General Job Description: A Personal Attendant (“PA”) assists clients with activities of daily living to improve the quality of life for the client. This includes non-medical companionship and personal care, and supervising, feeding and dressing clients who by reason of advanced age, physical disability, or mental deficiency need assistance in performing these activities due to health and or age limitations. Care is based on the client’s needs consistent with this Job Description, and the length and hours of each assignment may vary. PA’s communicate regularly with their Supervisor by phone or in writing as to the status of the client. PA’s are supervised by the assigned Care Manager (for Care Managed clients) or by the Manager of Home Care Services (for Home Care Services clients).
Essential Functions:
A PA working in a client’s private home serves as a personal attendant under California Wage Order 15. When working in a client’s private home, the PA will spend at least 80% of his or her time supervising, feeding or dressing the client, assisting with personal care, and assisting with other activities that are related to the client’s independent living and which cannot be performed by the client alone due to health and or age limitations. The PA will spend less than 20% of his or her time on housekeeping and work other than these activities.
A PA must not provide any medical, nursing or skilled services to clients. Regardless of whether the PA is a nurse, CNA or CHHA, a PA has no responsibility to and should not diagnose or treat a client’s illnesses, injuries or changes in medical condition. When working in a client’s private home, the PA (1) will not act as a nurse; (2) will not perform medical procedures; (3) will not administer medication; and (4) will not take a client’s vital signs. Further, a nurse, certified nursing assistant (“CNA”) or certified home health aide (“CHHA”) employed as a PA may only provide non-medical companionship care, and may not use his or her nursing, CNA or CHHA title, act as a nurse, CNA or CHHA, or perform nursing, CNA or CHHA duties as a PA.
When working as a PA on a 24 hour shift, the PA will have access to adequate sleeping facilities. The PA will be paid for all 24 hours worked.
If the working conditions described above are not followed during any shift, the employee must notify Eldercare Services immediately.
Additionally, when such activities are related to the independent living of a client and cannot be performed by the client alone due to health and or age limitations, the PA also may perform the following duties and responsibilities for the client only (and not for any other individuals at the residence) consistent with this Job Description: Companionship, laundry, transportation to medical or personal appointments, outings, grocery shopping, meal preparation, assistance with medication reminders, personal care, assistance with ambulation and transfers, and light housekeeping. However, the PA understands and agrees that any housekeeping should only relate to areas of the residence that the client uses, and during each work shift, the PA must spend less than 20% of his or her time on such housekeeping work. If conditions call for exceeding this 20%, the PA must notify his or her Supervisor immediately.
Additionally, the PA must comply with all Eldercare Service policies and procedures and all applicable laws and regulations. Finally, the PA may perform other duties as assigned consistent with the terms of this Job Description and related to client’s independent living where the client cannot perform such duties due to the client’s health or age limitations.
Qualifications/ Basic Job Requirements:
- This position generally requires at least one year of previous experience caring for elders.
- Knowledge of the aging process and experience with dementia and Alzheimer’s is preferred; as is experience working with a variety of disabilities.
- Must be willing and able to engage clients in everyday activities.
- Must request directions from the Supervisor(s) regarding daily care plan and immediately report any changes in client physical or mental status.
- Must be able to follow detailed directions provided by phone, e-mail, or in person.
- Must clearly report and record daily care activities and client status.
Physical requirements:
The following are physical and mental requirements of the position as it is typically performed. As allowed by law, inability to meet one or more of these physical or mental requirements with or without reasonable accommodations may not automatically disqualify a candidate or employee for the position, but may restrict assignment to specific clients. PA’s are required to perform the following essential physical and mental/reasoning functions with or without reasonable accommodations:
- Sitting, walking, standing
- Bending, kneeling and twisting (neck, waist and knees)
- Climbing stairs (if applicable)
- Hand use: Simple grasping, fine manipulation, pushing and pulling (right and left hand)
- Reaching (above or below shoulder level)
- Lifting or carrying (up to 25 lbs.); Supporting above 25 lbs. if transferring client
- Assisting clients who wear gait belts and using other aids as provided to protect self and client
- Operating household appliances
- Properly handling soiled linens and general household products and waste and maintaining sanitary personal hygiene
- Attending in-services or other meetings at the Eldercare Services offices as requested by management
- Refraining from smoking while in or around the client’s home unless approved by a Supervisor
- Participating fully in the company’s mandatory Light Duty Policy whenever approved by a treating physician as allowed and required by law
- Understanding and abiding by all Eldercare Services safety policies while on the job
- To the maximum extent permitted by law, having a valid State driver’s license, 1 year of regular driving experience, an acceptable DMV Report (no more than 2 points and no DUI/DWI or reckless driving convictions), and being able to safely operate a vehicle in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
Mental/ Reasoning requirements:
- Ability to understand detailed written and oral instructions
- Ability to report regularly and clearly to Supervisors in person, by phone or by e-mail
- Simple reading & writing
- Clear verbal and non-verbal communication while working with elder clients
- Ability to exercise sound judgment in making decisions and contacting Supervisor for direction
- Clearly understand need for required communication/reporting to the office