Full Job Description/Notes:
Community Living Associate (CLA)
Position Summary:
Under the management of the PACE Southeast Michigan Community Living Manager, the Community Living Associate (CLA) is responsible for providing high-quality, person-centered care and support to participants residing in community living, congregate housing, and assisted living environments. Community Living Associates work as part of a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week care team and are expected to provide compassionate, respectful, and professional care while promoting participant dignity, independence, safety, and quality of life. The Community Living Associate collaborates closely with nursing, home care, center staff, transportation, social work, dietary, and leadership teams to ensure continuity of care with excellent participant outcomes.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities Personal Care Assistance:
Assists participants with activities of daily living (ADLs), including but not limited to:
Bathing and personal hygiene
Dressing and undressing
Grooming and oral care
Toileting and Incontinence care
Ambulation and mobility assistance
Feeding assistance as needed.
Medication administration
Provides respectful, dignified, and individualized care according to each participant’s care plan.
Observes and reports changes in participant condition, behavior, or functional abilities to the appropriate supervisor.
Transfers and Mobility Support
Safely assist participants with transfers/mechanical devices according to training and safety protocols.
Ensures participant safety during all transfers, repositioning, and mobility activities.
Participant Care and Supervision
Provides support to participants with varying levels of physical, cognitive, and behavioral needs.
Engages participants in meaningful daily interactions and activities that enhance quality of life.
Maintain a safe, clean, and supportive living environment.
Monitors participant well-being and promptly reports concerns, incidents, accidents, or emergencies to leadership
Meal Service and Support
Housekeeping and Laundry
Performs daily housekeeping duties, including but not limited to:
Cleaning/vacuuming/mopping participant room.
Sanitizing bathrooms and high-touch services
Completing participant laundry according to established schedules and standards.
Changing bed linens
Maintaining cleanliness throughout the community living environment
Morning and Evening Participant Support
Assists participants with morning routines to prepare for attendance at the PACE Southeast Michigan Day Health Center.
Ensures participants are dressed appropriately, groomed, and ready for the day and transportation if applicable.
Upon participant return from the day center, assists with evening routines, meals, personal care, medication administration (if applicable and trained to pass medication), and bedtime preparation.
Accountability and Professional Expectations
Community Living Associates (CLA) are expected to:
Demonstrates reliability, accountability, and professionalism at all times.
Reports to work on time and prepared for assigned shift.
Takes ownership of assigned responsibilities and participant care tasks.
Treats participants, families, coworkers, and visitors with dignity, respect, and compassion,
Maintains confidentiality and professionalism in all interactions.
Supports a culture of teamwork, communication, and continuous improvement.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Completion of nursing assistant program with certificate of completion. Acts only within the scope of authority to practice.
Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with seniors in congregate housing, long-term care, or hospital settings.
Shows compassion, empathy, and respect for the physical, spiritual, and well-being of participants, coworkers, and visitors.
Must be medically cleared of communicable diseases and have all immunizations up to date prior to providing direct care.
Must be able to perform duties in an environment with frequent interruptions and changes in care/tasks.
Must be able to organize and maintain flexible scheduling to coordinate job responsibilities.
Working Conditions
Working conditions are variable. With exposure to communicable disease, due to participant environment. There is also exposure for chemicals such as cleaning solutions and medication.
Must have the ability to transfer and assist with moving participants; frequent bending, walking, lifting, 40 pounds or more may be needed in the performance of job duties.
May be required to change assignments based on changing participant acuity and level of care needs and census according to management or the Interdisciplinary team.
Bending, walking, and lifting 40 pounds or more may be required to perform job duties.
