Kara O'Leary
Millis,MA
Summary
Dynamic and compassionate leader with 6 years of upper management experience, 4 as a department head and 2 as a regional director. Recognized for an engaging, enthusiastic, and collaborative leadership style marked with high energy, attentiveness, and a deep commitment to team development, customer service, and organizational excellence.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Recreation and Community Engagement
Marquis
Needham, MA
09.2024 - Current
- Designing and leading a variety of engaging activity programs to enhance resident well-being
- Supervising and training a team of 12 recreational staff; conducting inservices, team meetings, and evaluations
- Managing staff scheduling and payroll using OnShift
- Overseeing all departmental budgeting for staffing, entertainment, supplies, and events
- Managing all vendors and volunteer services
- Ensuring all documentation and programming is in compliance with CMS, state, and federal guidelines
- Assessing resident needs and developing personalized care plans
- Collaborating with residents, families, and interdisciplinary teams to provide person-centered care
- Promoting resident rights, safety, and confidentiality
- Addressing resident concerns through monthly council meetings and daily communication
- Building community partnerships and generating referrals, through regular outreach and events
- Submitting photos and descriptions of events and activities to company social media pages
Director of Recreation and Volunteer Services
CareOne at Brookline
Brookline, MA
01.2024 - 08.2024
- Managed community outreach, volunteer engagement, and recreational partnerships. Onboarded and trained over 30 volunteers from the Brookline community
- Planned successful community outings with residents such as the Boston Marathon and the historic Coolidge Corner Theatre
- Directed the planning, development, and execution of comprehensive daily activity programs to support residents’ physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being
- Assessed individual resident needs and developed personalized recreational care plans.
- Supervised and trained recreation staff, coordinated schedules, and led performance evaluations.
- Utilized smartlinx to develop staff schedules and approve payroll
- Oversaw department budgeting, procurement, and compliance with health, safety, and regulatory standards
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams, residents, and families in care planning and program development
- Ensured documentation of resident progress and departmental activities met regulatory requirements
- Conducted ongoing quality assurance initiatives and participated in state/federal inspections
- Promoted resident rights, maintained confidentiality, and responded to grievances effectively
Regional Director of Memory Care and Recreation
RegalCare
Massachusetts, Connecticut
10.2022 - 01.2024
- Supervised and supported 90+ recreation staff across 10 facilities, overseeing activity calendar development, conducting weekly audits, and ensuring CMS compliance
- Assisted with mock and state surveys to minimize tags
- Supported administrators in executing major events
- Hired, trained, and onboarded new recreation directors and assistants
- Managed all recreation budgets, spenddowns, and fundraising efforts, ensuring financial compliance
- Created monthly newsletters and coordinated community engagement and marketing efforts, including photo consent forms, social media posts, and media submissions to local newspapers
- Enhanced community connections by onboarding volunteers and introducing services like pet therapy, intergenerational programs, and religious visits
Director of Therapeutic Recreation and Dementia Education
RegalCare, Foremost at Sharon
Sharon, MA
12.2020 - 10.2022
- Provided dementia training to over 100 staff members annually by creating an educational program involving powerpoints, quizzes focused on dementia, resident rights, preventing elder abuse
- Directly supervised and trained 5 recreation staff members at a 65 beds Rehab/SNF inpatient facility
- Implemented diverse, enriching therapeutic recreation programs focused on “mind, body, spirit” in accordance with facility, state, federal standards to increase quality of life for all residents
- Created individualized activities in accordance with each resident’s interests and accommodated any physical, mental, emotional limitations
- Conducted monthly resident council meetings, reviewed resident rights
- Completed PCC including MDS, care plan, progress notes, resident interests/preferences, quarterly/annual assessments, obtained and uploaded resident medical record photos
- Attended weekly care plan meetings and facility meetings, supported administrator and department heads
Recreational Therapist
Partners Healthcare, Spaulding Rehab Hospital
Boston, MA
05.2016 - 01.2019
- Worked within an interdisciplinary team to facilitate daily recreational programs for adult and geriatric rehab patients with physical and cognitive health complications, including dementia
- Assessed each patient’s physical, psychological, emotional experience and preferences to create individualized activities for each
- Used EPIC to document individualized care plans, initial assessments, evaluation, treatment and progress, completed annual training and continuing education
Education
B.S. - Exercise Physiology, Minors in Psychology and Nutrition
Simmons College
Boston, MA05.2016
Skills
- PCC, EPIC, REDCap, Microsoft Office, Excel
- Onshift, Smartlinx
- English (Fluent), Spanish (Proficient)
- Strong and effective communicator with exceptional writing skills
Certification
Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), BLS, CPR, First Aid Certified
Timeline
Director of Recreation and Community Engagement
Marquis
09.2024 - Current
Director of Recreation and Volunteer Services
CareOne at Brookline
01.2024 - 08.2024
Regional Director of Memory Care and Recreation
RegalCare
10.2022 - 01.2024
Director of Therapeutic Recreation and Dementia Education
RegalCare, Foremost at Sharon
12.2020 - 10.2022
Recreational Therapist
Partners Healthcare, Spaulding Rehab Hospital
05.2016 - 01.2019
B.S. - Exercise Physiology, Minors in Psychology and Nutrition
Simmons College