Part-Time Dementia Care Navigator

Episcopal SeniorLife Communities Mission: We provide high quality services from skilled nursing and restorative care to housing, assisted living and community-based wellness programs. We are committed to meeting each individual’s needs, in a culturally competent manner, supporting family and loved ones through transitions, and fulfilling our pledge…Life. Inspired Every Day.

Part-Time Employment - 22.5 hours per week during regular business hours (8am-5pm)

STARTING RATE $23.50 HOURLY

JOB SUMMARY: The Dementia Care Navigator is a member of the dementia care interdisciplinary team providing comprehensive GUIDE care coordination services to maintain a long-term care partnership for people living with dementia and their caregivers. The Dementia Care Navigator will provide comprehensive and integrated care with the goals of improving the quality of life for people living with dementia and their caregivers and enabling the person with dementia to remain in the home and community. The Navigator is trained in dementia assessment and care planning, providing a standardized set of services and extensive dementia education pertaining to dementia disease process for people living with dementia and their caregivers.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Deliver care consultation; assist with behavioral management, medication management, caregiver burden, and situations involving abuse or neglect.
• Provide required GUIDE and ESLC training for care navigators upon hire and annually.
• Build and deliver a dementia care navigation training and education program.
• Support and closely coordinate all care needs including access to clinical and community support services for GUIDE beneficiaries.
• Execute quality of life and home safety assessment screening tools to beneficiaries to assess home safety, behavior, function, medication monitoring & support needs, care needs, and advanced care plans.
• Assess and document caregiver concerns including caregiver strain, depression, and poor coping.
• Develop personalized care plans based on the desires and needs of each beneficiary and their unpaid caregivers based on the results of the completed assessments.
• Coordinate and participate in interdisciplinary care communication and conferences.
• Review and update care plans as the participant’s condition evolves and as GUIDE requires.
• Complete required written documentation in the electronic health record and other required reporting systems on a timely basis as it relates to in-person, virtual, and telephone encounters.
• Complete all follow up activities as required for a comprehensive care plan that ensures the ability of the beneficiary to remain in their homes and communities.
• Provide guidance on home safety, communication techniques, responding to challenging behaviors, and managing caregiver stress.
• Escalate beneficiary concerns to the clinical team to maintain an appropriate scope of practice for this role.
• Abide by HIPAA regulations to ensure beneficiary privacy. Comply with all regulatory requirements.
• Refer to ESLC’s 24/7 helpline service for any immediate support and advice.
• Perform other necessary duties as required.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Social Work or related field; or 2 years of relevant experience providing care coordination or working with people living with dementia in another capacity. Initial and annual dementia care navigator training is required and will be provided at a minimum of 20 hours to include, but not limited to, 10 hours of didactic instruction and 10 hours of experiential training.
• Detail-oriented and thorough: the ability to independently manage the details of work and complete tasks thoroughly.
• A dedicated, energetic, and passionate individual with a strong work ethic and desire to grow professionally.
• Able to identify and implement best practices to enhance quality of life for people living with dementia and their caregivers.
• Ability to organize your day and work independently as well as be flexible and work in a team environment.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Knowledge and experience with Alzheimer’s and other dementias; keep informed of the latest developments, progress and research updates in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
• Ability to work with people living with dementia and their caregivers with empathy and professionalism.
• Valid New York State Driver’s License required.
• Reliable transportation.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Performing duties of this job require occasional walking and standing in and around the residences and community. Must be able to occasionally lift loads of 30 pounds without assistance and the ability to sit, talk, and hear is required. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. This position requires extensive travel.

WORKING CONDITIONS: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The essential job duties may be performed indoors or outdoors, in and around residences and common areas.