SENIOR COMPANIONS

Position Summary

Provides homecare support services for families of the frail, physically and mentally compromised Tribal members of the Pueblo of Sandia. Provides the senior client with light housekeeping, personal care, emotional and social support, exercise, healthy meals, and a clean and safe environment.

Our philosophy is built on the principles of integrity, fairness, collaboration, communication, and recognition for performance excellence. Meeting all performance standards leads to attracting and retaining a qualified workforce, provides opportunities for qualified team members, and contributes towards the ongoing success of the Pueblo of Sandia today and in the future.  

 Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Accompanies patients and acts as an advocate for those who are elderly and in frail condition.
2. Non-medical personal care assistance with activities of daily living such as, mobility including transfers and ambulation, personal comfort and grooming such as bathing, showering, total bed baths, shampooing, preventive skin care and other assistance as needed.
3. Light housekeeping duties for the patient including laundry, kitchen and bathroom cleaning, vacuuming.
4. Transporting patients to all appointments, outings, and non-essential activities.
5. Meal preparation for patients includes shopping, menu planning and assisting with senior clients’ nutrition as needed.
6. Follow through on non-medical recommendations and orders from all providers, Nutritionist/Dietician, Physical, Occupational, Speech Therapists, Aquatics, and Homecare Senior Companion Program Nurse Manager.
7. Companionship and emotional support to the senior client patient.
8. Assist with mentally stimulating activities such as putting together puzzles, crafts, card games, social interactions, music, art, fishing, and family.
9. Attend PSHC and other related meetings and training courses as required.
10. Communicate regularly with other Senior Companions, family members, and Senior Companion Program Nurse Manager both verbally and in writing.
11. Performs additional duties and responsibilities as assigned or necessary. Performs additional duties as necessary and assigned. Punctual and regular attendance is an essential responsibility for all team members and are expected to report to work based upon the assigned schedule each day in accordance with the Attendance Policy for Pueblo of Sandia.  

 Additional Responsibilities

1. May be assigned to the Senior Meal Site when client loads are reduced or as needed.
2. Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills in building a cohesive working relationship with co-workers and internal/external contact.
3. Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

 Key Performance Indicators

This position has Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) identified as a measurement of success.  KPI’s will be shared with all team members who work in this job title and feedback will be provided regarding the successful completion of the KPI’s as part of the performance review process.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Ability to drive fleet vehicles having either an automatic or standard transmission.
2. Must be able to move patients in wheelchairs.
3. Ability to follow directions using a telephone or radio.
4. Ability to transmit oral assessment to medical or other personnel.
5. Ability to work odd and unusual hours, weekends and holidays.
6. Ability to travel out of town overnight.
7. Knowledge of basic math, map reading and trip scheduling.
8. Knowledge of the location of medical facilities.
9. Knowledge special needs of disabled adults and the care that must be exercised in the transporting of patients.
10. Employees will adhere to all applicable Pueblo of Sandia Human Resources Team Member Handbook Employee Manual policies and procedures and other PSHC Health Center Administrative policies and procedures.

   Education and Experience  

Required:

1. High School Diploma, GED certification or equivalent.
2. Must be 18 years of age.

Preferred:

1. Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) designation.
2. 1-2 years of home care experience or senior care experience.

Note:  Relevant work experience or education may be substituted to satisfy education and/or work experience. 

License/Certifications/Registrations

1. Must possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted New Mexico Driver’s License.
2. Current CPR and First Aid certifications
3. The following immunizations and titers are required prior to employment start date:

• Hepatitis B series or immune by titer
• Tdap
• MMR or immune by titer
• Annual TB test
• Annual Flu vaccination (seasonal)
• COVID booster (optional but encouraged)

1. Must be able to successfully pass a stringent background investigation and character investigation in compliance with PL 101.630.
2. Will require a pre-employment and random drug screening.

                        Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

The following selected physical activities are required to perform the essential functions of this position

Physical Requirement

                                                    Description

Balancing

Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling and walking, standing, or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.

Climbing

Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.

Crawling

Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.

Crouching

Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.

Feeling

Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.

Finger Dexterity

Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.

Grasping

Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

Hearing

Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.

Kneeling

Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.

Lifting

Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles. (Up to 25 lbs.)

Pulling

Using upper extremities to exert force to draw, haul, or tug objects in a sustained motion. (Up to 25 lbs.)

Pushing

Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force to thrust forward, downward, or outward. (Up to 25 lbs.)

Reaching

Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

Seeing

The ability to perceive the nature of objects by the eye.

Walking

Job requirements include, in the performance of duties, walking throughout the work area, on various work surfaces throughout internal or external locations.

Sitting

Particularly for sustained periods of time.

Standing

Particularly for sustained periods of time.

Stooping

Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.

Talking

Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

List Working Conditions Required:

1. Work hours subject to change with short notice with possible overtime requirements; Director approval is required.
2. Work is subject to hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, to high heat or exposure to chemicals.
3. The environment involves some exposure to physical risks which require following basic safety procedures.
4. Work environment involves some exposure to contagious diseases and or blood borne pathogens and may require use of personal protective equipment.
5. Subject to hazards which may cause personal bodily harm; smoke; diseases; cuts bruises, burns, common cold, influenza, dust, odors and elevated noise levels.
6. Tasks may be performed on uneven, inclined, hard and soft carpeted floors, cement structures and surfaces.