Activities Assistant

Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Joseph’s Home (Louisville); Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid holidays

Personal time

Sick time

Job summary

Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Joseph’s Home (Louisville) seeks an Activity Assistant to enrich residents' lives through person-centered programming in a mission-based home.

You will help plan and implement diverse activities, collaborate with staff and families, and ensure safety, privacy and compliance while supporting spiritual and social needs in a caring Catholic-based setting.

Qualifications

• Must show compassion for elderly residents and maintain dignity.
• Strong communication with residents, families, and staff.
• Ability to work within a team and follow policies.
• Respect for HIPAA and privacy regulations.
• Flexibility to work varying shifts including evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning, coordinating and implementing age-appropriate activities.
• Identify resident desires and collaborate with staff to meet needs.
• Maintain safety, risk management and infection control protocols.
• Coordinate life enrichment programming for diverse cognitive levels.
• Support family and resident councils to enhance communication.
• Maintain records, progress reports and care plans.
• Uphold confidentiality of resident and Home information.

Skills

Compassion for elderly

Excellent communication

Team collaboration

HIPAA knowledge

Flexible scheduling

Education

High school diploma

Job description

Little Sisters of the Poor is looking for an exceptional, dedicated Activity Assistant who would enjoy caring for the elderly in our friendly, supportive, mission-based Louisville, Kentucky home! We offer competitive hourly compensation with a full benefit package (for eligible employees) that include health, dental, vision and life insurance, paid holidays, personal and sick time benefits, along with an optional 403b savings plan and a company contributed pension plan. Come and experience the difference, while making a lasting impression in the life of our residents and Little Sisters!

Summary

The Activity Assistant is passionate about enriching lives of older adults through person-centered engagement and life-affirming activity programming. This person assists in the planning, coordinating and implementation of a wide and varied scope of age-appropriate activities. These are designed to meet core person-directed values of choice, dignity, respect and purposeful living within a Christian atmosphere. Physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs unique to each resident are helped to be identified and met within the spirit of the mission, vision and values of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Compliance with City, State and Federal requirements for activity programming are assured.

Essential Functions:

1. Assist in identifying resident’s desires and needs for meaningful activities and collaborate with department and interdisciplinary staff to meet them.

2. Help to build and sustain partnerships not only on an intergenerational level (i.e. youth for elders, grandchildren, etc.) but also with family members, volunteers, Jeanne Jugan Associates and local aging services and philanthropic organizations to enhance the scope of the program.

3. Adhere to all Safety, Risk Management and Infection Control protocol to assure the safety of residents and program participants at all times. This also includes maintaining all department equipment, entertainment areas and department offices in a clean, safe and hazard-free status.

4. Help to coordinate, plan and evaluate the following areas of life enrichment programming so that they include personalized programming for residents with diverse intellectual backgrounds but also in various stages of cognitive impairment and memory loss. Programming includes the dates and events special to the life of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Programming includes but is not limited to the following:

• Fosters relationships through group programs that share on current events, discussion groups, book and poetry clubs, intellectual/political/historical socialization, games.
• Takes advantage of local opportunities for: civic, cultural, art appreciation and entertainment, sports, nature possibilities, tourism programs, educational opportunities, City events (annual and special occasion).
• Taps the creativity of residents’ interest in hobbies and talents for: gardening, woodworking, painting, music, baking/cooking, handicrafts, sewing, journalism, stage entertainment (plays/skits, musicians…). Sensory stimulation and reminiscence therapy may be valuable for those residents experiencing diminished cognition or memory.
• Promotes the spiritual well-being of residents by collaborating with the Little Sisters and chaplain in the pastoral program. Provides opportunities for active participation as lectors, readers, sacristan, musicians, ministers of hospitality in addition to private prayer. Collaborates with Social Services and family members if resident expresses interest in religious services of non-Catholic denominations.
• Provides meaningful service opportunities for residents in various areas of the Home: helping in areas of interest (office filing, receptionist, kitchen aid [peeling], laundry folding, secretarial). Strict confidentiality and HIPAA compliance necessary.
• Individually expressed interests: use of technology (i.e. Computer, iPads, smartphones), group and individual movie/television viewing, promoting healthy living through exercise and medical lectures, puzzles, word games, library and periodicals of interest. Sessions on grief and bereavement may be arranged; also arranging funeral and cemetery visits if the desire is expressed.

5. Assists in assuring a Family Council and a Resident Council as means of exchanging communication and empowering residents to actively work to strengthen the family spirit at St. Joseph’s Home.

6. Maintains strict confidentiality of resident and Home information including HIPAA.

7. Prepares and maintains pertinent records, MDS and person-centered care plan development, Resident and administrative progress reports, and schedules in accordance with government regulations and the Home’s expectations.

Qualifications (including Education and/or Experience)

• High school diploma.
• Prior work experience in a not-for profit and a health care related employment preferred.
• Sincere love and respect for older adults and a consistent energetic approach to sustaining a dynamic life enrichment program. Genuine appreciation for the uniqueness of each Resident and an ability to deal effectively with behavioral issues that may arise.
• Possess moral integrity, honesty and ethical standards of behavior and decision-making principles consistent with a Roman Catholic Healthcare provider and the Home’s corporate compliance policy. Also, the sincere desire to embrace the mission of the Little Sisters of the Poor with the enthusiasm to promote its vision and family spirit. Professional conduct at all times.
• Flexibility of hours to meet the department’s goals, including seasonal, evening and week-end programming, on-site presence at variable hours of the day, evening or night whenever necessitated.

Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Joseph’s Home (Louisville)