I’m seeking a professional caregiver to check in on my 80-year-old mother, who has Parkinson’s disease and moderate-to-major cognitive impairment. She’ll be visiting from Arizona over the summer. This will begin as an occasional evening role in June, with the potential for daytime coverage in late July and over a long weekend in early August.

While I will be handling her meals, laundry, medications, and bathing needs, I’m looking for someone who can provide safety oversight and a reassuring presence while I’m away. Responsibilities include checking in to ensure she is safe and not at risk of falls, monitoring for any unsafe behaviors (especially in the kitchen, such as stove use), providing calm reassurance and gentle redirection if she becomes confused or disoriented, offering basic first aid if needed, and contacting emergency services in case of injury or urgent concern. It’s important that the caregiver maintains a calm, respectful, and dementia-informed approach to interaction.

Transportation is not required. For short evening visits, no food preparation, personal hygiene, or medication support is expected. However, for longer stretches—such as full-day or weekend coverage—additional support may be needed, including light meal prep, assistance with showering, and basic medication management.

Please note: I have two small rescue dogs (under 20 lbs). They are shy around new people and may bark or hide, often staying in the back room or under the bed. For longer stays, I can arrange for a separate pet sitter to manage their care and feeding.

This is a new experience for both me and my mom. We’re hoping to start with short visits to help her (and us) get comfortable, learn what kind of support is most helpful, and gradually prepare for longer stretches of care if needed.