Resident Assistant
Direct Care & Nursing
0-1 years
None, on-the-job training
$16-$24/hr
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Overview
Job Description
Resident assistants provide hands-on support to older adults with the activities of daily life — bathing, dressing, grooming, personal care, mobility assistance, and support during mealtimes. The role is physical, personal, and built on trust.
One of the things that makes this role distinctive in aging services is the relationships you build. Unlike settings where patients come and go quickly, resident assistants work alongside the same people day after day — learning their routines, their preferences, their stories, and what makes them feel at ease.
No prior experience or formal education is required. On-the-job training is provided from day one. If you want to do work that matters and you’re ready to show up for people in a genuine way, this is where that career begins.
Education Requirements
No prior experience or education is required to start as a Resident Assistant. On-the-job training is provided by your employer. Many Resident Assistants go on to pursue Nursing Assistant certification — often with support from their employer — as a next step toward a nursing career.
A Day In This Role
A day typically begins with morning care rounds — assisting residents with bathing, dressing, and grooming. After morning routines, a resident assistant might support breakfast service, help a resident get to a scheduled activity, assist with mobility or a therapy appointment, and check in throughout the day on residents who need regular support. The work is active and relational, and no two days look exactly the same.
Advancement Opportunities: Where this role can take you
Cross-Pathway Note: Resident Assistants who enjoy the social and activity-based side of resident care sometimes move into life enrichment roles. Those drawn to clinical growth pursue CNA certification — the most common next step in this pathway.