Activity Aide

Alden Estates of Orland Park; Orland Park (IL); On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Alden Estates of Orland Park is seeking an engaged Activity Assistant to support daily activity calendars and resident engagement. You will help deliver a person-centered activity program aligned with the facility’s mission and state regulations, enhancing residents' quality of life.

You will collaborate with the Activity Director, staff, and volunteers to plan, document, and update daily activities while ensuring timely execution and compassionate interactions with residents, families, and

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least 1 year of healthcare experience.
• Knowledge of Federal/state activity regulations.
• Ability to read and write English.
• Bi-lingual abilities preferred.
• Valid IL driver’s license.
• Punctual and time-efficient for following the activity calendar.
• Empathy, compassion, enthusiasm, and positive demeanor.
• Ability to relate to ill, disabled, elderly, and emotional residents.
• Effective communication with community and health professionals.
• Manage emotional needs of self and staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide feedback to Activity Director on facility goals and monitoring.
• Lead a therapeutic, person-centered activity program.
• Follow all Activity policies and regulations.
• Know each resident’s background to craft person-centered plans.
• Schedule daily activities reflecting resident choices and rights.
• Support language services and communication needs.
• Conduct ongoing assessments (social, medical, cognitive, etc.).
• Document required documentation per Activity Director.
• Maintain records: participation, progress notes, surveys, planning sheets.
• Update activity boards monthly with a creative theme.
• Facilitate community involvement and outings.
• Assist in resident outings and community events.
• Follow staff schedules with teamwork and continuity of care.
• Work with staff and volunteers.
• Maintain activity schedule and avoid cancellations without permission.
• Maintain equipment and supplies; notify needs.
• Update calendars and boards daily.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Empathy

Compassion

Communication

English literacy

People skills

Energetic

Humor

Multilingual (preferred)

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

• Responsible for performing the daily activity calendar requirements set by the Activity Director. Required to support and follow the Activity Program’s mission, philosophy, policies and procedures and state and federal regulations. Will achieve and maintain the highest quality of life for each resident, with understanding of all psychosocial, medical, and activity needs/preferences.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Hold a high school education or equivalent.

• Have at least 1 year experience working in the healthcare field, volunteering or personal experience with the disabled population.

• Current knowledge of Federal and State activity regulations and/or ability to understand and interpret.

• Be able to read and write English.

• May prefer bi-lingual abilities based off of individual facilities.

• Must have a valid, IL driver’s license.

• Must be punctual and time efficient, especially as it relates to following the activity calendar.

• Possess the qualities of empathy, compassion, understanding, enthusiasm, personable, energetic, positive, and humorous in order to effectively interact with residents, families, and staff.

• Must be able to relate and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile people.

• Must be able to communicate effectively with to the community, other health professionals, outside professional organizations, senior services, government agencies, and any other provider or professional in the community.

• Understand and be able to manage emotional needs of yourself and the staff.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to push, pull or carry 50 pounds.

• May be required to lift equipment, supplies, and occasionally move furniture.

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.

• Must function independently, have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with the residents, family members, personnel, and support.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide feedback to Activity Director for monitoring achievement of facility and program goals through a team approach.

• Lead a therapeutic, person-centered activity program, which constantly strives to enhance the quality of life of each resident and meets the Activity Mission and Philosophy.

• Follow all Activity Policies and Procedures and Federal and State regulations.

• Become knowledgeable of each individual resident’s background, cultural, life history, disease, and medical care needs in detail to ensure an appropriate person-centered activity plan.

• Activities shall be daily and shall reflect the schedules, choices, and rights of the residents.

• Be able to understand communication needs of residents, such as language services, communication boards, etc.

• Per direction of the Activity Director, conduct, oversee, and complete initial and all on-going assessments, including but not limited to social, medical, cognitive, communication abilities, spiritual needs, physical, neuro-psychological, behavioral, amongst others as it relates to individual activity/leisure.

• Document and complete all required documentation per Activity Director.

• Maintain the following records: Resident Daily Participation, Resident Progress notes, Leisure Interest Survey, and Activity Planning sheets to assist in scheduling and meeting resident needs.

• Assist to update activity boards through direction of the Activity Director, with a monthly theme that is creative, neat, and clean.

• Facilitate community involvement, such as inviting the community to events and programs.

• Assist in resident outings, which can include but not limited to shopping centers, movies, restaurants, community events, etc. that may also entail driving residents to and from the resident outing.

• Follow Activity staff schedules with a team approach and continuity of care.

• Work as team with staff and volunteers.

• Must maintain structure of activity schedule and conduct all activities on-time; May not cancel an activity without permission of Activity Director.

• Must maintain equipment and supplies in good clean order. Must notify Activity Director within 48 hours if any new materials are needed for scheduled activities and when repairs are needed.

• Must update calendars and boards daily.

• Perform other duties as assigned.