Director Of Memory Care

Atria Senior Living•CA-Palm Desert, CA

About The Position

The Director of Memory Care, referred to in the posting as the Life Guidance Director, ensures that Atria’s philosophy is implemented in the community’s Life Guidance neighborhood and maintains a positive, energetic environment for residents with dementia. The role oversees clinical and non-clinical Life Guidance staff, organizes and delivers the neighborhood’s daily programming around the clock, supports staff training and development, manages the program budget, and builds supportive relationships with residents’ families and caregivers. The Director serves as the community’s dementia care expert and collaborates with community leaders and departments, including Sales, Engage Life, Resident Services, and Culinary Services. The position supports resident onboarding and care reviews, participates in outreach and tours, and provides direct assistance with residents’ Activities of Daily Living as needed. It also includes driving to social and other destinations.

Requirements

Associate or bachelor’s degree in Social Services, Behavioral Health, Therapeutic Recreation, Nursing, or a related field.
Two to four years of experience caring for people with dementia and developing and facilitating activity programs.
Knowledge of dementia disease processes, related functional changes, and adaptive strategies that help maintain residents’ abilities.
Experience facilitating family and caregiver support programs.
Experience performing budget analysis, review, and control.
Previous experience supervising staff.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Good computer skills, including virtual communication tools such as Microsoft Teams.
Valid driver’s license.
Must meet and comply with Company motor vehicle policy standards.

Nice To Haves

Experience as a manager with a specialized dementia program is preferred.

Responsibilities

Implement the Company’s philosophy within the Life Guidance neighborhood and maintain a positive, energetic environment for residents with dementia.
Manage and supervise clinical and non-clinical Life Guidance staff, including scheduling, delegating assignments, directing work, completing performance reviews, recruiting, hiring, and providing corrective action consistent with Company policy.
Support, direct, provide feedback to, and train Life Guidance staff; ensure new hires complete orientation within the required timeframe.
Organize and execute daily Life Guidance programs, ensure required calendar programming is implemented 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and work with the Support Center on community-specific programming.
Conduct monthly dementia in-service training for all staff and maintain records documenting training completion.
Build relationships with new residents using the appropriate onboarding tools and assessments.
Manage and maintain the Life Guidance Program budget using the virtual checkbook.
Maintain supportive relationships with residents’ families and caregivers.
Serve as the community’s dementia care expert and support the Community Sales Director with referrals, tours, online reviews, and outreach events.
Collaborate with Engage Life on community-wide programming.
Partner with the Resident Services Director on clinical matters, community and professional contacts, resident-care issues, and staffing coverage.
Partner with Culinary Services to ensure table settings, procedures, and timely distribution of daily snacks.
Deliver and attend required training, including virtual learning sessions and monthly Director meetings.
Drive a personal and/or Company vehicle from the community to social and other destinations.
Assist residents directly with Activities of Daily Living as needed.
Collaborate with community leaders on the Resident Needs Review and represent Life Guidance residents.
Interview, hire, train, develop, and evaluate all non-clinical staff.
Perform other duties as needed and/or assigned.