JOB DESCRIPTION
Each individual who relies on PCAs has different needs. No two people are the same. Even if people need assistance with the same cares, how they do them or the extent of the needs can likely be very different. Things also vary from how many hours a day someone receives PCA services.
I receive 24-hours a day of assistance, which means my caregivers assist my from the time I wake up to the time I am tucked into bed, and then throughout the nighttime. It's important to note that I don't need help every minute of every day, but for health and safety reasons, as well as for all of the unplanned help I spontaneously need, someone has to always be here.
Even though I need someone to always be here, that does not mean I need someone to mother or hover over me. I have a mom of my own, know how to take care of myself and can make my own decisions.
My caregivers are my lifeline to my independence, my health, my well-being and my dignity. They are my hands and arms, my legs and my feet; sometimes they are my voice and my eyes.
Being a PCA is an upclose and personal job. Spending so much time together, and really being involved in every aspect of my life in some way, it is natural to create a bond and friendship. This is also especially because we go do fun things together outside of my daily needs and sometimes we even travel together. Many caregivers have become like members of the family and even best friends. I am still friends with many of my former PCAs.
Main things my caregivers do on any given day:
Personal Cares
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Dressing
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Toileting
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Showers
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Basic Hygiene Needs
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Hair
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Make-up
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Brushing Teeth
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Nails
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Lotion and Creams
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Stretching, Massaging and Exercising
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Cutting Food / Occasional Feeding Assistance
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Transfer Out Of and into Bed
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Repositioning in bed and chair
Household Needs:
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Making my bed
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Sweeping, vacuuming and mopping
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Dusting
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Deep Disinfecting
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Dishes
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Cooking
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Laundry
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Garbage and recycling upkeep
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General cleaning of rooms
Medical Needs -- no prior experience or knowledge necessary as training is provided and these needs are pretty simple:
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Medications
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Maintaining medical equipment
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BiPap
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Nebulizer
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CoughAssist
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Chest Percussion Therapy
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Inhalers
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Oral Suction (just like rinsing your mouth at the dentist!)
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Blood Pressure
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Blood Sugar Check
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02 Check
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Home or Portable Oxygen
Other Needs:
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Driving my minivan wherever I need to go (i.e. appointments, errands, to work, social opportunities, family get-togethers, etc)
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Accompanying me wherever I need to go (i.e. appointments, errands, to work, social opportunities, family get-togethers, etc)
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Grocery Shopping
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Paperwork and Mail
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Organizing physical space and things
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Making or Assisting with Phone Calls
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My two doggies (i.e. feeding, brushing, going outside, going for walks)
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...anything else that can pop-up!