I need a caregiver helper.

@maryvc oh, how difficult and sad for you. And you’ve always had such good advice for others. Until you can find someone to help, is there a way for you to be gone for a few hours at a time? Programs in your town that help the needy, not the homeless, may be able to help you. They might know of women who are looking for work and would do well in your situation. Or a hospital. Nurse’s aides are frequently looking to change jobs. (But they may expect more than you can pay). Or a church. The pastor would know of parishioners who might work out well.
To start, you would need to come up with a list of what you would need done and what you would pay.
What are some of the more important things you would like in a caretaker?

one option is to put an ad in “care.com” and interview

I am connecting with various people and putting it out there. What I want is hard to find. That person that walks in the door and willing to do whatever needs to be done- cleaning, driving, a shoulder to cry on. My husband does not need a caregiver yet except when I go out of town.,We need someone who can help me and him as needed. Looking for a smart independent contractor. We are still in the early stages but it’s getting worse.

The lady who walks our dogs since I no longer can, is somewhat what you are looking for. She was displaced two years ago when Hurricane Ida ripped through Southeast Louisiana and one of our rental houses became vacant. We like this lady very much and she tells me she cared for her mother with Alzheimer's for years. So we reduced the rent so she could afford the house which is two doors down from us and she moved in. The agreement was that as things got worse, she would walk dogs less and help us more to the point that her rent will eventually decline also. So far it is working: she brings the newspaper up to our door, runs errands, even brings our garbage can back from the street and best of all hangs with my husband occasionally helping him with projects while I do errands or rest. She and my husband get along well and I hear them teasing good naturally. Maybe you know someone you can barter with?

Love that!! I’m connecting with people daily. Next week interviewing a couple of prospects but I’m taking my time.

I found what I am looking for - but it’s in England -
Companion Housekeeper
A companion housekeeper, also known as a companions or companion carer is an essential asset to any home where an individual or an elderly couple require someone with them during the day or night to assist with everyday tasks and provide companionship.
Housekeepers can be employed on a full or part time basis and their responsibilities meticulously tailored to meet the specific needs of each household. Many Housekeepers employed to provide professional services for elderly people are live-in and are provided with a room of their own, this is an ideal solution for an elderly person who may require assistance during the night.
There are several options to choose from;
Temporary – A temporary Housekeeper could be required to provide an extra set of hands to support an elderly individual or couple during a period of illness, or perhaps to cover the temporary absence of a spouse or family member.
Part Time – Hiring a Housekeeper on a part time basis could help an elderly person to retain their independence and make it possible for them to retain the quality of life they are accustomed to in the comfort of their own home. An elderly person who is struggling with some of the more physically demanding aspects of running their home could benefit from the part time services of a housekeeper.
Full Time – Housekeepers employed to support elderly people in their own home and take care of day-to-day tasks provide a valuable service that can significantly reduce the need for premature institutional care and significantly relieve the strain on family caregivers.
TASKS
The type of services and responsibilities provided by a Housekeeper cover a broad spectrum of areas as the needs of each individual and household vary considerably.
Services could include any combination of the following:
The tasks required could include:
Shopping for weekly essentials and running general errands
Accompanying on special and regular outings
Cooking and sharing meals
Light domestic support such as cleaning, laundry, care of pets
Light gardening duties
Participating in hobbies and crafts
Helping with travel arrangements and accompanying to appointments
Assisting with correspondence and paperwork
All associated tasks should be outlined initially within the job description. They can be discussed in more detail later on during the interview stage. The loss of strength and mobility in later life can make it difficult for elderly people to take care of certain tasks themselves and over time, these needs may change.
REDUCE STRESS
Employing a Housekeeper can relieve family caregivers of a great deal of the pressure and worry associated with making sure an elderly loved one is safe and properly cared for once they begin to struggle with the usual tasks associated with running a home.
Additional domestic support also reduces a great deal of stress for any elderly person who wishes to remain in the comfort of their own home, but requires a little extra help to enable them to do so.
The companionship provided by a live-in housekeeper can improve quality of life for an elderly person and prevent feelings of loneliness and isolation.
PEACE OF MIND
When looking for the right individual to fill a position in your home it is essential that thorough background checks are always made to ensure that your security and safety are not compromised in any way.
The tasks required could include:
Shopping for weekly essentials and running general errands
Accompanying on special and regular outings
Cooking and sharing meals
Light domestic support such as cleaning, laundry, care of pets
Light gardening duties
Participating in hobbies and crafts
Helping with travel arrangements and accompanying to appointments
Assisting with correspondence and paperwork
Companion housekeepers will not necessarily be qualified carers or nurses and therefore will not be expected to administer special medication. Eden Private Staff can however source and provide qualified carers for clients if required. We also recruit for households with young children or young adults, where the companion housekeeper works alongside a more specialist carer or a nurse.
Companion housekeepers are often employed on a ‘live in’ basis and will expect to receive full board and lodging as part of their role. As agreed in advance with the client, they should also have two full days off per week. We recommend that live in companion housekeepers are paid are minimum of £450 per week net.
All of the companion housekeepers we put forward for consideration will have a current DBS disclosure (police records check) and their own transportation. We also ensure that all candidates are carefully and thoroughly reference checked and interviewed by one of our consultants. We do also recommend that prospective clients speak to the referees themselves.
We can source companion housekeepers to work all over the UK and the world – clients within the UK range from Cornwall to Scotland and international clients range from Europe to the middle east and the Americas.

I’m going to write them. You never know

I hired someone today from Care.com for two days a week.
We will see how it goes. She is very flexible about what is needed. I’m not even sure at this point how things will go.

The answer to my sanity is lovely Kayla. She has been a caregiver and cleaned houses, and when she agreed to help us out, I was over the moon. Although I have a list from our county's Social Services, they seem more focused on bathing and medications. We're not there yet. What we needed was someone to take the pressure off me (the caregiver) so that I would not fall apart. Twice monthly for 4 hours, she does what I can no longer do. She keeps our home from becoming a hovel one room at a time. That she brings in stories from her young family and makes me laugh is an added bonus. Ask friends.
Ask the checkout person. I heard of Kayla during a conversation while opening a small banking account. Good Luck. GloRo

you might check your church or temple, there might be someone in need of some $$ and just the right person

I’m so glad you have Kayla. We are not at the personal care level either. I thought long and hard about what we need now and it’s not just help w the house etc. It’s someone else here to talk to and laugh with and diffuse our frustration with each other.