In Home Caregiver

About Crystal Home Care

Crystal Home Care has served individuals and families for more than four decades. Founded in 1983 as Shay Nursing Services, our organization is committed to helping seniors maintain independence, dignity, comfort, and quality of life. Our mission is to provide skilled, compassionate in-home care for seniors who are striving to maintain their independence as they age in place.

We measure the success of our services by how consistently we put our values into action: integrity, compassion, respect, and dignity. Caregivers are central to that commitment.

Position Summary

The Non-Medical Home Caregiver provides personalized assistance and companionship to clients in their homes and designated residential settings. The caregiver supports activities of daily living, household routines, safety, social connection, and independence in accordance with each client's service plan, agency policies, and applicable law. Caregivers report to their designated Care Coordinator.

Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesPersonal care and activities of daily living

· Assist with bathing, showering, grooming, oral hygiene, dressing, and personal appearance while protecting privacy and dignity.

· Assist with toileting, incontinence care, and personal hygiene.

· Provide safe assistance with transfers, positioning, ambulation, and mobility using approved techniques and equipment for which the caregiver has been trained.

· Provide meal assistance and feeding support when included in the service plan.

· Provide medication reminders only as permitted by the service plan, agency policy, and applicable law. Caregivers do not administer medications or perform skilled nursing tasks.

· Observe and promptly report changes in physical, emotional, cognitive, or functional status.

Companionship and social support

· Build trusting relationships through dependable, respectful, person-centered interactions.

· Offer conversation, companionship, recreational activities, and appropriate cognitive and social engagement.

· Encourage client choice, independence, and participation in meaningful routines.

· Accompany clients on walks, errands, appointments, or community outings when authorized.

Household support

· Provide light housekeeping, laundry, linen changes, dishwashing, and tidying of commonly used areas.

· Prepare meals and snacks consistent with client preferences and documented dietary instructions.

· Assist with grocery shopping and essential errands when authorized.

· Identify household hazards and communicate supply needs or safety concerns.

Safety, client rights, and advocacy

· Follow infection prevention, hand hygiene, and universal precaution practices.

· Use safe body mechanics and only equipment or techniques for which training and authorization have been provided.

· Recognize emergencies, follow the client emergency plan, call emergency services when indicated, and notify the Care Coordinator promptly.

· Immediately report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, injuries, falls, medication concerns, or other safety issues through agency procedures.

· Protect client confidentiality, personal property, choice, privacy, and rights; maintain professional boundaries.

Communication, documentation, and teamwork

· Communicate respectfully, thoroughly, accurately, and in a timely manner with the client and Care Coordinator

· Document each visit, services provided, observations, and relevant events accurately and promptly in designated systems.

· Report schedule changes, late arrivals, missed visits, client refusals, and technology problems without delay.

· Follow the individualized service plan and seek direction when a task is unclear or outside the caregiver role.

· Represent Crystal Home Care professionally and collaborate with the broader care team.

Available Shift TypesSupportive Shifts

Caregivers move among multiple clients within one facility or designated residential community during a shift, providing support according to each client’s service plan. Requires flexibility, organization, and effective time management. Requires a substantial amount of walking.

Hourly Shifts

One-to-one support for an individual client for a minimum of four hours per visit. Services are guided by the client’s individualized service plan.

Live-In Shifts

Extended, overnight, in-home support under a defined schedule and service plan. Sleeping time, meal periods, rest breaks, and compensation are in accordance with applicable wage-and-hour laws and agency policy.

Illinois Training and Competency Requirements

· Initial basic training (10 hours minimum): Covers job responsibilities and limitations; communication; observation, reporting, and documentation; personal care and ADLs; adaptive equipment when relevant; hygiene and infection prevention; safe environment; emergency response and basic first aid; confidentiality; dementia awareness and challenging behaviors; and abuse/neglect prevention and reporting.

· Dementia-specific training: At least six hours of initial dementia-related training must be completed within the first 60 days of employment

· Annual continuing education: At least 10 hours of training during each year of employment, on a calendar-year or employment-anniversary basis as selected by the agency. Annual topics include client dignity, independence, privacy, choice and rights; disaster procedures; hygiene and infection control; abuse and neglect prevention/reporting; and applicable ADL-related skills.

· Training records: The agency documents the date and duration of each topic, instructor and qualifications, content summary, and worker signature or time-stamped electronic completion record. Workers must complete additional instruction and competency assessment before performing unfamiliar or higher-risk tasks.

Technology and Documentation

· Maintain a functioning smartphone and use it for required work-related timekeeping and visit documentation.

· Use WellSky and Cinch client management portals as directed and applicable to assigned duties.

· Clock in and out using the designated mobile process and document visits promptly and accurately.

· Protect passwords and client information; do not share logins or store/disclose client information outside approved systems.

· Notify the Care Coordinator promptly about app, connectivity, clocking, or documentation issues.

Meetings and Organizational Participation

Caregivers are required to participate in organization-wide monthly meetings and pop-up in-services scheduled by the Crystal Home Care Director in collaboration with partner agencies Crystal Home Health and Crystal Hospice. These sessions support communication, shared learning, coordinated services, and consistent standards of care.

Qualifications and Core Competencies

· Genuine interest in supporting seniors and people who need assistance to remain independent.

· Compassion, patience, integrity, respect, sound judgment, and accountability.

· Reliable attendance, punctuality, consistency, and ability to follow schedules.

· Clear communication and accurate documentation.

· Ability to work independently while remaining connected to the care team.

· Comfort using a smartphone and learning electronic care-management systems.

· Ability to follow service plans, recognize changes, and report concerns promptly.

· Prior caregiving, home care, healthcare, or senior-services experience preferred; required screenings, background checks, and employment eligibility documentation must be completed.

Compensation and Benefits

· Paid time off for all employees, in accordance with agency policy.

· Crystal Home Care recognizes six designated national holidays; caregivers who work on those designated holidays receive time-and-a-half pay.

· Full-time employees are eligible for medical benefits.

· Initial training, annual education, and additional in-service opportunities.

Our Commitment and Performance Expectations

Caregiving is more than completing assigned tasks. It is the daily practice of building trusted relationships with clients, community members, and colleagues. Success depends on consistency, punctuality, accountability, and communication that is respectful, thorough, timely, and accurate. Every interaction should reflect integrity, compassion, respect, and dignity.

Pay: $18.50 - $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 15.0 – 20.0 per week

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Experience

* caregiving: 2 years (Preferred)

License/Certification

* IL Driver's License (Required)

Ability to Commute

* Chicago, IL 60631 (Required)

Work Location: In person