Carolyn H. Care Companion in Chicago, IL 60643

I am currently in between jobs so I would be available to begin as soon as possible. I have four years experience working in a senior living facility in Chicago. I was a server in their dining department in the skilled care wing of the building. Some of my responsibilities included serving residents their meals according to their specific diets and food modifications such as mechanical and puree diets. I was also responsible for maintaining a clean and orderly atmosphere for residents and visiting family members. After being recognized by the manager, I was recruited to join the Activities Department as a Life Enrichment Facilitator on the skilled Memory Care Floor. My responsibilities in this department were to provide a wide range of daily activities for cognitive and sensory engagement. I would create monthly calendars of daily programs and activities that fit the capabilities for individual residents and groups. While collaborating with social workers, nursing staff, and family members, I was responsible for creating care plans plus daily charting of engagement, participation, and monitor progress towards goals and cognitive decline. During our Covid lockdown, residents were restricted to remain in their rooms, limiting daily programs. During that time our in house salon was closed, so residents received bi-weekly manicures, hair styling, and other basic hygiene tasks provided by me which continued after the shutdown was lifted. Some other individual programs ran were reading books, listening to music, playing cards, puzzles, and conversation. I was able to maintain strong rapport with approximately 30 plus residents, their family members, and direct care personal. Some other relevant skills I possess in relation to care giving is strong verbal communication skills, strong organizational skills, strong work ethic, high energy and I am highly reliable. Being apart of Life Enrichment was enjoyable for me simply based on the job title. It was important for me to maintain my residents quality of life based off of their interests and desires. Working in that environment taught me life lessons that could only be learned by working with individuals who required nothing but patience, understanding, and love.