Personal Care Worker

About the job

Location:
Ashby Ponds by Erickson Senior Living SUMMARY:
The Personal Care Worker is an active member of the clinical team who is committed to providing residents with assistance and care in all aspects of their daily life, and to the overall functioning of the neighborhood.

• The Care Associate provides care to the residents of the neighborhood to meet their daily needs and enable them to function at the highest possible level to include:
• Provides physical assistance with activities of daily living.
• Promotes psychosocial well-being through meaningful relationships.
• Plans and facilitates social activities for the neighborhood residents.
• Assists with menu/snack selection and partners with the Service Associate in serving to ensure adequate nutritional intake of all residents. Provides in-room dining experiences where requested.
• Assures the resident’s room and neighborhood are kept tidy to minimize environmental hazards which may impact environmental safety.

Compensation: ranges from $18/hour - $20.75/hour, plus applicable shift differentials.

Person Centered Care Summary:
The Continuing Care team is committed to serving residents in all aspects of their daily lives and assisting with the day to day functioning of the neighborhood. Members of the Continuing Care team will develop relationships with the residents and their families using a consistent caregiver approach; supporting the residents’ physical, spiritual, emotional and clinical needs and focusing on placing the residents first.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Strives to exceed resident expectations with heart-felt care and concern, demonstrating the Erickson Senior Living Mission and Values at all times.
• Learns and honors resident preferences.
• Responds in a timely fashion to all resident requests or concerns with the intent on a resolution that meets the needs of the individual while always displaying courtesy and respect.
• Works cooperatively and collaboratively with other members of the neighborhood to ensure all resident’s desires and needs are met, displaying a courteous, positive attitude and professional demeanor even during difficult situations.
• Effectively implements each person directed care plan, focusing on the resident’s strengths while providing a sense of comfort, companionship and belonging.
• Maintains resident confidentiality.
• Escorts residents when assistance is needed to travel from one location to another.
• Observes residents closely, identifies changing needs and conditions at first indication, and reports observed changes immediately to supervisor.
• Respects the resident’s room as home and assist the resident in feeling in charge of everything that happens within their daily activities and personal space.
• Notifies a responsible coordinator, manager or supervisor of a situation not in their ability to handle.

Programming:
Spontaneous activities occur throughout a resident’s day and are driven by the resident’s individual habits, preferences, desires and interests. Staff will continue to support those resident driven activities through their workday such as:

• Regularly visits residents who are in their rooms or common areas to assess needs, desires and offer assistance engaging them in the daily activities within the neighborhood.
• Supports and encourages residents to participate in self-care, and then provide assistance as needed.
• Works with other team members (residents and/or staff) to engage the resident is activities of daily living and maintaining the functioning of the neighborhood (i.e., laundry, cooking, meal planning/preparation/serving/cleanup, etc.).
• Provides assistance with resident activities. Continually seeks opportunities to meet resident’s psychosocial needs through planned care, neighborhood specific programming as well as spontaneous resident directed activities.
• Provides opportunities for all residents to participate in the decision-making of the neighborhood in meaningful ways.
• Assist group and individual activities (structured and impromptu) in activity spaces, common areas and in the resident’s room to support resident desires.
• Maintains equipment, games and supplies for use in supporting resident and neighborhood activity choices.

Neighborhood duties:

• Shares resident preferences with other staff using appropriate communication methods and reports on their assigned resident’s condition at the end of each shift.
• Demonstrates a time-conscious awareness, keeping non-essential interruptions to a minimum in order to complete resident care priorities.
• Shares ideas to improve processes in the Neighborhood.
• Contributes to building a positive team spirit.
• Attends and actively participates with Interdisciplinary Team meetings to identify strength based approaches and skills for assigned residents.
• Collaborates with clinical team to resolve problems responsibly and facilitate decision-making at the level closest to the resident.
• Works collaboratively with other team members, volunteers, families and community groups while providing friendly and efficient service to all residents and guests.
• Works safely at all times. Identifies and corrects safety deficiencies; Reports malfunctioning equipment promptly.
• Shares personal skills, talents and ideas to benefit the neighborhood; deals with workplace issues quickly and professionally, asking for mediation when needed; encourages team to do the same.
• Responds quickly and appropriately in emergency situations.
• Maintains dependability and punctuality, shows flexibility and willingness to learn new areas of responsibility.
• Dresses in appropriate uniform at all times. Visibly displays ID Badge at all times.
• Maintains compliance with all required education and training programs.
• Participates in Performance Improvement/Risk Management/Safety activities to monitor and improve resident outcomes.
• Selects and uses appropriate communication methods; works with others in a professional atmosphere; acts as a role model for new employees; contributes to building a positive team spirit.

Personal Care Worker specific Duties :

• Provides personal care in a calm, professional and clinically proficient manner; respecting residents’ privacy, dignity and safety.
• Adheres to all care policies, procedures, and care standards.
• Participates in the dining experience with other team members in serving, clearing, cueing, and feeding, based on residents’ strengths.
• Able to make objective observations in resident’s condition and alert the clinical supervisor and security in case of emergency.
• Responds quickly and appropriately to provide emergency first aid when needed.
• Effectively implements individualized resident care plans.
• Completes skin observations and reports any changes immediately to the licensed nurse
• Performs resident rounds per the resident specific service plan.
• Maintains competency in the required job skills and knowledge.
• Practices appropriate safety procedures during resident transfers; utilizing gait belt appropriately.
• Provides range of motion, proper positioning, and assistance with resident ambulation.
• Utilizes proper Standard Precautions.
• Uses all equipment safely and correctly.
• Demonstrates knowledge of emergency policies and procedures.
• Practices appropriate infection control measures.
• Changes approach or method to best fit the situation.

• KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Basic computer skills required.
• Complete a Safe Food Handling and Preparation Class (within 30 days of hire)

• EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
• High School diploma or GED required.
• Current CPR certification is preferred.
• One year’s Personal Care Worker, preferred but not required

LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Must be able to read write and communicate in the English language.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.

OSHA OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE CATEGORY:
After careful analysis, it has been determined that this falls into OSHA Occupational Exposure Category III and requires the following protective equipment be work by anyone filling this position.

GLOVES, GOWNS, MASKS, AND/OR GOGGLES:
Training will be provided in how to properly and effectively use any necessary equipment, in addition to education regarding precautionary measures, epidemiology, and modes of transmission and prevention of HIV/HBV.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ashby Ponds is a beautiful 132-acre continuing care retirement community in Loudoun County, Virginia. We’re part of a growing national network of communities managed by Erickson Senior Living, one of the country’s largest and most respected providers of senior living and health care. Ashby Ponds helps people live better lives by fulfilling our promises of a vibrant lifestyle, financial stability, and focused health and well-being services for those who live and work with us. As part of our team, you'll enjoy flexibility and work-life balance to meet your personal and professional goals, and we are committed to providing you with opportunities to learn and grow.

Erickson Senior Living, its affiliates, and managed communities are Equal Opportunity Employers and are committed to providing a workplace free of unlawful discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, veteran status, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.