Hands-on Care Needed For My Mother In Henrico

About who needs care: My father, age 92, is brilliant and still very sharp. He uses a walker full-time and is very deaf, so it is important that his caretaker speak English very clearly and a little loudly. He has two trigger fingers and has trouble cutting his food. But he is VERY determined to be independent and very positive about life. He needs transportation to go do fun things and go to the gym, and he needs someone with great social skills and a sense of fun to help him plan where to go. My mom is 90 and has moderate dementia. She is child-like in some ways and very wise in other ways. She likes to go to water aerobics at the YMCA 2-3 days a week. She loves flowers and admiring nature of every kind. She loves to go shopping and go out to Panera or another inexpensive restaurant, as long as I pay for it and pretend it is free! However, no matter what fun things we plan, she will object to going every time and say she isn't fit to go! She likes to be begged to do things, but then enjoys doing them when we finally get her out of the house. She loves to talk all day long, and in her ideal world she would talk with someone all day and eat ice cream and cookies, and go for a little walk (which she will object to and then be happy she walked later). My parents need someone to make them a good breakfast, lunch and dinner (and clean up), take them to the YMCA, help them to engage socially with other people, take them to doctor's appointments and make sure they get out for social engagements. Socialization is very important. They need someone who is social enough to make sure they get out and go be with other people, and who will enjoy chatting with them and making life interesting. Regular daily housekeeping is needed and part of the job, though they also have a wonderful cleaning lady once every other week. Great driving skills, social skills and excellent English are required. About the care needs: Our ideal caregiver is sunny, upbeat and positive through all the challenges of life, and will help my parents to stay positive during their older years, despite all the problems with being old. She is also social and capable of helping schedule fun activities for my parents. She is very independent and motivated to make sure my parents enjoy every day they are blessed to have left in their lives. She is caring and loving in every way and wants to feel like part of our family even though she is in a service role. She needs to drive very well and be safe to transport my parents. She must be able to handle incontinence and other issues with a sense of humor, to help my parents feel less helpless and more capable in their old age. Services needed include: transportation, meal preparation, errands / shopping, light housekeeping, companionship, feeding, bathing / dressing, and mobility assistance.