delivery specialist

enrollment specialist

program analyst

caregiver

customer service representative

California Department of Social Services

Would start my day at 9am in the morning, would greet my client with a hello, and begin by asking her about her day before, and any tasks she might need me to do. Then I would go from there, and begin my day by starting on tasks that I can do just before my client gets her shower for the day. After I have completed those tasks, then I would give her shower, help her get dressed, and see if my client would like me to do anything else. Usually, we run errands for the day, and if that is one of those days, then we do the errands first, then if we have enough time in the day, because I usually work 6-8 hour shifts, then I will go on from there see if there are any tasks that need to be completed, and do that just before I end my day. My shift ends around about 4pm everyday. What I learned since I started working with other clients besides working for my relative, in the past. Is that every client is different, the last client I had was Jewish, and I learned a lot about her culture and her as an individual, and I realized that other races are not that different from African Americans. I am African American descent, my race is Black, even though I never had a problem with diverse cultures, it still was a learning experience for me. For me, I did not really find anything about my job hard, because I had already had previous training working for my relative, in the past, and also training as a CNA. So those skills that I learned, I was able to take with me as I went on and pursued other jobs with other clients. The most enjoyable part of my job, is seeing my clients happy, and knowing that I did a job well done. And what I mean by that, is you want to make your clients as comfortable as possible with you, and you want to develop a good relationship with your client, because if not, then you and your client won't be working together long. And then also its like this, how would you feel if your were in there situation, and you needed someone to help you, you would want someone to help you, especially if you could no longer keep up your home, or take care of yourself. So that is what I did. I help those that need my assistance, whether it is medical assistance, or non medical, such as housekeeping, companionship, or just being a driver to help with running errands, that is what I do, that is all part of what being a caregiver is. So I really enjoy my job, meeting new people, getting to know them, and being of service, as for as helping them. It really makes me feel good to know that my client is well cared for.

I worked evening shift during the week and weekends including morning shift on weekends. During the week I get to clients home and prepare to give client his medication and dinner food through his feeding tube, I finish up, close the tube, dispose of food cans, clean up any dishes in sink, while he goes out to the gym to workout I go make sure everything needed is fully stocked up in his room, make sure his glucose meter is ready for use to check his levels for the night, start a load of laundry, prepare his bed for bedtime, take his glucose when he returns from gym and administer insulin shot if its needed, place clothes in dryer, fold and put away if there's time, help client get ready for bed by changing him out of his clothes, assisting client with transferring to bed from his chair, plugging in his wheelchair to charge it, change and clean clients bottom, replace briefs with new ones, set radio to clients desired volume and station, close bedroom blinds and window. On weekend mornings I arrive and get clients morning medication ready and his breakfast, get out a new syringe for feeding and get food prepared, then go into to wake client up, open up blinds and window, unplug his wheelchair, empty any urinal containers, turn off radio, help assist client with choosing clothes for the day and clean him up change him, assist with dressing him, assist with transferring him from bed to his chair, while he brushes his teeth I go take care of any clean up in the kitchen and tidy up the living area, I then feed him through his feeding tube and finish up, start another load of laundry, sweep and mop floors when I get the chance, take out trash and recycling as needed, dry, fold and put away laundry then repeat meal preparation for lunch around noonish , then go home until around 8pm to return for night shift.

It was great taking care of my patients. Even though I have to know someone that is in this program in order to have a job...I like going to work everyday. A typical day at work would be to interact with the patient....ask them how their day was? ask them if there is anything they would like or and need? Check to see if they took their medicine.Check their food supply, if need more of make a list for grocery shopping. Check their appliances like bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room.Refill medicine if needed. Ask them what they want for dinner that night. so it can defrosted while you are doing other things. Then you would start cleaning up. if the patient can, ask them if they would like to change their house around. talk to them, they might be lonely all day or might be having a hard day.

 I've learned that by being a caregiver is that even though you do something at your house, they want it done their way. I've learned that even while working, I made a friend with my boss. 

 The management is great! Elderly patients, normally have a power of attorney. Which means that the patient has somebody that helps makes the decision either with them or for them.Either before or after decided.

 Co-works are nice to have, even working in different shifts. I use to work 12 hour shifts until i found someone to help a patient because my co-worker had a personal leave. 

 The hardest part of this job was when they get sick and cant really help them until they go to the doctors...sometimes they don't what to go to the doctors because they been mistreated their or afraid what they are told. 
 
 The most enjoyable part was to see their faces light up knowing that you came to help and not giving up on them. (some of them don't have much family to come visit them.)

My typical day consisted of checking patients in to be seen, preparing patient rooms, answering phones, scheduling appointments and filling in and filing charts. I was responsible for talking with insurance companies about patient coverage and payment options and entering information into computer to bill insurance companies printing out and mailing statements to patients when needed.

I learned a lot about chiropractic services. I obtained experience in medical billing, scheduling appointments, filling out patient charts.
I also learned that some doctors care more about the patient than they do about getting paid and will go to great lengths to help people. This was one of the most rewarding places I've worked for.

My co-workers were just me and Lorin farr, D.C. This office was small. The hardest part about this job was seeing so many patients in pain and at the end of their ropes. These patients had done everything possible to fix their problem, from surgeries and medication to cortisone shots and physical therapy. The patients came to the office broken and not very hopeful anything else would work.

The most enjoyable part of this job was seeing those same patients find relief of their symptoms. Those patients were so thankful and grateful that something had actually worked. I liked watching these patients come to life and start living their lives again, taking up hobbies, exercising and even working again. It was like watching a miracle unfold right in front of my eyes. I loved working there!

What is the best part of working at the company?
The Caregiver answers to their recipient only with the hours the state authorized. When the recipient is initially  scheduled for their  first intake interview with the social worker. Solely to accommodate the needs and  assistance of the recipient.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Nothing really stressful about working for IHSS. I work for the person that my have had surgeries, and unable to  complete daily living activities. Like cleaning, cooking, going to appointments. Or mentallly disorders which the recipient needs assistance with computers, paying bills, help with reading or submitting documents or filing documents, and many other timely tasks. Sometimes I might have difficulty trying to convince my recipient he needs to go to his scheduled appt, because he's clinically depressed ,and very fatigued from being in pain all night from his neck surguries.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
I work for the organization. Not at the location where the organization is  maintained. I work for the recipient assigned to me in the  home or in the community driving them to appts. Doing laundry, or reminding them to take their medication.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Checking in on the IHSS app to notify that I have clocked in to start my duties whatever the recipient need me to.do for him or her that day and when those tasks are done check out on the app with the time I finished, and the hours spent with them. Either at home or outside in the community.

State guidelines are enforced in regards to client care. The is no interaction with other employees unless there is a participation in union events. Interaction is primarily with the client and their needs. There are objectives that  are determined during the initial interview with the client per the advice of the client manager. The information is forwarded to the CMS and a determination of how many hours the client will receive and the chores that are to be completed by the care giver.

I perform personal needs, rides to doctor appointments, ensure compliance to physician instruction, preparation of meals, ensuring privacy as defined by HIPAA law, and meeting on a semi-annual basis with the client manager to develop new goals. The meetings are to examine the existing goals and to measure performance gaps of the client.

The hardest part of the job is to get approval for more hours for the client when health needs change. The most enjoyable part of the job is the ability to assist those who need help and are dependent on the services that we provide.

I have learned the art of listening and patience on both the part of the organization and the client. Listening offers the opportunity for those who need to speak, to speak and gains trust of the listener. Patience  offers support of the client in knowing that they have limitations as well as understanding the limitations of government response to allocating more hours due to the large client list that is served in Alameda county.

A typical day at work began at the patient's home in the morning around 7am. I would first prepare my patient breakfast and serve it to her. Meanwhile her eating, I would occupy myself with some of the household cleaning, such as washing the dishes, vacuuming the floor, mopping or cleaning the restroom area. Next, I would assist my patient with checking her blood-sugar levels. After that was done, my next trip was off to shopping for food or any other items my patient requested. I would do so diligently of course and return once done. If there was laundry to be done that day, I would do it. Finally I would begin making my patient's dinner for the rest of the night.

I can definitely say that I have learned the virtue of patience from working this job. It was quite tough at times maintaining patience whenever my patient would push me a little too far, say something disrespectful or inappropriate, complained about minor or nonexistent things, and also responding to the patient's every demand. It requires a lot of patience, self-control and composure in order to conduct myself well in a rather demanding or cruel environment. However, I learned that it's possible through patience and sacrifice.

The most enjoyable part of the job I would have to say was the altruistic part. Just the fact that I had the daily opportunity to help another human being was all the energy boost I needed to persevere. Altruism is in my nature. Although the job could be mundane at times, I enjoyed it at the most.

A typical day for a caregiver is coming on shift checking notes from previous caregiver to see if there were any changes.  Taking notes, preparing meals, shopping for clients, preparing meals, cleaning cooking, laundry, bathing patients/clients, assisting with dressing patients, administering medications, entertaining patients, attending doctors appointments and store runs.  Putting patients to bed and take notes at the end of the shift.  
The hardest part of the job was dealing with the elder who was set in their ways.  Most of all I enjoyed keeping the clients company and seeing them smile.  The management of this position was the easy to deal with and I learned that there were two managers, the family you worked for and the person who hired you.

Assist client, at their apartment, with day to day chores, and activities. Provide clients with transportation to appointments, apartment needs, activities and social events. I learned how the needs of the client are more than just to have them to live, but to live healthy and to gain positive relationships with others. The management team works with a lot of clients, so it may be hard to communicate certain situations, from day to day, but they do make sure that their staff have the items that they need, to assist the client as well as ask questions about progress between the client and staff. Co-workers are limited, it is mainly between contact between the client and the In-Home Client Support. The hardest part of the job, was having limited time to yourself, I was assigned as a 24 hour support, and days off were a bare minimum, considering the wages and not having an actual place to live. The most enjoyable part of the job, was that I was able to help the client become healthy by assisting that person with losing 48 pounds, and helping the client to gain the importance of making friends, outside of staff members.

When I do finally get home, it can be as late as 3 or 4 p.m. Now it’s time to finish up the day’s charting and transfer the information to our office. Luckily for me, I’ve learned during the years to get as much of my charting done in the patient’s home. So usually I am done by 5 p.m., which is my cut-off time.

This is where you need good time management and organizational skills. If you don’t, you will either be letting your work go or you will be spending time getting it done way past your scheduled eight hours. And you are not getting paid for that time because you haven’t learned how to manage your time well.

This is a short version. I could go on and on about what goes wrong in each day, but I won’t. For me I try my best to get up every day and start with a good attitude, smiling, and making the best of it. It’s the patients I meet in a day’s time that make it all worthwhile. They are always glad to see me and truly need my help.

I find the home health nursing specialty rewarding in so many ways and encourage other nurses to try it. However, I warn you that it won’t be easy. It takes time to get used to being out on your own if you’ve never worked in this type of setting before.

Home health care is not for every nurse. If you like working independently, spending time with your patients and setting your own schedule, then being one may be for you. If you can get into a routine and organize your day well, I promise you it will be all worth it.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Delivery specialist 70 salaries reported	$40.00 per hour
Enrollment specialist 7 salaries reported	$20.71 per hour
Program analyst 1 salary reported	$5,480 per month
Caregiver 11 salaries reported	$19.70 per hour
Customer service representative 1 salary reported	$20.00 per hour

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