Hiring for June, 2026
My Mom is 83 and fought hard to remain independent. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 30 but managed to have a family, start a home rental business, and live a nice life. I started noticing Parkinson's symptoms at least four years ago. So far it's mild. Her day to day needs are fairly simple but require your presence.
She has a beautiful house near the Catalina Mountains in Tucson; each room has a different view. She put a lot of energy into her home and is very clean.
She tends to wake up around 10am. It will take 2 hours to complete her morning routine- help her out of bed, go to the bathroom (she can still do her own toilet), sit in the kitchen for coffee and something small (pastry). Then back to her bedroom for dressing and light washing, etc. There will be a break in the early afternoon (2 hours or so) once she is dressed and sitting at her desk before lunch.
If she wants to shower, she needs help walking in and out of the shower but can mostly bathe herself. Some days she likes to use her walker in the house, others a transporter.
During the day she keeps busy with a Sirius music system, iPod, books and a TV at her desk. She mainly listens to jazz singers like Sinatra. Maybe you can play games together, she likes Scrabble and various card games.
Please be an experienced driver. Picking up her groceries is your responsibility: Safeway is 1.5 miles, AJ's (local) 2.3 miles, Trader Joe's 3.9 miles, Whole Foods 4.8 miles. And your groceries will be paid.
Her lunch, around 2pm, takes about an hour. Food needs to be cut up or you can help feed her to speed things up. After lunch, there's another break for you (three hours ~3pm-6pm). She takes a nap from usually 4pm-6pm though the timing changes based on the season.
After her nap she moves into the family room and watches television. She has a handle on classic movies and likes a lot of actors, Clark Gable to Ryan Gosling. She'll watch PBS and CNN and movie channels. If you can help her find something streaming that would be helpful.
She will break at 8pm for dinner. If you don't feel like cooking there are a handful of local restaurants that you could pick up. Your take-out food will also be covered.
From 9pm until 11pm she watches the late talk shows.
Getting her to bed and changed and cleaning her denture (she has an upper) takes about 1/2 an hour.
She no longer drives but has a little SUV- you're free to use it. Insurance and gas will be paid. Once in a while she'll see a doctor. If you want to take her shopping or to lunch or the movies, great!
Your room is a guest room next to hers. It has its own bath and shower in the hall. There is a view of the mountains, it's very pretty. We're having a rolling shutter installed though the room already has a set of blinds. The room includes furniture and a desk, bed, dresser and closet. We can add or take away whatever you want.
The house has wifi, DirecTV, AppleTV, a pool, etc.
I live here, though I'm gone at least one week per month, longer when I'm traveling out of the country. My room is at the other end of the house- sometimes a friend will stay with me.
Pay is $1,000/week cash. I will pay you, she will not be involved. I don't think you'll have to spend much money so most of that could be saved. We're offering three weeks of paid vacation.
On Saturdays or Sundays you can take a day to yourself- I will fill in. When I am not here, we have a local caregiver (Alma) who will look after her. There's also an agency that can send someone at short notice.
Also, I tend to spend one weekday afternoon with her as well as certain doctor appointments, trips to see my sister in Phoenix, etc.
Everything is pretty low-key and peaceful, though if you need a lot of social contact, it might not be the best position. If it sounds good, please reach out to me. Thanks!