The Residence at Cedar Dell announced Monday the hiring of lifelong Dartmouth resident Amanda Ponichtera as its new  resident engagement director.

Ponichtera has spent the past 14 years as the therapeutic recreation director at the New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home. In that role, she provided activities for all senior residents.

The Dartmouth resident staffed and trained the entire Recreation Department, including volunteers and Certified Nursing Assistants. She has experience in practicing a non-pharmacological approach to memory care, behavioral interventions, and has received OASIS training — a set of core assessment items for adult home care patients.