Companion

General Description
Under the supervision of the Helping Hands Business Development Manager, the Home Companion is      responsible for providing services which meet the individual needs of the client. These services are designed to enable the client to retain a sufficient level of health and personal hygiene and to achieve the necessary actions of daily living. 

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Assure clients safety in the home
• Notifies the Manager of any change in the client’s physical or mental condition
• Accompanies client on social, medical and personal outings
• Prepares meals, nutritious snacks, prompts clients with morning and evening routines including grooming/dressing, preforms light housekeeping duties including cleaning, bed making, laundry and providing adequate pet care. 
• Provides companionship  and stimulates cognitive  abilities through discussion, entertainment and other activities
• Offers reminders regarding the taking of medication and the filling of prescriptions
• Attends all safety-related in-service classes as required of Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) and follows the LutheranCare safety programs
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent
• One year prior experience in homecare, particularly with minimally depend elderly, frail elderly and dementia residents preferred. 
• Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset and at times angry people
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner. 
• Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies

Personal Requirements

• Appropriate attire as required by department dress code. 
• Must be able to work independently.
• Complies with the code of conduct and proper badge identification.
• Must possess a valid New York State driver’s license.

Physical Requirements

• Sits, stands, bends, lifts and moves intermittently during working hours.
• Subject to frequent interruptions.
• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• Must be in good health; be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of this position.
• Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable senses to function adequately so that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
• Must be able to lift, push, pull, and move a minimum of fifty (50) pounds.

HIPAA Compliance

Demonstrates knowledge of and adheres to LCCN policies and HIPAA regulations governing the confidentiality and security of protected health information for both manual and electronic patient records, charts, information and other confidential information including (but not limited to) employee records, computer access codes and passwords.