Housecleaning // Caregiving support for intellectual, often funny, creative person
– no experience necessary – but should know how to wash dishes, cut vegetables, vacuum, rake
Artist in his 70s whose life career was sculpture and professional photography seeks support after his June 2024 surgery, a year ago. Due to the surgery, standing, reaching, and endurance are very limited.
He is able to walk on a limited basis, and do some daily prescribed exercises, but requires assistance with physical chores (see below).
Housekeeping // Caregiving Hours:
8 hrs./week -4 hours Monday & 4 hours Friday afternoons-
Mid-July—Fall 2025, possibly longer.
Expectations/Responsibilities:
1. Be compassionate, present, detail-oriented, pro-active, follow instructions, be optimistic.
2. Assist with general housekeeping, meal preparation assistance, leaf raking/sweeping, washing dishes, dishwasher loading/unloading, vacuuming, dusting, kitchen and bath/shower/sink clean up (no toilet cleaning), food preparation/cutting vegetables, cleaning floors, occasional help carrying groceries upstairs. Optional: Grocery shop (mostly curbside pick-up) with valid drivers license/insurance only.
4. No personal hygiene duty or assistance required.
COMPENSATION is $20.00/hour.
IMPORTANT: he is highly sensitive to mold-spores (a disabling condition called CIRS) and is chemically sensitive to fragrances and chemicals, (a disabling illness called “CMS” or “Multiple Chemical Sensitivities”).
1. Potential caregivers must not live or work in a previously water-damaged building. Most often water-damaged buildings are old buildings, but new buildings may also have water damage. These buildings contain mold-spores which permeate residents’ clothing. A single exposure to mold-spore mycotoxins could make him ill for several days. People who are not sensitive to mold (75% of the population are not genetically pre-disposed) may be unaware of this issue. Caregivers must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
2. Due to the chemical “CMS” sensitivities, caregivers must not where perfume or cologne, and must launder their clothing in fragrance-free detergent without fabric softeners, nor use “dryer-sheets” (with or without fragrance), as they contain chemicals, which will make him very ill. Wearing newly-purchased clothing (often treated with the chemical formaldehyde) is also problematic for this caregiving position.
K-95 masks are required (as he cannot get sick with flu, cold, or virus because coughing will affect the of the healing of his spine). Nitrile gloves are provided for food-prep and housecleaning.
- An application form must be filled out.
- The government agency providing compensation also requires finger printing (no cost) as part of the application process.
- One must have a Real ID, passport or Social Security Card, work visa or permit.