Elder Assistant (PT Evenings)

Catholic Charities of Baltimore•Baltimore, MD

12d•Onsite

About The Position

Catholic Charities of Baltimore, Caritas House, is seeking an Elder Assistant to support senior residents who need around-the-clock care because of physical or social impairments. The position assists residents with activities of daily living and medication management while encouraging their independence and personal choice. Caritas House provides services intended to help seniors remain independent and safe. The role includes supporting residents with dressing, bathing, personal hygiene, care of essential devices, phone use, housekeeping, laundry, and mail. It also involves medication documentation and controlled-substance counts, infection-control and environmental-safety practices, incident reporting, dining and housekeeping support, and collaboration with staff and other departments. The posted schedule is 3:00 PM–11:30 PM on Saturdays and Sundays every other weekend. The posting also describes a Lead Elder Assistant classification, which coordinates and guides other Elder Assistants, supports training and supervision, adjusts workflow, and helps maintain communication among staff, residents, and families.

Requirements

Ability to read and write legibly, follow oral and written instructions, and maintain confidentiality.
Customer service orientation and willingness and ability to work effectively with a diverse and elderly population.
Flexibility in working hours to meet resident-care needs.
Reliable transportation for commuting to and from work.
Certified Medical Technician (CMT) in good standing with the Maryland Board of Nursing.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in good standing with the Maryland Board of Nursing, or two years of direct elder-care experience and a demonstrated competency evaluation within the first seven days of employment.
First Aid Certification within the first six months of employment.
Food-handling qualification within the first six months of employment.
Reliability, punctuality, and consistent attendance.
Good interpersonal and customer-service skills, with a polite and courteous demeanor toward staff, clients, and visitors.
Ability to maintain a safe environment for patients and coworkers and remain calm in stressful situations.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including active listening.
Ability to relate to, empathize with, and show compassion for people with a variety of personalities.
Ability to act with discretion, tact, and professionalism.
For the Lead Elder Assistant classification: at least two years of direct care experience in a residential, assisted living, or long-term care setting.

Responsibilities

Assist residents with daily living activities, including dressing, bathing, personal hygiene, care for essential devices, phone use, housekeeping, laundry, and managing mail.
Document every medication administered, refused, held, discontinued, changed, disposed of, or returned on the Medication Administration Record (MAR), in accordance with residence policy.
Count controlled substances with appropriate Certified Medical Technicians at the beginning and end of the shift.
Seek immediate guidance from a supervisor or Nurse Manager when uncertain about administering medications or treatments.
Monitor for environmental safety hazards and dispose of infectious and potentially infectious waste according to residence policy, procedures, and OSHA regulations.
Follow standard precautions to control the spread of infection.
Document and promptly report incidents, errors, and accidents involving residents, staff, or visitors, and participate in follow-up as needed.
Support dining and housekeeping tasks, including collecting plates, assisting residents during meals, responding to immediate clean-up needs, and addressing facility housekeeping needs.
Maintain cooperative working relationships with staff and other departments.
Perform other duties as assigned.
For the Lead Elder Assistant classification: train new hires and deliver in-service sessions as directed; guide, mentor, and formally supervise Elder Assistants; adjust staffing and reassign tasks as needed; regularly round the building to monitor staff; use critical thinking and problem-solving; motivate staff and foster teamwork; resolve conflicts; and prioritize and delegate work.