About who needs care: Severe bipolar depression, extreme anxiety, especially social anxiety, cognitive processing / dementia-like symptoms. She has balance issues and has had significant falls in the past. Uses a wheeled walker whenever up, but still needs some accompaniment/assistance to go to the restroom, often experiences feelings of urgency and sometimes now incontinence. Needs help bathing, dressing, and most self-care tasks including meal prep, medication. She has profound difficulty communicating in general. No interest in former hobbies, spending most of the day lying on sofa & anxious to get back if she gets up. Will occasionally with encouragement get up to walk around the house once or twice a day with her wheeled walker. Daytime structure seems best with set meal times, breakfast around 8 am, small lunch noonish, early dinner around 5 p.m. Otherwise she lies down on sofa most of the day with assistance for bathroom breaks and maybe one or two walks around the house - as we understand the need to keep her moving so much as she can/is willing. Again, she needs assistance to get dressed, bathed etc. About the care needs: Caregiver must be female and be as patient, gentle, intuitive and self-directed as possible. Experience working with older folks who suffer depression, anxiety, dementia very helpful. Someone unfazed if/when accidents may occur and can prioritize privacy/dignity of patient and spouse as mush as possible, especially when extended family members or friends may be present. Willingness to help with basic household tasks such as washing a few dishes or loading/running dishwasher after a meal, changing sheets if necessary and/or running a small load of laundry would be very much appreciated. Someone who understands & can provide much needed help/respite for spouse. Services needed include: meal preparation, errands / shopping, light housekeeping, feeding, and bathing / dressing.
Bathing / Dressing
Feeding
Light Housekeeping
Meal Preparation
Errands / Shopping