Recreation Assistant
About The Position
The Recreation Assistant works directly with residents with love, acceptance, friendliness, and compassion, aiming to help them live their lives to the fullest. This role involves developing activity programs based on residents' interests, strengths, and needs, and conducting these activities in an atmosphere of warmth, success, encouragement, and joy. The primary responsibility is to spend time with assigned residents, acting as a friend, advocate, and source of life or comfort. This includes providing personal contact and conducting activities that help residents feel successful and purposeful, encouraging them to pursue their interests and use their abilities, or providing solace and comfort within a homelike and comforting atmosphere.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Ability to complete the feeding portion of the Nursing Assistant course or be a Certified Nursing Assistant.
- Previous work with elderly or physically challenged persons is desirable.
- Ability to maintain an outgoing, cheerful, and enthusiastic personality.
- Demonstrates respect for the elderly or physically challenged.
- Ability to speak clearly and make self understood to people of varying abilities.
- Ability to function as a team player.
- Ability to work independently and self-motivate.
- Ability and willingness to learn.
- Ability to present an activity to a large group.
- Skills in one or more areas of: music, art, organization, listening, and group work.
- Ability to read, write, follow directions in English, and use basic math skills.
- Ability to problem-solve and think creatively.
- Precise record-keeping ability.
- Ability to prepare, present, and evaluate activities accurately.
- Attend all Bethesda or other sponsored on-going activity meetings and in-services.
- Continual professional updating.
- Compassion for people with disabilities.
- Ability to adapt activities to varying needs.
- Ability to alternate activity plans if necessary.
- Teamwork with other department members.
- Flexibility and spontaneity.
- Patience with residents displaying agitation, confusion, or depression.
- Ability to work with many people, both staff and residents, with varying personalities.
- Report for and leave the work area on a timely basis.
- Participate in annual performance reviews.
- Write yearly personal goals.
- Participate in all required in-service programs.
- Maintain professional conduct and pleasant, friendly attitude towards staff, residents, and visitors.
- Be willing to learn and change to meet needs that arise.
Nice To Haves
- Previous work with elderly or physically challenged persons is desirable.
Responsibilities
- Develop activity programs based on resident interests, strengths, and needs.
- Conduct activities in an atmosphere of warmth, success, encouragement, and joy.
- Spend the majority of time each day working directly with residents.
- Foster resident communication, self-expression, and personal identity.
- Be aware of resident interests, needs, and goals, and assist them to be successful.
- Be friendly, helpful, and accommodating to family members and volunteers.
- Promote open communication, cooperation, teamwork, and friendliness within the department and with other departments.
- Complete required documentation and care planning in a timely, legible, and accurate manner.
- Plan and implement creative activities that meet different levels of abilities.
- Assist at meals when directed by supervisor.
- Assist residents at activity groups with their snacks/beverages.
- Foster cooperation and friendliness with new staff.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
