Life Enrichment Assistant

Description

Location: Summit Square Retirement Community

Employment Status: Full Time (40 hours/week), hourly, non-exempt.

Anticipated Shift/

Hours:

Flexible, could include evenings and weekends on rotating basis.

The Life Enrichment Assistant (full time) plans, leads, and supports activities that promote residents’ social, physical, spiritual, and sensory well-being while building meaningful connections! Through group programs, one-on-one interactions, and community involvement. The ideal candidate is a caring, dependable team player with strong communication skills who is compassionate, energetic, and enjoys working with older adults to create engaging, meaningful experiences.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Assist with the planning, setup, and implementation of group activities and special events
• Lead a minimum of two activities per week and support weekday, evening, and weekend programs as scheduled
• Encourage resident participation and provide transportation to and from activities
• Complete one‑on‑one visits as needed to support individual care plans
• Build positive, professional relationships with residents, families, guests, volunteers, and team members
• Work with residents based on their unique interests and care plan goals, in collaboration with the HC Activities Coordinator
• Complete daily documentation, including activity participation, attendance, and resident engagement
• Visit and orient new residents within one month of move‑in, providing welcome materials and support
• Maintain, operate, and set up all necessary equipment, including A/V equipment, office equipment, food carts
• Operate vehicles for outings, including a wheelchair‑accessible van and a 14‑passenger van, with appropriate approval and training
• Communicate regularly with the Life Enrichment Coordinator regarding resident needs, program successes, or concerns
• Assist with department shopping, submitting receipts in a timely and responsible manner
• Answer department phones, record messages, and maintain clear communication when needed
• Safeguard resident privacy and confidentiality, following HIPAA regulations and key control procedures
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends as needed

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required.
• Prior work experience in the long‑term care industry or working with older adults preferred.
• Ability to communicate with older population with varying metal and physical capabilities.
• Ability to process information accurately, make appropriate decisions and take appropriate action based upon the information available.
• Ability to work with confidential information and maintain its’ integrity.
• Sincere interest in working with the elderly.
• Be creative, positive, energetic, organized and patient.
• CPR and First Aid certified or ability to obtain.
• Current Virginia driver’s license and meets driver eligibility requirements per Sunnyside policy (HR069) as well as ability to drive a 14 passenger wheelchair bus.
• Strong customer service skills; maintain a hospitality approach when engaging all individuals.

This job operates in an environment with activity rooms and office space with normal lighting levels, temperature ranges, air quality, ventilation, and noise levels. Special events, temperatures vary with the season and location.

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. The employee is frequently required to stand for long periods of time. Additionally, employees will routinely sit, stand, reach, lift, bend, kneel, stoop, climb, push, and pull items weighing 30 lbs or less and occasionally more than 40 lbs.

The position requires manual dexterity, auditory and visual skills, and the ability to follow written and oral instructions and procedures. General hazards related to the operation and maintenance of activity equipment. Hazards related to the exposure and handling of cleaning supplies, as well as possible exposure to blood borne pathogens. Minimal hazards if universal precautions are followed.