Community Living Life Enrichment Assistant - Activities Assistant

SUMMARY:

The Community Living Life Enrichment Assistant supports the delivery of meaningful, engaging, and participant-centered activities within the PACE Southeast Michigan Community Living environments. Under the direction of the Community Living Manager, this role works directly with Life Enrichment Therapists to facilitate individual and group activities that promote participants’ social connection, creativity, physical activity, cognitive engagement, independence, and overall well-being.

The Community Living Life Enrichment Assistant helps prepare and coordinate a variety of programs, including arts and crafts, exercise, music, outdoor activities, recreational programs, and special events. This role partners with participants, Life Enrichment employees, community living associates, and interdisciplinary team members to encourage participation, respond to individual needs and abilities, and support a welcoming and inclusive Community Living experience.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS:

Participant Programming & Engagement:

• Facilitates group and individualized life-enrichment activities that reflect participants’ interests, abilities, preferences, and individualized care needs.
• Encourages and supports participant involvement in social, recreational, creative, cognitive, physical, cultural, and spiritual activities that promote engagement and overall well-being.
• Adapts activities and provides appropriate assistance to support safe, inclusive, and meaningful participation.
• Observes participant responses, changes in abilities, and engagement levels and communicates relevant concerns or recommendations to the Life Enrichment Therapist and interdisciplinary team.

Program Coordination & Activity Support:

• Assists with planning and preparing the monthly activity calendar, special events, community outings, and other life-enrichment programs.
• Prepares activity spaces, materials, supplies, and equipment to support organized, safe, and timely program delivery.
• Escorts and assists participants traveling to and from activities, programs, and approved community outings while supporting their safety, comfort, and mobility needs.
• Helps maintain activity supplies and program areas and communicates resources or equipment needs to the appropriate to their leader.

Collaboration & Organizational Expectations:

• Partners with Life Enrichment employees, community living associates, and interdisciplinary team members to coordinate activities and support participant-centered care plans.
• Demonstrates behaviors aligned with PACE Southeast Michigan’s mission, values, and Ten Principles.
• Maintains professionalism, confidentiality, and accountability in all interactions and responsibilities.
• Builds collaborative relationships with employees, participants, leaders, caregivers, and community partners.
• Participates in continuous learning and professional development opportunities relevant to the role.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of participant-centered recreational and life-enrichment practices that support the social, cognitive, physical, creative, cultural, and spiritual well-being of older adults.
• Ability to facilitate engaging activities for individuals and groups while adapting communication, instructions, materials, and assistance to participants’ interests, abilities, and support needs.
• Strong verbal, written, and nonverbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with participants, caregivers, employees, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Ability to establish rapport, encourage participation, and maintain an engaging and welcoming environment in individual, small-group, and large-group settings.
• Strong interpersonal awareness, patience, sound judgment, and sensitivity when responding to participants with varying physical, cognitive, emotional, and communication needs.
• Ability to organize activity materials, manage multiple priorities, respond to changing participant needs, and maintain attention to safety and detail.
• Proficiency with computers, technology systems, and software applications used for communication, scheduling, activity planning, and documentation.
• Ability to work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team environment while maintaining professionalism, confidentiality, reliability, and accountability.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:

• Delivers organized, engaging, and participant-centered activities that reflect participants’ interests, abilities, preferences, and individualized care needs.
• Promote consistent participant engagement by creating an inclusive, respectful, energetic, and supportive program environment.
• Adapts activities and engagement approaches appropriately to support participants with different physical, cognitive, social, and communication abilities.
• Maintains participant safety, dignity, comfort, and choice during activities, special events, and approved community outings.
• Communicates participant responses, changes, concerns, and program needs accurately and promptly to the appropriate Life Enrichment employee or interdisciplinary team member.
• Completes assigned program preparation, coordination, and documentation accurately and within established timeframes.
• Builds positive and collaborative working relationships with participants, caregivers, employees, leaders, and community partners.
• Demonstrates accountability, professionalism, continuous learning, and behaviors aligned with PACE Southeast Michigan’s mission, values, and Ten Principles.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in a social, recreational, activities, or life-enrichment program required; experience in a healthcare or senior-services setting preferred.
• Experience supporting recreational programs, activities, or special events for older adults preferred.
• Training or experience related to Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, cognitive impairment, or memory support preferred.
• Activity Professional Certified credential through the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals or a comparable recognized life-enrichment certification preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Prolonged periods of standing and walking while supporting activities, programs, special events, and participant movement.
• Ability to lift, carry, and move up to fifty (50) pounds as needed to prepare activity spaces and handle program materials, supplies, and equipment.
• Ability to safely push and transport participants using wheelchairs in accordance with organizational practices and participant needs.
• Ability to accompany and assist participants throughout PACE Southeast Michigan community living environments and during approved community activities and outings.