Job Description

At Northside Home Care, we believe that caregiving is more than just a job--it's a professional calling.

We are a white glove home care agency dedicated to providing our clients with exceptional, compassionate, and reliable support. We are looking for a select group of dedicated caregivers to join our elite team.

We are looking for individuals who see the inherent dignity in every person and are driven by a deep sense of purpose. Before you apply, we ask that you read this preview carefully. Our goal is to be completely transparent about the rewards and the realities of this role, so you can make an informed decision about whether this is the right path for you.

A Day in the Life: The Reality of the Role

As a professional caregiver with our agency, no two days will be exactly alike, but a typical shift blends rewarding connection with essential, and sometimes challenging, daily tasks.

Your day might begin by assisting a client with their morning hygiene routine--providing respectful, hands-on help with bathing, dressing, and grooming. This is followed by preparing a nutritious breakfast that meets their specific dietary needs. The mid-morning could be spent providing companionship--perhaps reading the newspaper aloud, playing a card game, or simply listening to their life stories.

The afternoon might involve accompanying the client to a doctor's appointment, where you will act as their advocate and a careful listener. Afterward, you may need to run errands like picking up prescriptions or groceries. The day often concludes with light housekeeping, documenting all activities and any changes in the client's condition in our digital log, and ensuring the client is safe and comfortable before your shift ends.

While moments of connection are the most rewarding part of the job, it's important to understand that much of the work involves the routine, and sometimes difficult, tasks that are essential to our clients' well-being.

The Unvarnished Truth: The Challenges of Professional Caregiving

We believe in honesty. This is a deeply rewarding career, but it is also demanding. We want you to consider these challenges carefully before applying.

Emotional Demands:

You will often work independently with minimal direct supervision, which requires a high degree of self-motivation and emotional resilience. You will support clients and their families through difficult health challenges, which can be emotionally taxing. You will encounter situations involving grief, loss, and the end-of-life process. A strong emotional foundation is non-negotiable.

Behavioral Challenges:

You will work with clients who may exhibit challenging behaviors due to cognitive decline (like dementia or Alzheimer's), mental health issues, or physical pain. This can include verbal agitation, confusion, paranoia, or resistance to care. A calm, patient demeanor and professional de-escalation skills are essential for success and safety.

Physical Demands:

This role is physically active and demanding. It requires the ability to safely lift and transfer clients who may have limited mobility, potentially weighing up to 50 pounds. You will spend prolonged periods standing, bending, walking, and assisting with mobility. You must be able to meet these physical requirements consistently and safely.

Personal Care Tasks:

A core responsibility of this role is assisting clients with all aspects of personal care. This includes, but is not limited to, bathing, showering, dressing, toileting, and incontinence care. This work requires the utmost professionalism, a deep respect for client dignity, and the ability to perform these sensitive tasks without expressing discomfort.

Logistical Requirements:

Reliable Transportation:

This role requires you to travel to client homes located throughout the northside of Indianapolis. You must have consistent, reliable access to transportation to ensure you can arrive on time for every shift, regardless of location. Travel of up to 45 minutes may be required.

Scheduling Flexibility:

Our clients need care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This position requires availability for a variety of shifts, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and some holidays.

Professional Certification:

All candidates must possess a valid HHA or CNA certification and a current CPR certification.

Are You Still With Us? Take This Short Quiz.

If you have read the above and feel a sense of purpose rather than discouragement, take a moment to consider how you would handle the following real-world scenarios. There are no right or wrong answers, but your choices will help you understand the kind of on-the-spot judgment this role requires.

Scenario 1:

You arrive for your 9 AM shift and discover the client, who has dementia, has been up all night and is extremely agitated. They shout at you, "You're not my regular girl! Get out of my house!" What is your immediate response?

A) Gently but firmly tell them you are their scheduled caregiver and you need to get them ready for the day. B) Don't say anything, but start tidying up the room to give them space to calm down. C) Say in a calm, friendly voice, "You're right, I'm not your usual person, but I'm here to help today. It sounds like you've had a rough night. Can I make us a cup of tea?" D) Call the office immediately to report that the client is being uncooperative.

Scenario 2:

Your shift is scheduled to end at 5:00 PM. The next caregiver is running late and calls to say they won't arrive until 5:30 PM. Your client cannot be left alone. You have personal plans for the evening. What do you do?

A) Tell the incoming caregiver that's fine, but you have to leave promptly at 5:00 PM. B) Immediately call your supervisor, explain the situation, and ask them what you should do. C) Reassure the incoming caregiver that it's okay, notify your supervisor of the delay, and stay with the client until the replacement arrives, communicating any necessary changes to your personal plans. D) Complain to the incoming caregiver about their tardiness and how it's affecting your evening.

If you have read this entire preview and feel confident and energized by the challenge, we strongly encourage you to apply. We are excited to learn more about you.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $15.00 - $20.00 per hour

Benefits:

Flexible schedule Mileage reimbursement Referral program
Work Location: In person