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
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
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
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
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
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
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