, including certifications, Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in human services, gerontology, recreation therapy, social work, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum 2-3 years’ experience working with older adults, preferably with individuals living with dementia or other cognitive impairment.
• Sensitivity to the needs of individuals with cognitive impairment and their families, including awareness of dementia-related safety risks, including elopement prevention strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead group activities and foster engagement across diverse populations.
• Ability to recruit, train, and supervise volunteers.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain).
• Demonstrated proficiency with professional communication skills (verbal and written)

Work Schedule & Structure

• This is a part-time, role averaging 20 hours/week (3 days/week, 4 hours/day, plus planning, setup, and administration); part-time benefits including PTO, floating holiday, scholarship program, on-site health clinic, employee assistance program and other perks are available for this role
• Supervises: volunteers and contracted service providers.
• Performance will be assessed through participant/family satisfaction, census stability and growth, volunteer engagement, and adherence to safety protocols.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and reach frequently throughout the day.
• May occasionally require lifting objects of up to 25 pounds (such as presentation materials or training supplies).
• Must be able to effectively communicate verbally and in writing for extended periods.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Our part-time employees enjoy access to Deerfield's on-site health clinic, Paid Time Off benefits, holiday pay when working on a holiday, exceptional work environment, scholarship opportunities. adoption assistance and more. In addition, our employees enjoy access to many community amenities and a workplace culture that seamlessly blends heart and mind.

Deerfield is faith-based, nonprofit, open to all, and provides a continuum of services to empower residents to live life to the fullest. We enrich the lives of those who live and work at Deerfield and commit to be a leader in the field of aging services. We provide a non-smoking campus and our employees provide either proof of COVID vaccine or provide a validated religious or medical exemption form. All new employees must successfully complete a background check and drug screen as part of our onboarding process.

Deerfield is committed to providing access, equal employment opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in all aspects of our employment, our services, programs and activities. To request reasonable accommodation or for additional information, contact us at askhr@deerfieldwnc.org.