Description:
- Home Care Companions provide service to individuals in their own homes and communities who need assistance caring for themselves as a result of old age, sickness, disability and/or other inflictions. Home care may include light housecleaning, laundry, meal preparation, transportation, companionship, respite and advice on such things as nutrition, cleanliness and household activities.
- Home Care Companions are responsible for ensuring that service is delivered in a caring and respectful manner, in accordance with relevant Agency policies and industry standards.
Reporting Relationship
Reports to Supervisor
Responsibilities/Activities:
- Provide companionship, friendship and emotional support.
- Talk, listen, share experiences, play games/cards, read to client etc.
- Help keep clients in contact with family, friends and the outside world.
- Provide transportation to medical appointments, grocery store and errands.
- Accompany clients to recreational and/or social events.
- Assist with plans for visits and outings.
- Write or type letters/correspondence.
- Organize and read mail.
- Plan trips and outings and possibly travel with clients.
- Teach/perform meal planning and preparation.
- Perform light housekeeping.
- Participate on the Care Team by providing input and making suggestions.
- Ensure service is delivered in accordance with Agency policies, procedures and industry standards.
- Monitor supplies and resources.
- Evaluate the program and make recommendations, as indicated.
- Follow the written care plan.
- Assist in basic client transfers providing the client has been assessed as being capable of ambulating without assistance; and/or, providing another trained caregiver (including family) is involved in the transfer.
- Carry out duties as assigned by the Supervisor.
- Observe the client's functioning and report to Supervisor.
- Complete and maintain records of daily activities, observations, and direct hours of service.
- Develop and maintain constructive and cooperative working relationships with others.
- Make decisions and solve problems.
- Assist with pet care.
- Communicate with Supervisor and co-workers.
- Attend orientation, in-service training sessions and staff meetings.
Required Knowledge
- Knowledge of home management skills.
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing client services, including needs determinants, meeting quality standards and evaluation of client satisfaction.
- Knowledge of the English language.
- Knowledge of information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat injuries including emergency first aid and CPR.
- Knowledge of clerical procedures such as maintaining records and completing forms.
Required Skills/Abilities
- The ability to be aware of other people's reactions and understand why they react as they do.
- The ability to establishing and maintain relationships.
- The ability to teach others.
- The ability to identify problems and determine effective solutions.
- The ability to apply reason and logic to identify strengths and weaknesses of possible solutions.
- The ability to understand written and oral instructions.
- The ability to communicate information orally and in writing.
- The ability to listen and understand the spoken word.
- The ability to work independently and in cooperation with others.
- The ability to determine or recognize when something is likely to go wrong.
- The ability to suggest a number of ideas on a subject.
- The ability to provide advice and consultation to others.
- The ability to observe and recognize changes in clients.
- The ability to establish and maintain harmonious relations with clients/families/co-workers.
Physical and Mental Demands:
- Good physical and mental health.
- Physical ability to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, talk, hear and see.
- Mental fortitude and stability to handle stress.
- Physical and mental ability to drive a vehicle.
Qualifications/Education
- Current driver's license.
- Proper Vehicle Insurance Coverage.
Training/Experience:
- May require related experience.
- May required similar social and cultural backgrounds with some clients.