Job Description – Caregiver (Home Care Aide)               

Place of Employment:  Client homes and other work sites outside the home as required by HGA management.

Job Summary: The Caregiver is a front line position acting as a representative of Home Guardian Angels and providing the services offered by the company.  The Caregiver duties are not limited to those listed as the position has a wide scope of duties at times dependent on the client and always under the auspices of the company.  The Caregiver will mostly work independently of co-workers or supervisors and therefore must balance good judgement and initiative along with the policies of the company. 

It should be noted that emphasis is for the Caregiver to involve the client in the care program to help provide the client with the basic standards of healthy living as follows:

                                            - Physical Activity                            - Nutrition

                                            - Mental Stimulation                        - Relaxation

                                            - Personal Contact                          - Humor


Work Hours: This position may require various shifts at various times (including nights, weekends, and holidays)

Duties:  The following list of duties is a guideline of possible duties to be performed independently or as a group of duties in the course of working with the client.  The Caregiver duties are not limited to those listed.

Companionship:
One of the most important aspects of Home Guardian Angels will be providing customers with a strong sense of self-esteem and independence.  Taking a genuine interest in the client, their life and their environment will help create true sense of companionship.  Whether it is playing a favorite board game or card game, reading, taking a stroll or visiting with friends and neighbors, companionship provides the depth of our services.


 Personal Hygiene:
Assistance with care of hair, teeth, dentures, shaving, filing of nails, other basic personal hygiene and grooming needs. Includes supervising the client when he/she can perform these tasks, assisting the client when he/she can participate in care of his/her appearance, and performing grooming tasks for the client when he/she is unable to participate in caring for his/her appearance.

Dressing:
Assistance with dressing and undressing. Includes supervising the client when he/she can dress and undress when guided, assisting with difficult tasks such as tying shoes and buttoning, and completely dressing or undressing the client when he/she is unable to participate in dressing or undressing him/herself.

Bathing:
Assisting the client to wash his or her body. Includes supervising the client when he/she can bathe him/herself when guided, assisting the client with difficult tasks such as getting in or out of the tub or washing back, and completely bathing the client when he/she is totally unable to wash him/herself.

Meal Preparation:
Assistance with preparing meals. Includes planning meals (including special diets), assisting clients who are able to participate in meal preparation, preparing meals for participants unable to participate, and cleaning up after meals

Eating:
Assistance with eating. Includes supervising the client when he/she is able to feed him/herself when guided, assisting with difficult tasks such as cutting food or buttering bread, and feeding the client when he/she is unable to participate in feeding him/herself.

Housekeeping, Laundry, and Pet Care
Provide household assistance as dusting, washing hardwood and flooring, vacuuming carpets and furniture, changing bedding, scrubbing the bathroom; pre-washing, washing, drying, ironing and folding laundry; defrosting refrigerators/freezers; cleaning ovens/stoves and china cabinets; caring for house plants; taking out garbage and general tidying of living spaces as required or requested. It also includes caring for pets including grooming, feeding, exercising, walking, playing, cleaning up after the pet.


Toileting:
Assistance with bladder and/or bowel problems. Includes supervising the client when he/she can take care of his/her own toileting needs, helping him/her to and from the bathroom, assisting with bed pan routines, diapering and lifting him/her on and off the toilet. 

Ambulation:
Assisting the client to move around. Includes supervising the client when he/she can walk alone or with the help of a mechanical device (such as a walker) when guided, assisting with difficult parts of walking (such as climbing stairs), supervising the client when he/she is able to propel his/her wheelchair when guided, pushing the wheelchair, and providing constant physical assistance to the client when he/she is totally unable to walk alone or with a mechanical device.

Transfer:
Assistance with getting in and out of bed or wheelchair or on and off the toilet and/or in and out of the bath tub. Includes supervising the client when he/she is able to transfer when guided, provided steadying, and helping the client when he/she can assist in his/her transfer. Lifting the client when he/she is unable to assist in their transfer requires specialized training.

Positioning:
Assisting the client to assume a desired position. Includes assistance in turning and positioning to prevent secondary disabilities, such as contra
cture and balance deficits.

Self-Medication:
Assisting the client to self-administer medications prescribed by his or her physician. Includes reminding the client of when it is time to take prescribed medication, handing the medication container to the client and opening a container.

Body Care:
Assisting the client with skin care (including the application of ointments or lotions), changing dry bandages or dressings.  Excludes foot care beyond washing of feet and filing toenails. Excludes changing bandages or dressings when sterile procedures are required. 

Travel & Escort
Accompanying or transporting the client on appointments, errands, social events or to a physician’s office, pharmacy or clinic in the local area to obtain medical diagnosis or treatment.

Essential Shopping:
Assistance with shopping to meet the client’s health care or nutritional needs. Limited to brief, occasional trips in the local area to shop for food, medical necessities and household items required specifically for the health and maintenance of the client. Includes assisting the client when he/she can participate in shopping and doing the shopping for the client when he/she is able to participate.

Standby Assistance:
a. Being available to help the client with tasks that cannot be scheduled (toileting, ambulation, transfer, positioning); and/or
b. Providing protective supervision to a client who cannot be left alone because of confusion, forgetfulness, or lack of judgment.

Qualifications: 
- Current certificate in standard first aid and CPR.
- Valid driver’s licence and reliable transportation
- Ability to work independently.
- Excellent communication and listening skills.
- Compassionate, patient and caring nature.
- Able to work in a stressful environment.
- Must be physically and mentally fit to handle the demands of care giving.

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(323) 300-5308