FEATURED JOB OPENING: Elder Care Couple - Santa Fe, NM

If you are ready to really make a difference in the life of two lovely people, this may be a position for you.

I am looking for live in care for my parents in their home in Santa Fe, NM. You would have you own bedroom and bath in the house. The home is 5 minutes from downtown Santa Fe in a nice, wooded neighborhood.

My father is 89 years old, my mother is 81. Both of them have emphysema and are on oxygen 24/7. They have oxygen makers at home, but bottles are delivered to the house for emergency if the power goes out. They also use oxygen bottles when the leave the house.

My mother: She is a fall risk and must be monitored when she goes anywhere. She needs to get exercise. This is done by walking the halls with her walker every day. She has a bad back and is fairly frail. She does not like to leave the house. She does not leave her easy chair much during the day unless it is for a meal or a walk on the walker. It would be great if someone could be gentle and inspiring to help her get exercise. She is a picky eater but if a meal is being made that she does not enjoy, she loves a scrambled egg and toast while everyone else ‘experiments’ with food. She is a sweet, frail, woman who gets hours of entertainment from her iPad daily. She requires help showering.

My father: My father’s emphysema is more advanced than my mom’s. He has a good appetite and likes to be involved in selecting recipes and such. Papa should have help with showering too. He needs help perhaps getting shoes on, putting lotion on his legs and these types of personal things. His health condition can vary widely.

The job entails monitoring my Mom especially for safety, helping her with her walks, being wonderful to both of them. GREAT cooking, shopping and keeping the kitchen really clean are a big deal. They have one main meal a day and that is generally dinner. Lunch is a lighter meal. • Cooking – nice, good, healthy, fun cooking! • Cleaning the kitchen and kitchen floor after each meal • Shopping for groceries • Going to the post office or other errands • Taking them to Dr. appointments or for haircuts and such • Ensuring medications are filled and taken at the proper times • Watering house plants • Keeping the bird feeders filled • Checking and setting mouse traps • Assisting my Mom with her walks, always making sure you are present if she goes down to the bathroom • Ensure the humidifiers are clean and have water • In the winter if it snows, the front porch steps and below need to swept for safety. If there is a large amount of snow we call someone to blade the driveway • In the summer, there is a small yard that needs tending. A very small lawn to mow and watering of potted flowers. • My parents like to eat out on a lovely portal they have in the summers. This needs to be hosed down and mopped as necessary. They have a person that cleans the house on a weekly basis. That person is not responsible for keeping your own personal quarters. It is important though that the care provider is conscientious and treats the home like it is their own as it is their own. For example, untangling their oxygen hoses when they get tangled as opposed to just walking over them. Not letting mold build up in their humidifier, taking loving care of the little things that really matter. My father gets up pretty early, my mom later. They take a nap every day. They watch movies or something on TV every night and generally go to bed about 10:00pm or so. You do keep a child-monitor in your room should something be needed in the middle of the night.

The pay for the couple is 45K per year depending on experience, plus room and board. You work 5 days on and have two days off. All state and federal taxes are withheld so you do get social security benefits. This can be paid to one person, or split, it’s really up to you. They pay twice a month. Health insurance is not provided. They have their own car for you to drive when caring for them or running errands for them. Your own car would be used for your personal time. You don’t have to leave the house on your days off but you can if you have somewhere you would rather be. For your days off, you would need your own car as the care provider for those days uses their car. They do want for you to share meals with them so it feels like family but they don’t like to be hovered over constantly. Cleanliness is a big deal to them; good food and thoughtful care. This is what we are looking for.

In the,event it is not abundantly clear, my parents are at the end of their lifetime. They are amazing people, married for 64 years. I want their last days to be filled with joy, great food, flowers on the table, 5 star service, without complaint. It's work. If this is not your mission, please don't send your resume,,this job is not for you.

If you are interested please submit a resume via email.

All applicants will be required to pass a background check, have a good driving record, and excellent references. No smoking, no drinking. Quiet people with good, sweet tempers are essential. No children or pets. Thanks for your consideration