Recreational Aide

This position works in a hospital or long-term care facility and is primarily responsible to provide supportive, therapeutic, and recreational activities to patients/residents under general direction.

• Under the general guidance and review of the supervisor and with consideration to patients/residents' abilities and/or disabilities, this position exercises initiative and imagination in independently planning, organizing, and implementing activities which are appropriate for the subject group.


• In collaboration with the supervisor, appropriately assesses and re-assesses residents' activity interest needs and concerns through observation, conversation and with written information.


• Assist the supervisor, to reintegrate patients/residents into the community by accompanying residents on excursions to shopping malls, theaters, and restaurants, on picnics, bus/van rides, and other appropriate leisure activities within the community.


• Works with patients/residents on an individual basis as necessary.


• Coordinate activities with other hospital staff to ensure that all supplies, equipment, materials, etc., are available and serviceable for the planned activities; ensures that there are no conflicts with other disciplines or schedules; logs activities planned/scheduled on activity calendar blackboard.


• Work closely with the hospitals dietary department in making request for special or ethnic food selections; ensuring that dietary department and all involved personnel are aware when patients/residents will be off-site for a particular meal, and when plans are changed.


• Maintain established hospital and work unit policies, procedures, objectives, continuous quality improvement programs, and safety measures.


• Transport patients/residents to and from recreational activities and assists with ambulation when necessary.


• May be assigned volunteers, students, and lower-level staff to assist with activities, programs and selected work assignments.


• Implement moderately complex therapeutic measures prescribed for the patient/resident in accordance with standard methods and procedures.


• Record entries and maintain records of patient/resident charts documenting behaviors, attitudes, responses, plans, goals, and other significant incidents on a regular basis.


• Prepare, setup, clean-up and return of all equipment and supplies to proper areas at the end of an activity; help operate and maintain audiovisual equipment; assist with inventories; responsible for the maintenance and care of all the equipment, supplies and facilities related to recreational activities; reports shortages, needs, and requests for supplies and equipment; assists Certified Nurse Aide or licensed staff with toileting, bathing, dressing, and grooming; may operate motor vehicles to transport patients on excursions into the community, may be assigned to attend interdisciplinary groups and other meetings.