About the Client:
We're seeking a compassionate caregiver for a woman living with Parkinson's disease for nearly 20 years. She experiences significant balance issues, takes multiple medications, and has hallucinations particularly in the evenings and overnight (5 PM to 5 AM) as a side effect of her medications. While she has cognitive sharpness when not experiencing hallucinations, she requires supervision for safety. Her husband is her primary caregiver but works full-time, creating strain on the household. She previously managed all cooking and household tasks but now needs support. A physical therapist visits weekly. The client is initially resistant to receiving care and may need time to adjust to having a caregiver in the home. She uses a walker or wheelchair for mobility.
Responsibilities:
- Provide companionship and emotional support to reduce isolation
- Ensure safety supervision, particularly related to fall prevention due to balance issues
- Assist with light meal preparation
- Support with light tidying and household tasks
- Provide medication reminders and assistance with medication management
- Assist with mobility support using walker or wheelchair
- Encourage light exercise as appropriate
- Occasional transportation for errands or appointments
What We're Looking For:
- Experience supporting individuals with Parkinson's disease
- Farsi language skills strongly preferred (client's native language), English required
- Calm, patient demeanor with ability to build trust with resistant clients
- Positive energy and strong companionship skills
- Reliable, consistent, and takes initiative
- Clear communication with family members
- Valid driver's license for occasional transportation needs
- Understanding of hallucination management and evening/overnight symptom patterns
Schedule:
Starting with 2-3 weekday visits per week, 3 hours per visit, with potential to increase hours as client becomes comfortable. Specific weekdays to be determined based on when the husband works from home. Weekend coverage not required as family visits regularly. Flexibility to ramp up care gradually as trust is established.
