Guest Author - Jessica Steinmetz
Some people with disabilities require some physical assistance by another person. This assistance could be from anything like picking up after the house to showering. Finding the right personal care attendant to help you can be a challenge. With some time and preparation, you can find the right person for you.
When you need physical assistance, you must learn to rely on another person. Relying on someone else is often scary and may cause you to worry. I will offer suggestions to make finding an attendant and dealing with an attendant easier. If you know what qualities you, want before you hire an assistant will help you in the weeding out process.
I think the top quality to look for in a personal care worker is trust. The attendants are going to be in your home and taking care of you. You need to trust that they will not do you harm. Ask questions about their past work history. Get references, have the workers obtain background checks, and you should call former employers of the person. Do not tell your personal assistant everything about your personal life, and make sure you keep valuables in a safe place.
Usually when you meet someone, you may get a certain feeling about him or her. Trust your instincts and follow through with them. Instincts alert you when something just is not right. If you feel uncomfortable around them, then there might be a reason for this. Better safe than sorry.
Be open and honest with your personal care attendant. Do not be shy about your individual needs. Do not let them take advantage of you in any way. You are a human being and deserve respect especially for your body. Let them know what your needs are and tell them politely if they did something wrong or hurtful. Remember they are not slaves, and they deserve respect and polite treatment too.
Local agencies can assist you in finding attendants and in payment. You should call United Cerebral Palsy Organization or Visiting Nurses Association. They should be able to point you in the right direction. The average attendant charges about seven dollars per hour. Charges vary based on location, time, services and how much care you might require. I suggest you get back up in case your attendants get sick or cannot make it one day.
