Does anyone have this job?

[EllenFrasier]

I'm considering signing up for training to become a companion for an the elderly. It's with an employer that handles assignments for cases, etc. It
does not involve any medical care, just keeping people company, grocery shopping, errands, light housekeeping, reading, etc. It sounds like something I would be good at, but I'm not 100% sure this is something I will like.

Does anyone have a job like this and do you like it? Are there any pitfalls I should be aware of before signing up?

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I do medical home care but often refer to non-medical companions, like you would be doing.

Does your future employer guarantee you hours? I find that I get a fair number of last minute cancellations if something better comes up.

Don't expect glamorous work. People can be demanding. But, all that said, I have been doing home care for 13 years and enjoy it.

Good luck.

 

[EllenFrasier]

Thanks for responding. I need to know how much this kind of thing pays before I make a decision too. There is nothing about that on their website, just says one of the highest compensating employers in the area or something like that. Is this a minimum wage type of job? It says it pays by the assignment and that I can set my own schedule and accept or deny jobs as I wish. I'm assuming if they hook me up with someone who needs a companion, that I stick it out until they don't need me anymore - is that how it works?

 

[Mimi1965]

dont pay for this "training"
this sounds like what my Mother's sitter does
I never heard about being "trained" to be a sitter

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Make sure you find someone you really hit it off with. It may take a while.

 

[starann]

I am a homecare nurse and while we are a big help for medical aspects of things we can't be there all the time. That being said 'caregivers' can make the difference between someone being able to stay at home or have to be admitted to a facility.

There may be light housework and maintence, laundry, yard work, running errands (like taking the patient to the bank, post office, dr appts or even out to lunch).

The downfall is, should the patient be placed in the hospital due ot illness, you may loose out on hours.

It may be a great way to get your foot in the door though, see what it's like. Then as non-client people come along (you legally can't poach pts away) but someone from church or a friend's mom needs help, you are capable of doing so.

I've had some friends out of work lately and have often told them to advertise on CL to do something like this....people always needs help and companionship and families get burnt out.


Good Luck!

 

[golfgal]

Around here that job would pay about $10-12/hour.