Companion

General Purpose:

Provide companionship and socialization activities to adults, shopping, preparing nutritious meals or snacks, and light housekeeping related to the patients/clients as permitted by the policies and procedures of Interim HealthCare and any other federal, state and local law or regulation.

Essential Functions:

• Provides companionship and socialization activities to adults.
• Perform incidental activities of daily living such as light shopping and errands, preparing nutritious meals or snack, and straightening up the patient/client’s immediate environment.  
• Utilize infection control measures such as universal standard precautions, hand washing and personal protective equipment as appropriate.
• Recognize, document and report change in patient/client environment and safety to supervisor.
• Organize self to carry out visits/shifts and organize activities.
• Attend mandatory Interim HealthCare in-services and provide requested documents to keep employee file current.
• Perform tasks as assigned such as transporting to a doctor, church, or visits to friends.
• Completes other assignments as requested and assigned.
• May have access to personal health information (“PHI”) necessary to fulfill the above duties and responsibilities. Access to use and ability to disclose PHI is further defined by each organization/department.

    The Interim HealthCare Inc. Companion may not:

• Perform any personal care or skilled nursing procedures or attend to children. 
• Reconcile bank statements, or endorse checks, or use any form of the client’s credit (e.g. credit or debit cards, ATM).

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements:

• Age of majority in the state.
• Graduate of companion training in states where required or
• Six (6) months of accumulated experience in a similar job classification or similar life experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: 

• Successful completion of appropriate knowledge (competency) assessment.
• Meets applicable health requirements to provide patient care.
• Other minimum requirements as defined by state law or regulation.
• Proof of valid auto liability insurance and valid driver’s license as required by the organization’s insurance carrier if assignment(s) include driving a vehicle, preferred.
• Able to hear, speak and write and read in English in a manner understood by most people.
• Able to read ten (10) point or larger type.
• Able to effectively handle multiple tasks or functions.

Working Conditions & Physical Effort: 

• Able to constantly travel locally from assignment to assignment.
• Able to constantly stand, walk, bend, stoop, squat, kneel and reach freely and assist clients with standing and walking.
• Able to constantly grasp with thumb in opposition to fingers of palm, i.e. manipulate pen, knobs or objects.
• Frequent exposure to communicable diseases, bloodborne pathogens and/or other potentially infectious or hazardous materials.
• Able to frequently lift and carry up to fifty (50) pounds in order to carry out daily job functions and related activities that may be required.