We are so pleased that you have expressed interest in a part-time position with Home Care for Maine.  We are a non-profit agency that provides personal care and homemaking services for elderly and persons with disabilities all over Maine so they may stay in their own homes where they may keep their independence and feel the most comfortable.

We believe providing in-home care takes a special person.  We would like to review with you in this letter some of the aspects of the position so you may make an informed decision about coming to work for Home Care for Maine.  Please take the time to read the following information.

Our Direct Care Workers (DCW) provide two primary types of care: Personal Care and Homemaking.   Consumers who need personal care services receive help with their personal needs such as bathing, dressing, and toileting.  They also require help with housekeeping, errands, and transportation to appointments.  Homemaking consumers need help with housekeeping tasks, errands, transportation, and possible incidental personal care such as brushing teeth or hair care.  There is a service plan provided to you for each consumer that will list all items that need to be done.

Each consumer is different in personality.  Some are happy you are there; others may not be because that would be admitting they need help, where others may be very needy.  Many have family members you will be talking with in regards to the needs of the consumer.  Knowing how to talk to many types of personalities and keeping your composure in many types of situations is a must!  You will be building relationships with your consumers which is so important to their care. Yet, what is just as important is to keep the relationship one that is helping and professional.  When you enter a consumer’s home, always ask yourself if this is the way you would want your mother or father (or any loved one) cared for.  If you can answer yes, you will go home knowing you have done all you can do for your consumers.

When hired we request the exact days and times of the week in which you are available to work and are willing to commit to.  Our schedulers will then schedule cases within the times you have given.  You will have a set schedule to go by each week as your caseload builds.  You will be asked to do fill-ins on occasion to help cover fellow workers time off.  We can accommodate some schedule changes but not frequent ones due to upsetting the consumers.    

Visits to consumer’s homes may be one (1) hour in length up to four (4) or more hours depending on the program the consumer is in.  You may go once a week to a consumer or you may go many days in a week. 

Depending on your own individual availability a schedule may look like this:

(This DCW’s availability is Mon-Fri 8 a- 7 p & Sat. 8 a – Noon for about 20-25 hrs/wk)           

Let’s look at the DCW’s Monday schedule to review; Consumer’s A and B:  

Arrive at Consumer A at 8 am for 2 hour visit to perform duties listed on service plan (change bed linen, do laundry, clean bathroom, dishes, vacuum, and review grocery list and get groceries).  Greet consumer while getting prepared to work.  Some consumers will direct how they will want items cleaned others you must ask.  Also, possibly chat with consumer while performing tasks if they desire.  Some tasks can be performed at the same time.  For example, you might start the laundry and then go on to clean the kitchen while the clothes are washing.  Fill out timesheet and review with consumer and go to next consumer.

When driving directly from one consumer to next you are compensated for drive time. 

Arrive at Consumer B at 10:15 am for 3 hour visit.  The service plan includes: change bed linen, do laundry, clean bathroom, dishes, vacuum, and review grocery list and get groceries, bathe the consumer, and help with toileting.  Since personal care is required on this visit, personal care would be a priority.  Ask the consumer when they would like to bathe; if not till later in visit, work on other tasks and then bathe consumer when they are ready.  Sometimes prompting the consumer to bathe is needed.  Plan time to accomplish priority tasks first, such as emptying commode, cleaning bathroom, groceries, laundry, etc. to ensure that these tasks are completed.  Write down list of unfinished items to work on at your next visit.  Fill out timesheet and review with consumer before leaving. 

We hope the above information will help you in understanding of the work and how important this is to our consumers and why we only want to hire the most dependable, skilled and caring people. 

Please know if offered a position with Home Care for Maine we will request information to perform checks of your criminal background, driving record. 

Next you will find a self-assessment form to help you in your decision making process if you have not done facility or in-home care work before.   Then you will find the application.  This must be filled out in it’s entirety to be considered.

Please call the Human Resources Department at 1-800-639-3084 between 8 – 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, if you have any questions regarding working for Home Care Maine.

Thank you.

Click here for Self Assessment Test and Application