Homemaker

Overview:

JOB DESCRIPTION

The homemaker performs the combined duties of dining services, (including cook, kitchen assistant and kitchen activities) housekeeping and laundry. As cook, the homemaker will prepare food for household meals and snacks that are healthy and appetizing and served in a timely manner, maintaining high quality standards and portion control using standardized recipes. Assists with serving resident meals, snacks and nourishments. Plans and facilitates activities for the residents and the household that involve food preparation or other activities specific to the kitchen. Assists residents with caring for their clothing, including washing, sorting and folding. Performs housekeeping duties (assisted by CNAs and other household associates) to maintain cleanliness and neatness of household surroundings.

PRIMARY

DINING SERVICES (cook, kitchen assistant, kitchen and dining activities)

Prepares high quality food in accordance with all pertinent safety and health regulations, guidelines and standards

Follows menus and recipes correctly, making any necessary or requested substitutions appropriately

Understands liberalized therapeutic diets and special food requirements and finds ways to make such modifications palatable and enjoyable

Assists with taking inventory of, storing and ordering household grocery supplies

Regularly elicits residents’ direction in choices of foods, menus, recipes and presentation

Maintains equipment and cooking area to ensure safety and sanitation requirements are met; keeps a clean, tidy and organized kitchen in compliance with all regulations; cleans when necessary; reports repair and maintenance needs appropriately

Takes temperatures of foods and equipment and maintains proper documentation for regulatory compliance

Helps to prepare and serve appropriate snacks and meals

Assists residents who are unable to eat without support (with proper training and certification(s)), as appropriate. ServSafe certification is required. Certified Dietary Manager training is encouraged.

Facilitates mealtime conversations and maintains a warm, pleasant atmosphere while residents are eating

Facilitates kitchen related activities for residents; ensures that necessary supplies, equipment and utensils are available; organizes any necessary clean-up activities; ensures safety of residents throughout all kitchen processes

Consistently follows standard principles of sanitation and universal precautions to preserve food quality and prevent the transmission of food-borne illness

HOUSEKEEPING, LAUNDRY

Maintains clean spaces in the household, including resident rooms, household common spaces, as well as support spaces and equipment

Maintains supply of all materials to meet resident needs in the household

Supports all aspects of the household environment in conjunction with all household associates, including pets, plants, children, visitors and guests, facilitating all planned and spontaneous needs and activities

Coordinates work with the household caregivers to ensure the housekeeping needs of the household are met within the staffing resources of the household

Complies with all regulatory sanitation requirements pertinent to the physical environment

Uses appropriate cleaning supplies and equipment to clean floors, furniture, bathrooms and other areas as needed

Understands and implements universal precautions to prevent transmission of disease through contamination

Assists residents as needed to wash, mend, iron, fold and sort resident’s personal laundry; supports residents in self-care and provides assistance to ensure resident’s personal laundry is maintained in quality condition

Coordinates work with the household caregivers to ensure the personal laundry needs of the resident (and household linens if washed in the household) are met within the staffing resources of the household

ANCILLARY

Supports meeting all resident and household needs by actively assisting (to the extent of cross training and certification) in all tasks to meet identified needs

LIFE ENHANCEMENT (social service and activities)

Continually seeks opportunities to meet resident’s psychosocial needs through both care planned and spontaneous actions

Continually seeks opportunities to support the social needs of all members of the household through support, friendship and kindness

Plans and organizes social activities for individual residents, small groups and for the household, making any necessary arrangements to assure success of the activity

Seeks opportunities throughout the day to facilitate spontaneous activities of resident choice and household preference; accompanies resident in all activities of choice

Leads and participates in learning circles with residents and staff in the household daily

Maintains equipment, games, supplies for use in supporting resident and household activity choices

Continually seeks opportunities to share personal interests and talents with members of the household through both planned and spontaneous activities

Maintains appropriate documentation in support of social service and activities functions in the household

DINING SERVICES

Homebuilding: Makes the house a healthy and happy place, works together to get things done, facilitates the creation of homey spaces. Sees the kitchen and dining as central to the sense of home – works to create a daily life filled with pleasurable moments, laughter and fun. Understandings that food and food preparation are filled with opportunities for activity, interactions, relationships. Works to involve residents.

Resident-Directed, Quality Focused: Understands that for many residents, “the kitchen is the heart of the home”, and is a highly significant part of the residents’ environment. Goes beyond mere cleanliness standards to create an atmosphere of warmth and welcome in the kitchen and dining areas. Understands the psychological, emotional, and spiritual impact of food and meal sharing on residents’ well-being. Makes every effort to make mealtimes pleasant, and to create opportunities for residents to connect with others while dining. Looks beyond simple nutritional needs and makes every effort to provide residents with favorite, familiar food choices as well as opportunities to try something new. Understands the enjoyment some residents gain from participating in food preparation, and facilitates this opportunity through choices of food and/or partial preparation. Maintains the highest standards of meal quality and appearance.

Leadership: Understands that providing a clean, cheerful environment has a significant impact on residents’ sense of well-being. Uses serving food as an opportunity to connect with residents. Seeks to present food in ways that add to the enjoyment of meal and snack times. Understands that the act of physically assisting a resident with eating should be accompanied by one’s full mental and emotional attention. Uses eating assistance as an opportunity to connect with the resident in meaningful ways. Maintains eye contact and directs conversation to the resident being assisted, end/or facilitating connection with others at the same table. Is comfortable sharing a meal with the residents.

Critical Thinking: Is able to organize storage areas in logical, appropriate ways. Evaluates causes of difficulties residents may be having with eating, and identifies potential ways to increase residents’ abilities to eat with a minimum of assistance. Requests appropriate professional evaluation for such problems as swallowing, etc. as necessary. Considers which assistive eating utensils and/or practices would be most helpful to a resident’s needs. Recognizes when a resident is experiencing increasing difficulties with eating and responds appropriately. Understands the importance of meals and snacks being directed by residents, not merely designed to comply with nutritional standards. Would not serve food that is considered low quality or with less than desirable appearance.

Taking the Initiative: Takes the initiative on ideas to improve dining experience. Shows resourcefulness in meeting resident’s preferences through finding requested foods, food substitutes, and/or recipes. Makes appropriate choices when there is a need for substitutes. Searches out new ideas for recipes and food presentation.

Learning and Teaching Centered: Seeks to improve culinary skills regarding resident nutrition needs and food preparation through reading, media, and workshops as available.

Community and Team Builder: Understands that meaningful bonds can be forged over meal sharing, and facilitates conversation and laughter around dining tables. Understands the importance of sharing food and meals as part of building a sense of community and connection. Insures that most activities include available refreshments to share.

Conflict Facilitation: Able to resolve conflicts that may arise over seating arrangements, food choices, interpersonal interactions during mealtimes, etc. Uses healthy conflict resolution skills to settle differences of opinion among residents regarding food and meal choices by providing means for agreeable compromises.

Interpersonal Sensitivity and Communication Skills: Understands and is sensitive to emotional issues residents may have in connection with eating. Recognizes when a resident may be embarrassed or frustrated with difficulties eating, and helps such persons feel comfortable. Validates residents who may object to seeing others who have difficulties that are considered unsightly, such as being sloppy or spilling food, etc., and resolves such issues without causing additional embarrassment or upset. Understands that some residents may feel embarrassed by their need for special diets such as pureed or no salt items, or find these choices unappetizing, and is able to discuss these issues and help residents find the best possible solutions. Consistently elicits resident preferences for food and meal choices, as well as favorite recipes.

Dementia Sensitivity: Is skilled at encouraging persons with dementia to eat adequately. Skillfully redirects residents who may tend to not focus on eating and/or wander away from the table without finishing meals. Understands that cognitive limitations may make it difficult for residents to verbally indicate their food preferences, and searches facial expressions, body language, and patterns of response to gain insights into what foods they most enjoy. Seeks input from family members or other loved ones with past knowledge of food preferences prior to the onset of dementia.

HOUSEKEEPING

CNA Certification: Mandatory for this position.

Homebuilding: Understands the importance of residents’ feelings of ownership and control over their private living area and assists the resident in making it reflect the residents’ sense of what is homey.

Resident-Directed, Quality Focused: Strives to keep this area clean and organized according to the residents’ preferences. Assists residents with caring for their own living space, as desired. Keeps any institutional equipment stored appropriately to maintain the appearance of a natural home.

Leadership: Understands the significant impact a clean, cheerful environment has on residents’ sense of well-being. Uses time spent doing housekeeping chores in proximity to residents as an opportunity to connect and observe.

Critical Thinking: Able to evaluate housekeeping needs and apply appropriate cleaning materials and / or equipment. Able to organize cleaning routines in logical manner that does not impede household life.

Taking the Initiative: Beyond scheduled cleaning tasks, remains alert to sporadic situations that require attention. Initiates conversations with residents while performing cleaning tasks in their vicinity, and remains observant of resident behaviors throughout cleaning tasks.

LAUNDRY

CNA Certification: Mandatory for this position.

Homebuilding: Understands the importance of residents’ feelings of ownership of their belongings and works to assure they feel in charge of their clothing and how it looks.

Resident-Directed, Quality Focused: Strives to keep clothing items with the correct owners. Assists residents with caring for their own clothing, as desired. Seeks to move beyond minimal care requirements to keep clothing and linens soft, comfortable and wrinkle free.

Leadership: Understands that clothing that is clean, well-cared for, and attractive has an important impact on residents’ sense of well-being. Keeps track of items residents considered special and cares for them accordingly.

Critical Thinking: Able to determine when damaged areas of clothing can be repaired or need to be discarded. Able to explore any clothing related problems and recommend appropriate solutions, including creative approaches wherever possible.

Taking the Initiative: Initiates conversations with residents regarding their clothing preferences.

Community and Team Builder: Understands that some laundry activities such as folding or ironing may be conducive to bonding and connection when shared, and encourages residents to participate and to use task sharing as an opportunity to connect with others.

LIFE ENHANCEMENT

CNA Certification: Mandatory for this position

Homebuilding: Makes the house a healthy and happy place, works together to get things done, facilitates the creation of homey spaces, sees the possibilities and creating a daily life that naturally facilitates pleasurable moments, laughter and fun with lots of opportunity for a wide variety of meaningful relationships. Is creative and takes initiative, encourages others Engages sensitively and appropriately throughout the household.

Resident-Directed, Quality Focused: Sees activities as an opportunity to create time spent together in meaningful ways, not merely an effort to fill time and keep residents occupied. Regularly elicits resident input into activity planning. Seeks to be creative in choice of activities. Keeps activities well organized and upbeat.

Leadership: Understands that activities are of most value when residents actively participate, rather than being passively entertained, and strives to facilitate these opportunities to the greatest degree.

Critical Thinking: Able to recognize potential barriers for individual residents to participate, or for a particular activity to be held within the household, and finds appropriate solutions.

Taking the Initiative: Besides planned activities, is alert to opportunities for impromptu activities, and initiates them frequently.

Learning and Teaching Centered: Explores a variety of sources for new ideas, including literature, media and workshops.

Community and Team Builder: Understands that preparing and sharing food for each other contributes to a strong sense of bonding and mutual contributions.

Interpersonal Sensitivity and Communication Skills: Relates well with residents and is able to motivate and empathize. Has a sense of fun, and is able to create laughter. Has strong ability to elicit residents’ input into shaping activities. Able to facilitate resident involvement to greatest degree.

Dementia Sensitivity: Understands the particular challenges that persons with dementia may face in being able to participate in and enjoy activities. Is skilled at enabling such persons to have satisfactory experiences and to be highly included in household recreation.

Completion of cross training for household housekeeping, household laundry and dining services essential; cross training in household activities desirable. Competency testing essential. Experience in skilled care or residential services for the elderly desirable. High school diploma or GED desirable but not essential. Adequate experience, or the ability to be trained, in commercial food preparation to

Permanent