Memory Care Caregiver

Brookdale Senior Living Inc.•Biloxi, MS

About The Position

The Memory Care Caregiver provides dementia care to residents through adapted activities of daily living, meaningful engagement, and communication guided by each resident’s person-centered individual service plan. The caregiver treats residents with respect and dignity, recognizes individual needs, encourages independence, and helps foster a purposeful, engaging community. Responsibilities include supporting personal care and daily activities, serving meals, encouraging social participation, documenting care and observations, maintaining a clean and safe environment, and responding to resident needs and emergencies. Medication assistance may be part of the role where permitted by state regulations. The role makes routine decisions based on detailed guidelines and uses limited independent judgment. The caregiver follows written and verbal instructions, communicates in English with residents, families, and associates, and seeks assistance when needed. The work may involve physical activity and exposure to communicable diseases, blood-borne pathogens, latex, drugs, chemicals, and other biological hazards. Occasional travel and on-call availability may be required.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Knowledge of dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease.
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos, and to write simple correspondence.
Ability to communicate effectively in English with residents, family members, and company associates.
Ability to follow written or verbal instructions, apply common sense, use good judgment in emergencies, and seek assistance when needed.
May be required by state law to hold current state certification and comply with applicable certification regulations.
Must meet applicable state qualifications for medication assistance and direct-care duties.

Nice To Haves

Three to six months of related experience and/or training providing direct service to older adults living with dementia, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

Assist residents with care-plan activities and daily living, including bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, transferring, and getting to and from programs and meals; encourage residents to do as much of their own care as possible.
Participate in team behavioral expression meetings or discussions with community leadership.
Know residents’ life stories, preferences, historical routines, and interests.
Serve meals and, when needed, assist with meal preparation using preplanned dementia-friendly menus; encourage adequate nutrition and fluids while respecting residents’ choices, and report changes in eating habits to the supervisor.
Initiate or lead at least one Daily Path engagement program and encourage person-centered social and activity participation and friendships among residents.
Maintain resident records in a timely manner, including applicable medication distribution, engagement interests, incidents, observations, visitors, and changes in physical condition or behavior; promptly report changes to the supervisor.
Where permitted by state regulations, assist with or administer medications in accordance with physician orders, state laws, and company medication procedures.
Maintain a clean, safe, and orderly environment and perform general housekeeping according to cleaning schedules.
Follow emergency procedures and respond promptly to resident requests for assistance, including emergency pull cords and calls.
Monitor residents’ locations and immediately notify the supervisor if a resident cannot be located.
Encourage teamwork through cooperative interactions with coworkers.
Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance for eligible part- and full-time associates.
401(k) plan.
Associate assistance program.
Employee discounts.
Referral program.
Early access to earned wages for hourly associates outside California.
Optional voluntary benefits, including identity theft protection and pet insurance.
Paid time off for eligible full-time associates.
Paid holidays for eligible full-time associates.
Company-provided life insurance for eligible full-time associates.
Adoption benefit for eligible full-time associates.
Short- and long-term disability for eligible full-time associates.
Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible full-time associates.
Health Savings Account for eligible full-time associates.
Optional life and dependent life insurance for eligible full-time associates.
Optional voluntary benefits, including accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity insurance, and a legal plan, for eligible full-time associates.
Tuition reimbursement for eligible full-time associates.
Temporary associates are not benefits eligible but may participate in the company’s 401(k) program.
Qualified associates who have been with the company for at least one year may receive an advance of naturalization application fees up to $725, less applicable taxes and withholding.