Job Overview:
Brain Enrichment (BE) is an interactive educational experience for older adults with normal age-related memory changes. The facilitator leads and guides discussions of ten, one and a half-hour interactive session with course participants. The curriculum includes learning about the brain’s processes, mental exercises to stimulate the brain, lifestyle practices for brain health and practice strategies for improving thinking and memory.
Responsibilities and Duties:
- Present the BE Course as developed by Linda Sasser, PhD. The curriculum includes a Facilitator Guide and Participant Workbook for ease of delivery and use during the volunteer experience.
- The facilitator must have a passion for working with older adults.
- The facilitator should be comfortable leading small groups of 16 older adults.
- The facilitator must be a self-starter who can take charge of the BE program and work effectively with a co-facilitator.
- The facilitator must be willing to make a commitment to the 10-week course schedule.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Preference for someone who has or has cared for someone with memory concerns.
- The candidate should be willing to make a 2-year commitment to the program.
- Willingness to share personal experiences to help motivate others to exercise the brain.
- Demonstrate timely response to project requirements.
- Ability to perform additional duties as required by Brain Enrichment program and agreed upon with the Prevention Specialist.
Skills, Knowledge & Abilities:
- Demonstrates passion to work with older adults, who have normal age-related memory changes, and is patient with them and has a general interest in brain health.
- Communicating orally in a clear manner.
- Promotes positive engagement and peer support.
- Is sensitive to participants’ challenges, especially vision or hearing impairments.
- Keeps the group focused and on task.
- Ensure that all have the opportunity to participate.
- Wants to give back to their community.
- Knowledge of computer applications and usage.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, county agencies, departments, providers, and the public.
- Ability to understand and maintain confidentiality of files and information.
- Ability to organize and prioritize work.
- Ability to deal tactfully with difficult situations.
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- Ability to work the required hours of the position.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Lifting 20 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds.
- Intermittent standing, walking, and sitting.
- Using hand(s)/feet for repetitive single grasping, fine manipulation, pushing and pulling, and operating controls.
- Occasional bending, twisting, squatting, climbing, reaching, and grappling.
- Distinguishing sounds at various frequencies and volumes.
- Distinguishing people or objects at varied distances under a variety of light conditions.
- Ability to work under generally safe and comfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors such as irate individuals, violence and/or crisis may cause discomfort and poses a limited risk of injury.
For further information of this volunteer opportunity please contact:
Amy Staniforth, Prevention Specialist, ADRC of Brown County
Phone: 920-448-4529
Email: amy.staniforth@browncountywi.gov
