Hi!
I have found myself in sudden need of a new caregiver. I am a disabled mom with a 9 year old kid. We are mostly home alone but my boyfriend is here 1-2 days a week (usually weekends).
I have a severe case of generalized dystonia, which is a neurological movement disorder that fluctuates in severity.
Right now I’m lower needs. I move strangely, have a vocal tic and can walk short distances unassisted or further with mobility aids. When I’m higher needs I rely on a wheelchair, jerk violently around, and am hard to understand. Some days my needs level changes every few hours, others, it's every few days. Exertion exacerbates my symptoms and can turn me from low needs to high needs suddenly. So, sometimes I seem like I could jump into action but I have to not, so I can function alone or with my daughter and not spazz out till bedtime. I walk weird when I walk and fall all over the place or collapse sometimes, but I’m good at falling by now so I just need a hand up or my mobility aid brought to me. I won't break a hip or whatever. I also have memory issues and am neurodivergent. I'm extremely high functioning despite these issues, I just got my second undergraduate degree since I became disabled and I’m starting an accelerated online masters program this fall. But my absent mindedness can be annoying, you have to text me things you want me to remember, help me find common things, repeat yourself, and deal with stupid redundant questions. I do harmless absent-minded things (like today I put strawberries in the microwave). But I still have friends so I don’t think I’m that bad.
I need someone to help me with housekeeping (kitchen/dishes (w/ dishwasher), dusting, straightening furniture, changing the bed (2x a week), bathrooms, trash/recycling, sweeping/mopping, laundry, etc.), light organization to keep things accessible, light shopping/accompaniment to and support at the store, mobility assistance, food preparation/support while I cook, hygiene (you will NEVER see me undressed or have to handle my parts but I may need help setting up and getting to the bathroom cause my house isn’t super accessible), supporting my goals (like setting up my computer, bringing me what I need), standing by if I exert myself and spasm bad enough to be struggling to stay on the bed or wherever. I may also need occasional assistance going to medical appointments but I’ve been disabled for a decade so I usually only go twice a year (this isn’t a dealbreaker if you can’t/don't want to). I run occasional errands and would benefit from support, but I drive an adaptive vehicle just fine (had to retest once disabled at the DMV for safe and correct operation), again not another dealbreaker if you can’t/don’t want to go. My goal is to gradually increase independence and adaptive technology skills so on my low needs days you’ll be there to support and step in where I fail and other days you’ll be running the show. Every caregiver I’ve had says I’m not super messy or hard to take care of. I’ll be consumed by college most of the time (starting September) so I won’t be very social, but I’m friendly nonetheless.
I have a kid and a dog. It is NOT and never will be part of your caregiving duties to take care of either of them. But you are expected to be friendly and a good sport about their presence. You don’t ever have to clean up after my kid, but they are a kid so sometimes stuff will be out you need to clean around (like they have a small table in the living room that's usually cluttered, I still expect you to clean the rest of the living room). My kid is friendly and active so if you choose to come when they’re home be prepared for them to talk to you or do chores while you do chores. If you want to avoid the kid just come between 8am and 2:30 pm. I won’t keep my dog outside while you’re here. He’s a 60lb black lab/pit-bull and big, stupid, clumsy, and friendly - never aggressive and he doesn’t really jump unless you hype him up. Usually he is just being lazy on the bed or sofa. He does bark when people arrive and he’s loud but he’s all bark, no bite. I take care of food, water, and letting him out independently. I may need support with parenting tasks, like stabilizing my mobility while I do something but your job is to support me living a full life, not to parent in my place.
You can come pretty much whenever you want/think is best. I just ask that you spread out the hours over the week (preferably 3+ days) and maybe not come on the weekends when I’m visiting with my boyfriend. I’m super flexible, you can come early in the morning, afternoon, or evening and you can change your schedule weekly as needed. As long as you're working the whole 18 hours spread out and all my needs are met I’ll be happy. Once school starts I’ll be taking my kid to and from school which is only a few blocks away so it’s no big deal and shouldn't interfere with your schedule’s flexibility. You can take as many breaks as you need but I expect any breaks outside of your one given by law must be off the clock, this includes time you spend taking calls or doing personal tasks. Time spent standing by/supporting me will feel like a break but still counts as paid.
I’m looking for someone who is self-directed, low key, and kind. If you have strong political or religious beliefs that you can’t keep to yourself or that makes you judgmental I am not interested. I do not want someone who needs to be micro-managed. I need someone who is responsible, honest, and trustworthy. I need you to show up when you say you will (you can pick when, but once you tell me a time I need you to stick to it) because my memory issues get me confused if you show up late or don’t show. I don’t mind if you drink or smoke pot, but no other drug use is ok and you’re expected to be sober whenever you’re here. Experience taking care of a house is ideal, even if it’s just your own house. You’ve gotta have basic common sense-like reading what cleaners are used for what if you don't know. I’d like someone who thinks they could do it at least till the beginning of next summer. You cannot have a criminal record. You must be flexible and able to adapt to changing needs. You do not need to be strong, just stable. When I need physical support I need bracing not lifting.
I am centrally located in a single-family detached home in Midtown Reno. The agency office is a short drive away.
I receive caregiving services through my insurance. You’ll need to be employed through the agency I’m contracted with.
Before You Start:
Must meet agency requirements, which typically include:
TB test
CPR/First Aid certification
Federal background check & fingerprints
Agency training classes (usually paid)
Some office paperwork
Onboarding usually takes 1–2 weeks if you don’t already have these. If you already have some of the above, it’ll go faster.
Some/all costs are paid or reimbursed — I’m not sure how my agency handles this.
Employment Details:
You’ll log hours daily and we’ll both sign off on a form.
You turn in forms to the agency to get paid.
Pay is bi-weekly, starting at $18/hour (negotiable based on experience).
You’ll be accountable to the agency and responsible to me.
The agency may offer extra hours with other clients if you want more work.
I prefer to choose my own caregiver, since it’s in my home.
You can call or text me between 8am and 9pm if you’re interested and think this would be a good fit or want to find out more. DO NOT EMAIL ME, I won’t get it.
It’s a really easy, flexible, accommodating, low-key job and I’m a really easy person to work with/for so I hope if you’re into it you’ll contact me. I am looking for someone to get moving on this ASAP so I’d like it if you’re highly motivated to work.
I’m not sure if I’ll have a lapse in care by the time you get to me. If there is a lapse in care, the first week or so might be a bit more labor intensive to get me caught up, but I have some personal help in the meantime and I’m not dirty/messy by nature so it shouldn’t be overwhelming. I’ll be doing my best to prevent the house from slipping. And if you need to help me catch up you can do so at your own reasonable pace.
My current caregiver is available for questions/character witness if you want to know from the source what it's like to work for me. I'll just say they totally loved me and think I'm great and are sorry to go. I only am out a caregiver cause they got an amazing oppertunity, not because they didn't like working with me.