Frequently Asked Questions
What does it take to be a quality Personal Care Assistant for Lauren?
Flexibility
Discretion
Efficiency
Initiative
Dependability
Determination
Administrative/tech skills
Observational skills
Attentiveness
Empathy
Motivation
Problem solving skills
Curiosity
Interpersonal skills
What does Lauren like to do for fun?
Lauren is an incredibly hard worker. While she thoroughly enjoys having fun and spending quality time with others, she loves to meet her goals and help others. In her spare time, Lauren likes spending time with family and friends, traveling/vacationing, reading, writing, painting, drinking coffee, hunting, and adding value to other’s lives. Lauren loves doing things that are adventurous and laughing! Lauren believes that the life we live is not a drill. Therefore, we should live to the fullest!
What is it like trusting others to come into your home and assist you with personal care needs?
Trust is a personal, deep, sensitive topic in which Lauren has 29 years of experience. Over the years, this trust has been broken by several assistants. However, Lauren is grateful for each situation; has learned valuable lessons; and has emerged a stronger, better version of herself. One of the things that Lauren wants most in personal assistants are people she can completely rely on, with no fears regarding their honesty or devotion to the tasks at hand. Because of Lauren’s work with multiple businesses, employees have a responsibility to act in a way that will merit the continued trust and confidence of the public. Trusting others is not an easy thing to do. It requires confidence in God and who He is bringing into Lauren’s life, security in the hiring system, and humility.
Lauren is in a vulnerable position as an individual with quadriplegia. Imagine having to depend on someone you just met to care for you in an intimate manner by doing tasks like handling confidential information, showering you, dressing you, transporting you in your car, transfering you from one place to another, helping with administrative and medical needs, etc. This is Lauren’s reality. Trusting others as a personal care assistant requires giving them the time and freedom to learn and mess up. Lauren does not look for applicants who have experience as a personal care assistant; rather, she looks for individuals who possess a desire to learn, be trusted, and consistently exhibit qualities that warrant her trust. Because of Lauren’s hiring system, she is confident that she can depend on, rely on, and trust those who land a position on her team. Her experiences have taught her that if applicants are appropriately screened and vetted prior to their first day at work, trust is a natural response. Ultimately, God is in total control of the individuals who make up the LC Team. Lauren has full confidence that her Lord and Savior will continue to place quality, dependable, trust-worthy individuals in her life as her caregivers. She cannot wait to meet those individuals God has in store. Proverbs 3: 5-6 (KJV) says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Lauren trusts in the Lord and leans not on her own understanding. God is definitely directing her path and the journey of her team.
What does a day in the life look like for Lauren and Team LC?
While Lauren’s days have similarities, it is important as her assistant to be flexible and understand that each day has the potential of bringing its own challenges and victories. Lauren receives up to 24 hours per day of care from the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. Ideally, her care is divided into two eight hour shifts, 7 am-3 pm and 3 pm-11 pm. Full-time staff may either be scheduled for first shift, second shift, or a combination. However, we work with team members to create a schedule that meets both their needs and Lauren’s needs. The following description may differ if you work a trip for Lauren.
Lauren often spends the earlier part of the day getting ready, going to appointments, and attending to other personal needs. If you work an early shift, you will likely help her with tasks that include readying her coffee and breakfast, getting her up and dressed, and setting her up for any studying or administrative tasks she wants to accomplish that morning. If you are selected to be on Team LC, we encourage you to do your best to quickly learn Lauren’s routines and preferences. Such attentiveness gives people with special needs a sense of security and makes them feel loved. Additionally, this preserves energy and time, allowing each day to be as productive as possible.
At a doctor’s appointment or therapy session, you may also be called on to take notes or contribute information you have learned from her medical records or other appointments in order to further her medical care and decision making. Later shifts often coincide with Lauren’s classes, quiet study time, and some fun events. Therefore, these things would drive your tasks more if you have an afternoon or evening shift. Lauren does not have a set time that she reads her Bible, but she prefers to be alone and for you to be working on something else during this time. It is important to understand that the efficiency and productivity of Lauren’s life greatly depends on you. She feels as though her symptoms and reality of her disability steal some of her life from her. As her team, it is our job to assist her in redeeming as much of that time as possible. There are always action steps that you can take during your shift to help Lauren’s life run smoothly and to assist her in achieving her dreams and goals. Do not be nervous, scared, or afraid. Should you be selected as the next Team LC staff member, you will be welcomed and trained by Lauren and the team!
Touch and Disability:
We encourage you to hug and appropriately touch those affected by disability without them requesting it. Because those with disabilities often look different, talk differently, or are surrounded by a 500-pound metal wheelchair, they frequently receive significantly less personal touches than their able-bodied peers receive. Lauren and many others affected by disability crave personal touch that is independent of caregiving. Therefore, we encourage you to appropriately love and include people affected by disabilities in your life, including Lauren, by touching them independently of caring for them.