Glenda, I do companion sitting as a volunteer, it is rewarding and I have made many friends with the people I help.
I recommend doing this as a volunteer and network through your clients. Because they can only get free help 2xs monthly they may be willing or know someone that needs a sitter for pay.
I would create flyers and post them at senior centers, senior apartments, church bulletin boards, do online searches and tell everyone you know that you are available. Know how much you are going to charge hourly and if you have a minimum # of hours.
I wouldn't recommend doing this work through an agency, none of them will treat you right or fairly, no matter what they say, it is all about their bottom line and paying crap wages to the actual hands on carers. You will make better money being independent, especially now, because there is a huge shortage of people for this industry.
Burnt, you shared accurately the minuses of this job, but as you shared that you’re credentialed to start your own agency and have indicated that’s what you’ll be doing, how are you as an employer going to recruit people?
I will not be working in client homes myself anymore. No way. Homecare is very expensive but I'm not a greedy person. Employees who will be taking sitting work are going to get paid more than any other agency pays for that. People who need a job will apply. That's how I started out way back years ago. I needed a job and homemaker/companion/sitter work requires no skills or education. I think being honest with a potential employee about what sitter work really is but also letting them know they will be earning more working for me than they would with a different agency is the right incentive. I would not insult a potential hire by lying to them about how rewarding and great the work is and how much of a difference they're making. I heard that crap for years. I know what this work is and I will be honest about it. I believe if you pay people decently, respect them, and are honest with them they will work well. They will be honest with you and trustworthy. The ones who aren't you fire.
Glendadunn66, what I'm going to say comes from 25 years experience working in-home caregiving mostly to elderly.
You DO NOT want to become a sitter. The pay is crap and the work is miserable. You will not be making any difference believe me. If you want to get involved in helping the elderly do some volunteer work. Don't do it as employment because sitter work is absolutely miserable. If you're volunteering you're not responsible and can just walk away. It is very depressing and isolating. It is like watching paint dry hour after mind-numbingly boring hour.
Glendadunn66, check with your local hospital as some do hire sitters for their patients. I remember when my Mom had one for a couple of days until she was discharge.
Check with your local nursing homes to see if they hire sitters.
I recommend doing this as a volunteer and network through your clients. Because they can only get free help 2xs monthly they may be willing or know someone that needs a sitter for pay.
I would create flyers and post them at senior centers, senior apartments, church bulletin boards, do online searches and tell everyone you know that you are available. Know how much you are going to charge hourly and if you have a minimum # of hours.
I wouldn't recommend doing this work through an agency, none of them will treat you right or fairly, no matter what they say, it is all about their bottom line and paying crap wages to the actual hands on carers. You will make better money being independent, especially now, because there is a huge shortage of people for this industry.
I will not be working in client homes myself anymore. No way.
Homecare is very expensive but I'm not a greedy person.
Employees who will be taking sitting work are going to get paid more than any other agency pays for that.
People who need a job will apply. That's how I started out way back years ago. I needed a job and homemaker/companion/sitter work requires no skills or education.
I think being honest with a potential employee about what sitter work really is but also letting them know they will be earning more working for me than they would with a different agency is the right incentive.
I would not insult a potential hire by lying to them about how rewarding and great the work is and how much of a difference they're making. I heard that crap for years. I know what this work is and I will be honest about it.
I believe if you pay people decently, respect them, and are honest with them they will work well. They will be honest with you and trustworthy. The ones who aren't you fire.
You DO NOT want to become a sitter. The pay is crap and the work is miserable.
You will not be making any difference believe me.
If you want to get involved in helping the elderly do some volunteer work.
Don't do it as employment because sitter work is absolutely miserable. If you're volunteering you're not responsible and can just walk away.
It is very depressing and isolating. It is like watching paint dry hour after mind-numbingly boring hour.
Check with your local nursing homes to see if they hire sitters.