Life Enrichment Recreation Aide (PT)

Application Requirements

Gracedale Nursing Home, located in a beautiful rural setting outside Nazareth, Pennsylvania, has been providing the highest quality long-term care, along with rehabilitative and restorative services, to residents of the Lehigh Valley and beyond since the 1960's.

To care for the people with healthcare needs in the most cost effective manner while preserving their dignity and pursuit of the highest quality of life.

To improve care outcomes so that Gracedale is a preferred facility for area referral sources and a facility of choice for prospective residents and employees.

The Life Enrichment Recreation Aide assists the Life Enrichment Director in the organization, direction, and implementation of activities for all residents of Gracedale. This position is responsible for practicing ethical and professional behaviors related to the field of life enrichment and meeting the physical, mental, emotional and social needs, as well as the interest of the Gracedale residents. 

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must successfully submit a completed application prior to the posting deadline. Applicants who submit incomplete applications will be disqualified from consideration. Candidates will be contacted directly by a Hiring Manager at Gracedale Nursing Home in order to schedule an interview.

Equal Employment Opportunities – It is the policy of Northampton County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or any other status protected by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other state, federal, or local law.

For questions regarding this posting, please contact Rosemarie Sciana, Recruitment and Onboarding Administrator, at rsciana@northamptoncounty.org or 610-829-6335.

Job Description

The Life Enrichment Recreation Aide assists the Life Enrichment Director in the organization, direction, and implementation of activities for all residents of Gracedale. This position is responsible for practicing ethical and professional behaviors related to the field of life enrichment and meeting the physical, mental, emotional and social needs, as well as the interest of the Gracedale residents. 

 

This position reports directly to the Life Enrichment Director.

      

This position is not responsible for the supervision of other employees or functions.

       

Organize and implement all scheduled activities, including workshops, trips, religious activities, social and special events, including maintenance of supplies and equipment, preparation and completion of projects and adaptation of activities.

 

Responsible for documentation of the following with approval of Life Enrichment Director: initial evaluation; progress notes; interdisciplinary care plan approaches and goals; and taking of attendance.

 

Participation in departmental meetings, interdisciplinary patient care plan meetings, and in-services.

 

Cooperate and maintain good working relationships with other staff members and volunteers.

 

Operation of various life enrichment department equipment (see Tools and Equipment).

 

Transportation of residents to and from activity programs.

 

Responsible for remaining alert to mental and physical needs of all residents during activities; recognizing residents' limitations; and reporting any problems to the immediate supervisor.

 

 

 

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE - Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent; AND 

 

Six (6) to twelve (12) months of experience in organizing and instructing activities for groups is preferred; AND

 

Experience with geriatric residents is preferred; AND

Must complete Feeding Program training; AND

 

It is preferred that employees assigned to this title possess and maintain a valid and current motor vehicle driver's license, with an acceptable driving record.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS - Applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and present valid proof of vaccinated status, in order to be eligible for hire at Gracedale Nursing Home. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), people are considered fully vaccinated two (2) weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series (such as Pfizer or Moderna vaccines), or two (2) weeks after a single-dose vaccine (such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine).

Upon hire employee must have a drug screening and COVID-19 testing. Employees may also be periodically tested for COVID-19 as required or recommended. In addition, Gracedale Nursing Home will follow The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements with regard to booster(s) needed for workers in health care settings.

Knowledge of goals, objectives, principles and practices pertaining to life enrichment in long-term care.

 

Knowledge of life enrichment methods and techniques applicable to individuals in an inpatient nursing facility.

 

Knowledge of physical, mental, emotional, and other factors affecting geriatric needs, interests and capacities.

 

Knowledge of governmental regulations and requirements governing life enrichment.

 

Knowledge of the organization, functions and operation commonly found in care facilities and their relationship to the administration of life enrichment services.

 

Ability to assess individual patient needs and develop a plan to address those needs by designing crafts and various other activity programs, and coordinate efforts with medical, social and other care.  

 

Ability to demonstrate initiative, creativity, dependability, cooperation and self-motivation.

 

Ability to recognize the importance of the activity program in the total plan of care, and to enjoy working with geriatric residents.

 

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, representatives of social, community and other organizations, including their participation in recreational activities.

 

Ability to operate a personal computer to enter information into and secure information from established programs.

 

Ability to effectively read and write work schedules, resident records, physician orders, etc.; to maintain records of activities and prepare reports of same.

 

Ability to hear and speak clearly both in person and over the telephone.

 

Ability to read, write, speak, understand and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position.

 

Telephone, personal computer, and life enrichment equipment. Woodworking tools including hammer, screw driver, hand saws, pliers, and a glue gun; video equipment such as a VCR, DVD player, and large screen television; kitchen appliances, including microwave, blender, and electric frying pan; vacuum cleaner; sewing machine; and other related equipment. Operation of a motorized vehicle, such as a van or bus.

 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.

 

The employee must possess agility and strength sufficient to support and maneuver heavy patients of limited physical capacity. Must be able to lift, push, etc. in transport an average of 55 pounds for wheelchair residents and an average of 75 pounds for geri-chair residents combined with weight of resident with assistance from bed to and from commode and/or bus seat.

 

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to care and therapy room environments.

 

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately loud in care areas and in therapy sessions.

 

Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interview and reference check as well as job related tests may be required.

 

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.