Respite Care Companion

About This Opportunity

A creative friendly woman is seeking a Companion Care/Respite Care Provider in the Madison WI area to spend meaningful time with her each week. Now retired she spent her career in state government non-profits and politics focused on equality. She is also a lifelong artist an avid reader a Harvard graduate and a genuinely curious person who enjoys a good conversation and a good laugh.

The client is respectful and easy to be around though she sometimes needs gentle persuasion to get on with an activity. She listens well connects ideas across topics and can discuss art politics feminism and other topics in depth; though she sometimes cant remember what she just did. She enjoys the role of consultant and teacher as they are skills required in her previous positions as an administrator. Once she knows you expect the occasional snarky joke.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys verbal intellectually engaged companionship alongside hands-on care someone comfortable holding a conversation about abstract art one moment and gently redirecting the next.

A Day in This Role

Each shift blends required tasks with activities you and she plan together. Youll get to know her eclectic interests art writing and editing (former grant writer and administrator) systems and social change politics feminism gardening and more and bring your own interests into the mix too.

Required tasks each shift:

A half-hour walk around the block

Physical therapy stretches and exercises that you lead

Time she reads aloud to you

Light meal and snack preparation prompting her to drink water and eat as needed

Light cleaning cleaning project or sorting

Complete daily log and food log

Personal cares as needed

Woven throughout shifts:

Conversation about her life and yours shared interests and new ideas

Virtual museum tours and researching future art activities or outings together: art shows galleries exhibits the library flower gardens garden shows parks

Art-making draw with markers or paint with watercolors with subjects you both choose; she enjoys teaching drawing or watercolor techniques. Suggest art-making projects that youd like to do with her

She helps you with written or spoken English IF useful or fun for you. English writing and editing is FUN for her. She has limitations with this due to her dementia but still enjoys it. She helped one provider think about play with language and wrote ideas sentences and short paragraphs to help the person edit applications to grad school.

Baking from box mixes

Errands such as grocery shopping or getting a haircut. Youll use your own vehicle for community outings (mileage reimbursed).

Schedule

The goal is a regular weekly schedule as part of a small consistent team of providers. The family works hard to accommodate your availability understanding that flexibility goes both ways in a part-time role

Part-time: 2 to 18.5 hours per week with potential to increase hours over time

Shift window: Noon to 6:00 PM 7 days a week Monday through Sunday. Occasional late afternoon/early evening shifts

Typical shift length: 4 hours (e.g. 1:005:00 noon4:00 12:304:30). Flexible

Minimum shift: 2 hours

Occasional requests to sub for other providers or work a longer shift always optional never required

Requirements

18 years of age or older with a high school diploma or GED

At least 1 year of experience working with people with dementia. Formal education and training about dementia caregiving preferred. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or other related credentials preferred.

Verifiable provider references (professional and personal)

Valid drivers license reliable vehicle comprehensive auto insurance and a clean driving record. Enough space in your vehicle or trunk to fit a collapsible walker for some outings.

Willingness to complete a background check

Contact for position: