Wellness Assistant

**JOB DESCRIPTION**

**Position**: Wellness Assistant

**Department**: Wellness

**Category**:Union

**Reports to**:Wellness Manager

**Date**:2025

**Job Summary**:
According to established policies and procedures, and under the general direction of the Wellness Manager, carries out resident-centered activation programs such as, creative arts, fitness, music, baking, dining in, gardening, outings, social events, cognitive programs, one to one visits, group games, sing-alongs, hymn singing, reminiscence and discussion groups as included in our calendar. Supports residents as they learn new techniques, which are adapted to encourage participation and maintain or improve each resident’s abilities, and reports problems and/or changes to supervisor.

**Qualifications and Requirements**:

- Completion of a minimum of a 2 year recognized Therapeutic Recreation Program.
- Preferred two years recent, related experience in a long-term care environment.
- A valid Class 4 vehicle license (unrestricted).
- Current First Aid/CPR Certificate.
- Preferred Functional Fitness Certificate or Gerontology Fitness Certificate, or related fitness training.
- Preferred specialized training on programing for individuals with dementia.

**Key Responsibilities**:
- Carries out resident activity programs such as arts and crafts, sports, music, woodworking, cooking, gardening and exercises as directed.
- Lifts, transfers, porters and ambulates residents to and from activities using safe practices.
- Ensures that residents have proper assistive devices with them as required, i.e. hearing aid, cane.
- Promotes and publicizes upcoming events.
- Promotes cognitive abilities in residents through activities such as reading to residents, playing music, crosswords, word puzzles, current events, quest speakers and continued learning.
- Promotes community involvement through liaison with volunteers and organizations, families and friends.
- Prepares areas for activities, maintains recreation equipment, reports unsafe or faulty equipment to the supervisor and keeps activity areas safe, clean and tidy.
- Observes and reports any changes in resident’s functional and cognitive behavior to the nurse on duty, and documents changes in progress notes.
- Works with Wellness Manager in creating and updating care plan goals for residents.
- Documents any witnessed falls or incidents.
- Informs nurse in charge and documents any concern regarding abuse of a resident or staff.
- Assists in the activities of daily living of the residents as required.
- Assesses programs to ensure they meet the goals and needs of individual residents.
- Performs other duties as required/assigned.

**Skills and Abilities**:

- Understands the culture of the residents we serve in Full Care.
- Demonstrates the safe operation of a 19-passenger bus.
- Encourages participation, which maintains dignity and validates individual creativity and choice.
- Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Deals with others effectively, with dignity and compassion.
- Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
- Shares knowledge and skills.
- Leads and participate as an effective member of a team.
- Organizes work schedule, records, documentation.
- Operates related equipment.

**Working Conditions**:

- Physical ability to lift to 30 pounds.

**Responsibilities to Health and Safety**:

- Works safely to reduce the risk of injury to self, co-workers, and residents.
- Promptly reports all actual or potentially hazardous situations to immediate supervisor.
- Does not operate or use faulty equipment.
- Promptly reports personal injury to Supervisor and seeks first aid as needed.
- Participates in fire safety demonstrations and fire drills, and knows the facility fire and disaster plan.
- Keeps all recreation areas, including storage areas, accessible and free from hazards at all times.
- Monitors areas, residents assistive devices, i.e. walker, w/c, for health and safety.