Dawn K.

After more than a month's notice I left Laura on May 31, 2014 and moved to Banning on June 1st. On June 1st I began working with JoAnne Gunn in Redlands. This is a short-term position. I have been helping her 5 days a week, 2 hours each day. My responsibilities include dispensing her medications, making sure she gets hydration, emptying her "chamber pot", cooking her dinner, washing dishes and other light housekeeping. She has 2 cats and I make sure their boxes are cleaned out and they have fresh food. At this point, this job is slated to end on July 16, 2014 when JoAnne's daughter returns from her trip to Italy.

I began working for Laura March, 2012. Laura has COPD and later was diagnosed with Colon cancer and had a large tumor surgically removed in August 2013. I did most of her grocery shopping; planned and prepared meals; transported her to doctor's appts (which meant dealing with a wheelchair, O2 tanks, regulators & canulae); accompanied her into her doctors appointments (she is very hard of hearing and is losing her short term memory); took her to nail and hair appts; kept her financial records in order; checked her vitals every morning and recorded them (blood sugar, blood pressure, pulse/ox); made sure she took her meds at the intervals prescribed; encouraged her to do her breathing treatments and got the nebulizer ready for her; communicated her condition to her daughter (in Las Vegas) and often called her doctors on her behalf; dealt with various issues around the house (utility problems or billing problems); light housecleaning (mostly cleaning up after meals and helping keep her table clear of bills, newspapers and coupons) and some laundry; walking, feeding and caring for her dog (a pure pleasure); and watering her yard (front and back) and indoor plants. I have probably forgotten something important, but you get the gist. I did often stay overnight and there were few nights where there wasn't some need for her to call me to help her to the bathroom - or back from the bathroom. She also took a number of falls (no broken bones, thank goodness) and I helped her up