Full Time
About who needs care: Dad is into his 4th yr of Lewibody Alzheimer's. He could be walking with help, if we had attendants that had the training and strength to do his physical therapy exercises with him and get him back in shape. He has about 3 hrs a day of real lucid consciousness. He really doesn't know the year or where he is now all the time, but his sharp sense of humor can come out at anytime. He does sleep a lot now. And he does occasionally suffer from hallucinations, mostly in which he's running diagnostic codes at work!
Because he is almost completely sedentary, he needs a small simple breakfast cooked and served, fluids at regular intervals, and ideally at least getting up to the toilet 4 times a day, or for voiding at any time, and a simple supper at 6 p.m. There's more to it, supplements at breakfast and dinner, regular diaper changes.
He is a computer designer/software developer. He likes 40's jazz, gospel quartets, swing, and oldies greats for music. He loves HAM radio. K1AUE He loves the Lord.
He needs someone who is willing to treat him like a human being, not a dementia patient. He's not nuts, he's trapped in a failing body. If you ask him, give him 5 minutes to process the request, he will work with you.
We have a specific care schedule, a LOG BOOK that has his complete schedule of needs, and whoever works with him MUST be willing to check the boxes! It's too easy to forget what was done and what wasn't. We keep records about him so we can change his diet if he becomes constipated. The log book is VITAL.
About the care needs: Patience and persistence to get him through PT.
A little jolly silliness is always good when his mood is down.
Having studied how to converse with memory-impaired people is important, or you may be frustrated.
We prefer men, because he is 5'10" 179 lbs, and we need him to get up and move around. He is capable if he is not afraid his attendant will drop him.
Women will be considered if they have trained for moving heavy bodies.
We have a Hoyer lift, electric bed, and of course, understanding and being able to coach physical therapy exercises is important.
Old jazz, computer tech, and HAM radio are biggies, and since he does sleep a lot, you might want to be an avid book reader for the slow hours.
Services needed include: transportation, meal preparation, errands / shopping, light housekeeping, companionship, feeding, bathing / dressing, and mobility assistance.
