Art Therapist

Responsibilities

• Assists in developing new and stimulating activities in specialty area/s and encourage and coordinate Resident involvement.
• Assist Residents in their adjustments to a new concept of lifestyle as well as in the continuation of interests, hobbies and activities they may have previously pursued.
• Help prepare, print and distribute copies of monthly calendar, newsletters and memos to Resident
• Develop and implement individualized and group art therapy sessions tailored to residents’ physical, cognitive, and emotional needs
• Utilize creative art modalities—painting, drawing, sculpting, and mixed media—to foster self-expression, reduce stress, and improve mental health
• Facilitate/lead planned activities independently, facilitating parallel programming/activities while Lifestyle Director or fellow Lifestyle Coordinators are leading programs elsewhere in the community.
• Maintain a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment during all art therapy sessions.
• Stay current with best practices in art therapy, geriatric care, and dementia care.
• Proactively seek out and engage with residents in small groups or one-on-one programs during periods when not actively scheduled to lead another program.
• Encourage and cultivate positive social engagement among both colleagues and residents.
• Become fully conversant with audio/visual equipment necessary to run the Programming Department, i.e., DVD/VCR, amplifiers, tape decks, microphones and sound systems, etc.
• Collect and categorize Resident monies for special activities or events run and planned by the Programming Department.
• Maintain knowledge of Residents’ backgrounds, hobbies, special interests, and languages spoken, etc., and uses this knowledge to encourage Resident involvement.
• Inform Lifestyle Director after each activity or assignment via conversation, memo left at desk, etc., on the overall success, Resident participation rate and/or any problems that may have occurred or could be eliminated in the future.
• Attend in-services and educational seminars to enhance knowledge of dementia and recreation programs, including monthly calendar planning sessions.
• Perform other tasks and/or assists in other departments as assigned by the Lifestyle Director, Director of Reflections, Executive Director/General Manager, or supervisor on duty.