About the job
About who needs care: My step-dad has vascular dementia, a brain injury from a bad fall, heart and vascular problems, sleep apnea, and diabetes. His brain injury has affected his balance, so that is why he needs a 24/7 companion, to ensure he doesn't fall again. He gets confused and sometimes frustrated by his cognitive condition (it happened rapidly due to the brain injury so there wasn't time for him or anyone else to get adjusted) but is an intellectual and needs a caregiving companion who reads with him and takes him to the library and doesn't just expect him to follow instructions or speaks down to him as if he is senile. He is a retired LCSW, Russian priest, and former Airman who served in Vietnam. Ideally, a companion would share our family and doctors' philosophy of helping him to regain as much independence as possible after his injury and not just medicate him and let him sleep all the time. Tuesdays and Thursdays are needed for sure from 8-6 so I can commute to my job. The other days I work from home nearby and could be fewer hours. Right now, a caregiver is with him 8-6 4 days a week at his home and then he is at my home with my family the rest of the time. Sometimes, one of my brothers stays at his house to be the caretaker and help us maintain the home. Our Mom passed away suddenly and unexpectedly just before the brain injury accident occurred so we are still grieving. Finally, we are looking at adult day care for some weekdays with a caregiver at night at his home. Thank you! About the care needs: A go-with-the-flow personality, reliable, healthy, creative, and positive personality is good. Someone who doesn't blame all of his behavior on dementia and instead, understands the differences between a brain injury and dementia and can accommodate him. Someone who won't just let him sleep all day and engages with him physically and cognitively for his ongoing rehabilitation. Someone who has basic understanding of nutrition and is willing to learn new things. The current caregiver has stated that he won't get better, speaks to him as if he were a toddler, and feeds him oily treats that have worsened his diabetes. Services needed include: companionship, feeding, and bathing / dressing.
