The posting
Recreation Leader – Hillcrest Country Estates the Cottages, Memory Care Location: Papillion, NEService Line: Hillcrest Country Estates Rehab CottagesSchedule: Full-Time-between 8-6pm. Can be flexible with start time. Hillcrest Health & Living is looking for a creative, energetic, and compassionate Recreation Leader to join our team at Hillcrest Country Estates, the Cottages-Memory Care in Papillion, NE. Hillcrest Country Estates Rehab Cottages provides skilled nursing and post-acute rehabilitation in a warm, home-like environment. Our team supports guests as they recover, regain independence, and work toward returning home or transitioning to their next level of care. At Hillcrest, our mission is simple: Inspiring people to live their best lives. As a Recreation Leader, you will help bring that mission to life by creating meaningful recreational experiences that keep guests active, engaged, connected, and motivated throughout their rehabilitation stay. The position focuses on planning, organizing, and implementing recreation programs while also supporting recreation assessments, care planning, documentation, and portions of the admission process. What You’ll Do As a Recreation Leader, you will plan and lead individual and group recreation programs based on each guest’s interests, abilities, and needs. You will:
Plan, organize, and lead recreational programs that encourage guests to stay active, engaged, and connected.
Develop group and individual activities based on guest interests and abilities.
Provide one-on-one recreation and sensory enrichment programs for guests who may benefit from individualized support.
Encourage guests to participate in daily scheduled activities while respecting individual preferences and choices.
Set up materials and activity spaces before programming and clean and organize areas afterward.
Assist with preparing daily and monthly recreation calendars.
Document guest participation in activities according to established policies.
Complete recreation assessments for guests as required.
Assist with initial and quarterly assessments as directed.
Complete required MDS documentation, interdisciplinary team summaries, and care-plan information related to recreation.
Plan, organize, and lead parties, celebrations, and special events throughout the month.
Maintain recreation supplies and ensure materials are available and organized.
Distribute magazines, activity supplies, mail, and flowers to guests as needed.
Assist with seasonal and holiday decorations throughout the Rehab Cottages.
Support portions of the admission process and paperwork for new guests as directed.
Work collaboratively with nursing, therapy, social services, culinary, and other team members to support each guest’s overall experience.
Assist with additional recreation and guest-service needs as assigned.
The role combines hands-on recreational programming with individualized assessments, documentation, care planning, guest engagement, and admission support. What We’re Looking For We are looking for someone who is creative, outgoing, dependable, and genuinely enjoys building relationships with aging adults. The right candidate will understand that recreation in a skilled nursing and rehabilitation environment is about more than keeping people busy. Meaningful activities can help guests stay motivated during recovery, maintain familiar routines, connect with others, and continue participating in the things they enjoy. Because many of our guests are with us for rehabilitation following an illness, injury, surgery, or hospitalization, flexibility is important. One guest may be excited to join a group activity while another may benefit more from a short one-on-one visit or an activity adapted around their therapy schedule and abilities. Ideal candidates will have:
Previous experience in recreation, activities, senior living, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, healthcare, hospitality, education, or a similar people-focused environment.
Experience developing or leading recreational programming for aging adults preferred.
A creative approach to developing activities for individuals with different interests, abilities, and lengths of stay.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
A warm, positive, and encouraging approach when working with guests.
Ability to comfortably lead both group activities and one-on-one programming.
Strong organization and time-management skills.
Ability to adapt programming based on guest needs, therapy schedules, and changing priorities.
Strong attention to detail with assessments, participation records, and other required documentation.
Ability to encourage participation while respecting each guest’s choices and preferences.
A calm, flexible, and professional approach in a fast-paced rehabilitation environment.
Strong teamwork and willingness to collaborate with multiple departments.
Comfort utilizing technology and completing required documentation.
Musical interests or the ability to play a musical instrument are a plus.
A team-first attitude and willingness to help wherever needed.
Education & Experience
High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
At least one year of experience providing recreational programming for aging adults or in a similar setting preferred.
Recreation therapy certification preferred.
Music background and ability to play an instrument preferred.
Valid driver’s license preferred.
Why Hillcrest? Rehabilitation can be hard work. Guests may be adjusting to a new environment while recovering from surgery, illness, injury, or a significant change in their health. That is where recreation can make a real difference. As a Recreation Leader at Hillcrest Country Estates Rehab Cottages, you will help create moments that give guests something to look forward to during their stay. Whether you are leading a group activity, celebrating progress, helping someone reconnect with a favorite hobby, or simply spending a few minutes one-on-one, you can help make rehabilitation feel more personal. You will also work closely with our interdisciplinary team, giving you the opportunity to support the whole person—not just their clinical recovery. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys creativity, variety, relationship-building, and seeing the direct impact their work can have on a guest’s experience. What Hillcrest Offers
Competitive compensation.
Multiple health insurance plan options.
Vision, dental, and life insurance.
Professional development support, including tuition reimbursement, certifications, and career-growth programs.
Dayforce Wallet, allowing you to choose when you get paid.
Gym membership reimbursement and partner discounts.
Supportive leadership and a collaborative interdisciplinary team.
Opportunities to grow within a mission-driven senior care organization.
Physical & Other Requirements
Must be able to speak, read, and write English.
Must be able to independently lift up to 35 pounds.
Must be able to perform repetitive sitting, bending, standing, walking, reaching, lifting, and movement as needed.
Must be flexible, calm, and professional when working with guests or families in stressful or emotional situations.
Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with strong attention to detail.
Must be able to utilize technology, documentation systems, and recreation resources efficiently and effectively.
Possible exposure to communicable diseases and bodily fluids.
Other duties as assigned.
Ready to Make Rehabilitation More Meaningful? If you are creative, compassionate, and enjoy helping aging adults stay active, connected, and motivated, we invite you to apply for the Recreation Leader – Hillcrest Country Estates, the Cottages-Memory Care position. Join Hillcrest Health & Living and help us continue inspiring people to live their best lives through meaningful activities, personal connections, and a positive rehabilitation experience.
