Is this a unicorn? I'm looking for a companion for my mom, but not a set schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom lives with us, and I mostly am home with her to take her to appointments and such. She doesn't need help with bathing or dressing, but she can't drive. All of the agencies I've tried want a set schedule like m-f for 4 hours a day. I basically have the days covered, but we are often away evenings from 5-9 or all day on weekend days for sporting events that she sometimes doesn't want to attend because of weather or whatever. The agencies say they have people for weekends, but in reality it's very hard to find. Has anyone dealt with this? How did you find someone to help?

Ask yourself if you would like a schedule like that and then come back to us.

[Anonymous]

You either need to pay for hours you don’t need to have someone on call or you need 3-4 sitters who you are interested in irregular hours.

[Anonymous]

What about an AU or Catholic student? Pay at least $25 an hour so that they say yes and pay for their food too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about an AU or Catholic student? Pay at least $25 an hour so that they say yes and pay for their food too.

OP doesn't want a student, she wants a middle aged woman.

[Anonymous]

It's not a unicorn, but to get someone willing to do this job, you have to essentially pay them a full-time work schedule for a home assistant. You can find elder care assistants that are paid essentially like full-time nannies and likely benefits, and then you can work out schedules with them ad hoc. But, the only way you'll get someone to meet your needs are to pay them essentially as full-time help for part-time flexible (for you) hours.

[Anonymous]

This sounds like an easy job. I would do it, and I'm a middle-aged woman with a full-time job. My kids are teens so not around much anyway. Seems like an easy way to earn a bit extra here and there.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been doing home health mostly elder care for nearly a decade now, and OP’s post is one of so many I’ve seen on care boards from people who just don’t seem to have a clue. People doing care work already are low paid and usually have zero benefits - but family members want us to be available at the drop of a hat according to their fluctuating needs and don’t seem to grasp that we have to eat and have someplace to live and being on call for sporadic hours just doesn’t cut it. What you want is yes, a unicorn - an independently wealthy person who just happens to love hanging out with strangers who have various health needs including maybe combative dementia. Good luck finding that!

[Anonymous]

OP, I would hire someone for a few hours Wed and Sat on a standing basis. Use the time for coverage as needed and if not, a date night with DH, errands, etc. I'd see if a neighbor or someone on ND has a HHA who would like more hours. Will be more money for them and a bit cheaper than agency. Or can do agency. We've had good experiences with Visting Angels in 2 different areas.

[Anonymous]

As others mentioned I don't think you understand what you are asking. For one thing, dementia involved continuing decline. Just because she's safe in a car now doesn't mean she might not try to jump out another day. When you have a full time worker, they see the decline and know what the elder can handle.

Taking someone with dementia out to eat can be a ton of work. What if the caregiver needs to go to the bathroom? How will she supervise your mother? What if your mother needs to use the bathroom? She could get lost, but a caregiver cannot just leave all their belongings at the table to take your mom to the bathroom.

What if the caregiver can't stop your mom from eating junk food and your mom throws up from it all? Elders, especially those with pneumonia, are more prone to aspiration pneumonia. Someone who is a regular caregiver knows what works, as opposed to a person who comes now and then.

[Anonymous]

Have you looked at Naborforce? I worked for them for awhile and they are bonafide if you just need help with driving, basics in meal prep, etc.
https://naborforce.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What you want is yes, a unicorn - an independently wealthy person who just happens to love hanging out with strangers who have various health needs including maybe combative dementia. Good luck finding that!

I'm the PP who posted about Naborforce and I would say that's a decent description of their employee base!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you looked at Naborforce? I worked for them for awhile and they are bonafide if you just need help with driving, basics in meal prep, etc.
https://naborforce.com/

Their website only says they are in Richmond, Charlottesville, and Virginia Beach in Virginia, Bethesda Maryland, and Atlanta.
Do the Bethesda Nabors cover Washington DC, and other nearby parts of VA and MD? Or strictly within Bethesda limits?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you looked at Naborforce? I worked for them for awhile and they are bonafide if you just need help with driving, basics in meal prep, etc.
https://naborforce.com/

Their website only says they are in Richmond, Charlottesville, and Virginia Beach in Virginia, Bethesda Maryland, and Atlanta.
Do the Bethesda Nabors cover Washington DC, and other nearby parts of VA and MD? Or strictly within Bethesda limits?

PP that just wrote the above here.
I got that info (the locations) from their FAQ. But I just saw now that in the bottom left hand corner they have phone numbers for other locations, including NoVA and Texas. I guess they didn't update their FAQ when they added new locations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you looked at Naborforce? I worked for them for awhile and they are bonafide if you just need help with driving, basics in meal prep, etc.
https://naborforce.com/

Their website only says they are in Richmond, Charlottesville, and Virginia Beach in Virginia, Bethesda Maryland, and Atlanta.
Do the Bethesda Nabors cover Washington DC, and other nearby parts of VA and MD? Or strictly within Bethesda limits?

I'm the PP and I think a Bethesda Nabor would go to nearby VA, especially if drive time would be covered. You can offer whatever package you want per visit.

[Anonymous]

You may be able to find a nanny who wants toake extra money on the weekends or evenings. I'd ask some mom's with nannies in your neighborhood.