Personal Care Assistant - Community Health

Geisinger • Wilkes-Barre, PA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Personal Care Assistant provides personal care assistance to participants at the Adult Day Health Center and in participants’ homes. The role supports participants in maintaining a healthy, independent lifestyle in the community, providing personal care, homemaker services, personal interaction, and restorative care. Work is performed independently and courteously under a care plan developed by the home care coordinator and participant, while promoting the participant’s maximum independence at home.

The position requires regular travel to the LIFE Geisinger site and participants’ homes. Work is typically performed in a clinical environment. The assistant may be required to provide on-call coverage for after-hours home-care emergencies. The role includes documenting services, communicating respectfully with participants and colleagues, participating in quality-improvement work, attending team and monthly meetings, and completing required educational trainings.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Reliable transportation and ability to travel regularly to the LIFE Geisinger site and participants’ homes.
• At least one year of related work experience is preferred.
• Basic Life Support certification within six months.
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation certification from the American Heart Association within six months.
• Communication, computer literacy, and interpersonal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Previous patient care experience and/or training.
• At least one year of related work experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide personal care assistance to participants at the Adult Day Health Center and in their homes.
• Deliver personal care, homemaker services, personal interaction, and restorative care under participant care plans.
• Provide direct care, including support with nutrition and hydration, obtaining vital signs, ambulation, transfers, range-of-motion exercises, medication-compliance prompts, and incontinence care.
• Perform indirect care, including light housekeeping, laundry assistance, economical use of supplies, and delivery of medication and supplies as needed.
• Use safe body mechanics and appropriate equipment, including gait belts and back braces, during participant transfers and ambulation.
• Collect data for mandatory requirements and quality-improvement projects, and participate in action plans and their implementation.
• Complete accurate and thorough documentation of services according to program policy.
• Communicate effectively with older adults and coworkers, explain care tasks before beginning, and respect participants’ rights.
• Provide orientation and redirection, promote independence through choices and self-help skills, and communicate respect and caring verbally and nonverbally.
• Work cooperatively with the interdisciplinary team to provide quality care to LIFE Geisinger participants.
• Attend assigned interdisciplinary team and scheduled monthly meetings and complete required educational trainings.
• Provide on-call coverage for after-hours home-care emergencies when required.
• Travel regularly to the LIFE Geisinger site and participants’ homes.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision benefits starting on day one.
• Three medical plan choices, including an expanded network for out-of-area employees and dependents.
• Pre-tax healthcare and dependent-care flexible spending accounts and a health savings account with employer contribution.
• Company-paid life insurance and short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• 401(k) plan with automatic Geisinger contribution.
• Paid time off plan with rapid accrual.
• Up to $5,000 in tuition reimbursement per calendar year.
• MyHealth Rewards wellness program with a financial incentive.
• Adoption and fertility assistance.
• Parental leave pay and military leave pay.
• Free Care.com membership with discounted backup care.
• Employee Assistance Program with childcare, eldercare, and pet-care referrals; legal guidance; mental-health visits; work-life support; and digital self-help tools.
• Voluntary accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, identity theft protection, universal life, pet, and legal insurance.
• Domestic partner benefits.
• Collaborative, cooperative, and collegial workplace atmosphere.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED