Personal Care Assistant - Community Health

Geisinger • Wilkes-Barre, PA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Personal Care Assistant provides personal care assistance to participants at the Adult Day Health Center and delivers personal care, homemaker services, personal interaction, and restorative care in participants’ homes to support healthy, independent community living. The role works independently under a care plan developed by the home care coordinator and participant, providing needed care while promoting the participant’s maximum level of independence.

The position is based at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre and typically takes place in a clinical environment, with regular travel to the LIFE Geisinger site and participants’ homes. The role is full-time, scheduled for 40 hours per week on day shifts. Reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license are required. After-hours on-call coverage for home emergencies may be required.

The assistant provides direct and indirect participant care, documents services, communicates respectfully with participants and coworkers, and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team. The role also includes attending meetings and completing required training. Employees are expected to follow applicable program and organizational policies and procedures and meet job-specific obligations.

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.
• Minimum of 1 year of related work experience is preferred, not required.
• Basic Life Support certification within 6 months.
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation certification from the American Heart Association within 6 months.
• Communication, computer literacy, and interpersonal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Previous patient care experience and/or training.

Responsibilities

• Provide personal care assistance to participants at the Adult Day Health Center and in their homes.
• Deliver personal care, nutrition and hydration support, vital-sign collection, assistance with ambulation and transfers, range-of-motion activities, medication-compliance prompts, and incontinence care.
• Provide indirect care such as light housekeeping, laundry assistance, economical use of supplies, and delivery of medication and supplies as needed.
• Work independently and safely under a care plan while supporting participants’ maximum independence.
• Provide on-call coverage for after-hours home emergencies when required.
• Follow safety practices, including good body mechanics and use of a gait belt and back brace for 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 actions before beginning tasks, and provide orientation and redirection to participants.
• Respect participants’ rights, promote independence by offering choices and fostering self-help skills, and communicate care and respect verbally and non-verbally.
• 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 training.
• Travel regularly to the LIFE Geisinger site and participants’ homes to provide services.

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- and long-term disability coverage.
• 401(k) plan with automatic Geisinger contribution.
• Paid time off plan with accrual described as generous.
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,000 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; free legal guidance; mental health visits; work-life support; digital self-help tools; and other resources.
• Voluntary benefits including accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, identity theft protection, universal life, pet, and legal insurance.

What This Job Offers

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