DeafBlind Aide

About NEHD:

New England Homes for the Deaf, founded in 1901, is a life plan community that offers a continuum of care to Deaf, Deafblind, and hard of hearing seniors, including independent living, rest home, skilled nursing community, Deaf senior centers, short-term rehabilitation services, respite care services and hospice care. The New England Homes for the Deaf mission is to provide long term healthcare, housing, recreational activities and social support for Deaf, Deafblind and hard of hearing individuals in an accessible, barrier-free, and culturally sensitive environment with optimal communication and architectural resources.

Responsibilities:

• Facilitate communication between Deafblind residents and staff utilizing tactile signs, braille, or the resident's preferred mode of communication. Such communication will include but not be limited to:
• Providing ongoing visual descriptions of the environment
• Explaining menu options
• Explaining table; food and beverage set up at mealtimes.
• Explaining ADL's (bathing, grooming, and dressing)
• Explaining time, nature, and place of activities
• Create and provide Deafblind residents with appropriate recreational activities including but not limited to:
• Tactile art
• Drumming/percussion
• Pet/animal visits
• Exercise
• Games
• Socialization
• Small group
• 1:1's
• Have continual dialog with Deafblind residents regarding their preferences for activities and reading materials.
• Transport residents to activity location.
• Properly document each resident's daily activity participation in the appropriate logs.
• Provide appointment reminders to residents who have signed up for in-house services such as hair salon, massages, etc.
• Accompany Deafblind residents to general activities and provide 1:1 facilitation.
• Accompany Deafblind residents to on and off campus appointments.
• Accompany Deafblind residents to off campus recreation outings i.e., museums and shopping trips.
• Assist Deafblind residents with daily mail by reading it to them and/or transcribe into Braille.
• Assist Activity Director, Social Service Director and Director of Nursing Services with other duties as assigned.
• Remind, cue, and assist residents as needed.
• Calm and redirect residents when necessary.
• Assist residents with visual aids and equipment.
• Assist residents with catalog/online purchases and shopping.

Requirements

• ASL fluency.
• Ability to communicate effectively using tactile communication.
• An attitude of respect and compassion towards all residents and staff.
• Must work weekends as required.
• Experience working with the elderly and/or psychiatric populations.
• Related prior experience.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Life Insurance (after 1 year of employment)
• 403B
• 8 paid holidays, including your birthday
• Accrued 2 weeks vacation
• 6 PTO/Sick days

A background check report may be obtained for employment purposes. The background check may show criminal records.