Private family located in San Jose, CA seeking a caregiver/assistant for the family with a woman who is disabled with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) & Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (P.O.T.S) (to learn more about the diseases, please read the links listed below).
We are looking for a compassionate and dependable caregiver/assistant who is detail oriented, patient, organized, technically capable, and a quick learner.
We have 2 sweet dogs in the house, so the caregiver/assistant must be comfortable around pets and be willing to help with pet care.
The carer will be responsible for a range of personal care and household management activities, including but not limited to in-house cooking and food preparation (including meat, dietary restrictions are present), assistance with bathing, hair and skin care, laundry, doing dishes, organizing, light cleaning, and household errands. Since we have weekly housekeepers, only light housekeeping is expected.
The caregiver/assistant will need to help the woman communicate with doctors and friends, prepare for medical appointments, and occasionally drive the woman to medical appointments.
The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, calm, conscientious, and an excellent communicator. They will arrive on time, follow directions, make sound judgement calls, thoughtfully solve problems as they arise, accept and adapt to feedback. They should be able to work independently and quietly with little guidance, and be able to collaborate with patient for some tasks. They will be trustworthy and mindful of privacy.
Because the patient is severely immunodeficient and immunocompromised, you must have a safe lifestyle during these uncertain COVID times. The caregiver/assistant MUST be vaccinated with the latest booster and proof of vaccination is required.
Caregiver/Assistant Responsibilities:
- Home Management: handling the daily operations of the house, scheduling services, keeping an inventory of the house and restocking things as needed, making sure the house stays neat and organized
- Medical Advocacy: help communicate with doctors, prepare for medical appointments, schedule appointments, and take notes at medical appointments. Inventory supplements,
- Prescription medication management: pick-up of orders, medication reminders
- Help with personal hygiene and care: bathing, hair, skin, and nail care, dressing
- Assisting with meals and nutrition: cooking/meal preparation, meal planning, grocery shopping
- Help with mobility: pushing a wheelchair
- Home maintenance and housekeeping: laundry, organization, light cleaning & household errands, changing air filters
- Transportation: driving to pick up errands, driving to medical appointments
- Pet Care: walking & feeding
- Financial Accountability: mailing a payment, disputing medical claim
- Reporting and monitoring: ensuring the patient stays under tachycardia threshold
Successful applicants will meet the following requirements:
- At least six months of experience working with the elderly or disabled.
- Must be 21 years or older
- Must be COVID-19 Vaccinated the latest booster
- Must be willing to wear an N95 respirator while working.
- A valid driver's license.
- Must pass a background check.
- Respectful and patient.
- Detail-oriented, kind, understanding, and a quick learner.
- Organized, technically capable.
- Calm & centered approach.
- Flexible, and a no fuss, can do attitude.
- Possess good communication skills.
- Ability to handle physical aspects of the job
- Non-smoker, due to client having multiple chemical sensitivities
- If you are not detail-oriented, please do not apply.
About ME/CFS
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is a complex neuroimmune disease affecting mainly the central nervous system, the metabolic system, and the immune system due to severe inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
The cardinal symptom of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion(PENE) or post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE). PEM is a flare of symptoms and/or the appearance of new symptoms after exertion.
People with ME/CFS can be bed bound for months, years, or even an entire lifetime, given there are currently no approved treatments for the disease.
ME/CFS is without a doubt a current and emerging issue in medicine -- The Center for Disease Control went so far as to call it a “hidden health crisis” in 2017. More information can be found in the links below.
- https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/conditions/me-cfs/
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a12779054/what-is-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/
- https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/10/chronic-fatigue-patients-push-for-an-elusive-cure/409534/
- https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/07/07/a-sudden-illness
About POTS
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system. It affects heart rate, blood vessel dilation, blood pooling, movement of food through the digestive system, and body temperature.
- https://www.dysautonomiainternational.org/page.php?ID=180
- https://www.standinguptopots.org/livingwithpots/what-is-pots
- https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/05/22/996533041/after-months-of-a-racing-heart-and-burning-feet-a-covid-long-hauler-gets-a-diagn
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: $25.00 - $30.00 per hour
Expected hours: 20 per week
Benefits:
Schedule:
- Day shift
- No nights
- No weekends
Experience:
- Caregiving: 1 year (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
Work Location: In person