Wellness Instructor - Senior Living / Ovation Sienna Hills

Ovation by Avamere•Washington, UT

About The Position

The Wellness Instructor works on an Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care campus, leading resident-centered fitness and holistic wellness programs in collaboration with the Wellness Director. The role adapts physical and cognitive activities to residents’ varying capability levels to support mobility and independence. The instructor collaborates with campus stakeholders to foster a healthy environment through activities, education, and resources that encourage balanced lifestyles and enhance residents’ quality of life. The instructor plans and delivers campus-wide wellness programming, including group fitness, individual instruction, specialized movement activities, wellness education, and dementia-friendly activities. The role also conducts screenings, tracks outcomes, coordinates with care teams, maintains safe fitness areas, and evaluates program effectiveness.

Requirements

Nationally recognized personal trainer certification, such as NASM, ACE, ACSM, or ISSA.
Current CPR and First Aid certifications.
At least 2 years of experience teaching group fitness.
Prior experience working with the geriatric population or in a continuing care retirement community.
Exceptional patience, empathy, and motivational communication skills, particularly when working with residents with cognitive impairments.
Knowledge of current wellness trends and best practices.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to motivate and inspire others.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and wellness software tools.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of resident care information.
Compassion for and desire to work with older adults.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Recreation Management, or a related health field is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Plan, develop, implement, and manage a comprehensive campus-wide wellness program.
Create and lead a varied calendar of land-based and, if applicable, aquatic group exercise classes, such as yoga, strength training, water aerobics, and walking clubs.
Provide one-on-one instruction and orientation for residents using the fitness center and cardiovascular equipment.
Lead movement classes focused on core stability, balance, and gait to help minimize fall risks.
Encourage residents’ daily physical activity and help them maintain strength for activities of daily living.
Design low-impact, sensory-rich, dementia-friendly activities focused on range of motion, rhythm, and reminiscence.
Use movement and specialized therapies to help manage and redirect behaviors associated with dementia and memory loss.
Conduct functional fitness screenings for new residents, monitor progress, and document outcomes and attendance according to department policy.
Coordinate with nursing, occupational therapy, and life enrichment teams to ensure wellness plans are cohesive and medically appropriate.
Prepare monthly wellness calendars, contribute to community newsletters, and educate residents about healthy lifestyle choices and behavior-change strategies.
Maintain safe fitness areas, ensure equipment is clean and functioning properly, and follow HIPAA and infection-control guidelines.
Create and distribute wellness-related educational materials.
Monitor and evaluate wellness program effectiveness and report outcomes and metrics to stakeholders.
Promote a culture of wellness throughout the organization.
Provide individual wellness coaching or counseling.
Maintain current knowledge of health and wellness trends.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Employee Assistance Program with confidential mental health, stress, family-needs, and work/life-balance support.
Flexible PTO program combining vacation, sick, and holiday time.
Six recognized paid holidays, with premium pay for eligible hourly employees.
401(k) retirement plan available after 90 days, with discretionary employer match.
Health Savings Account, with employer contributions up to $600 per year for HDHP participants.
Flexible Spending Accounts for medical, limited-purpose, dependent-care, and commuter expenses.
Supplemental accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, life, and disability insurance options.
Legal insurance.
Discounted pet insurance plans.
Employee discounts on travel, entertainment, electronics, fitness, and more.