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Companionship, outings and some assistance for an elderly lady with a close extended family in Auckland, New Zealand

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least 3 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Please note, the position is filled until the middle of May 2025

    A minimum of 3 weeks stay is best. Up to 3 months, if it works out, is possible.
    Vegetarian or vegan preferred.
    Please read to the very end of the profile to be sure to understand the position well.

    Companion needed for an elderly woman who turned 90 in December. Lois is a lover of conversation, travel, arts and life. My mum is fiercely independent but is too often on her own and struggles to do some tasks. Lois has reduced mobility and struggles with her speech due to a stoke she suffered over a decade ago. Being her companion would come with some practical requests and an extra eye for her safety, but mostly with finding ways of having fun together. Being a confident driver could be handy, even better if you have a vehicle for outings together.
    Fluent English is important.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Elderly Companionship
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • Interests

    Interests

    Vegetarian or vegan
    Sustainability
    Self development
    Politics / Social justice
    Movies & TV
    Culture
    Plant care
    Photography
    Performing arts
    Languages
    Gardening
    Drawing & painting
    Books
    Art & design
    Architecture
    Nature
    Beach
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    A traveller would experience a NZ extended family, as my mother has visits from her 6 children over the course of the week who all work in various professions, but predominantly in the literary domain and creative arts.
    Lois is an artist and philosopher and a lover of the arts, so there would be opportunities to see NZ theatre, music and art whilst living with her as part of being her companion.
    Lois has compromised speech and movement, but is still keen to discuss the arts and the news of the day.

  • Help

    Help

    Hi there, I am writing on behalf of my 90 year-old mother. She lives in a small apartment below our house on Auckland's North Shore. Her mobility and speech were affected by a stoke 17 years ago. She has remained fiercely independent but walks and speaks extremely slowly.
    Mainly Lois needs company when family and friends are not visiting as our house is difficult to get in and out of for someone who doesn't walk well.
    My mother Lois would appreciate someone who can share some meals with her, be in the house overnight and accompany her to the local beach for a coffee or to go shopping from time to time.
    She would appreciate conversation, or gardening together and carrying out a few tasks around the house that her caregivers aren't able to do.
    She has care-givers who come and help her with showers and clean the house once a week and she eats with family 3-4 times a week, however there are a number of hours that she is on her own, and that is where a workaway would be great.
    So to summarise, we need a workaway:
    1. Who is compassionate and enjoys conversation with someone who speaks quite slowly
    2. Who will be available 4-5 hours a day 5 days a week with a schedule to be discussed/arranged, to be company for my mother. This would most likely include a split morning and early evening shift, perhaps (9.00am-11.00, and 7.00pm- 9.00, with possibly another hour either side). However this is flexible.
    3. Can accompany my mother to the beach, to art galleries, to community activities, to the shops
    4. Is happy to do some cooking and cleaning and assist with gentle gardening where required.
    5. Will assist with gentle exercise (walking on the deck/in the local village), maybe at a group physio session.
    6. Enjoy watching movies together or playing board games/cards.
    7. Appreciates a flexible schedule and range of activities.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We have converted mum’s lounge/dining into a shared space during the day, and an overnight studio for my mother. The workaway has a small double bedroom in the apartment that opens out onto the deck (so there is a private entrance if required). The room has wardrobe, dresser and desk, heating and privacy. The bathroom is a shared bathroom off the communal space. The communal space is a separate but has open kitchen and lounge dining, surrounded by windows, decks and french windows. The lounge, kitchen and dining looks out onto the shared property and a large sloping garden with fruit trees and lawns.
    The bathroom is a good size with toilet, shower and basin.
    The kitchen is small with an in-built washing machine and bench-top cookers and large fridge.
    The studio apartment is beneath my house which has the upper floors. This is where my partner Graham and I live and at some times other family members who are visiting. I will be coordinating any workaway guests and there will be access to my mother's property through our part of the house when necessary. Guests will be invited to share meals with us when my mother dines with us.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We are 5 minutes drive to beautiful beaches and a lovely township. 15 minutes walk.
    Transport is mainly buses to town or further afield. Auckland isn't famous for public transport, however there are a lot of options getting to water sports, yoga classes, swimming, indoor skiing, golf, shopping and lots more.
    Lois is a vegan so this position suits a vegetarian or vegan. She has recently decided that she doesn’t want meat prepared or stored in her kitchen, this of course doesn’t stop you consuming meat or fish elsewhere if you wish.
    Anyone interested in the position needs to be resourceful, independent, able to initiate activity as well as be company and support to someone limited by age and her medical condition (stroke and partial paralysis).
    Ruth (daughter who lives upstairs), is an actor director and yoga teacher. she is in her early 60s. Her partner Graham works in a car business, buying and selling cars. He is in his late 60s. Other family members you will meet are travellers, teachers, editors, writers, journalists, nurse, doctors, engineers...
    Lois has 6 children and 15 grandchildren. Her husband Robin was an editor of poetry and well known in the literary world of NZ.

    Non smokers only please.

    Excellent spoken English is very important so that we can communicate duties easily and there is not an additional barrier to talking with my mother.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    One

Host ref number: 534433692188

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