Caregiving help wanted
for a fun & friendly disabled man in West Dundee, IL
Get paid by the state to be Ryan’s buddy
Meet basic care needs like feeding and hygiene 🍕
Keep Ryan company with games and crafts 🎨
Choose 1-2 sessions a week that fit your schedule 📅
$18.50 / hr.
(rising to $19.25 on 1/1/26)
1-2 visits per week, or ~6-10 hrs. total
Flexible schedule options, including Saturdays
No prior certifications required. Beginners considered, but caregiving experience a plus.
Meet Ryan
Ryan is a 42-year-old sports fan and arts and crafts lover.He uses a wheelchair to get around and a talker to communicate.
Breaking out the comedy act for the virtual talent show
Meet Tim and Barb
Tim and Barb are Ryan’s parents. They take excellent care of him. But a little extra help couldn’t hurt.That’s where you come in!
About the job
Description
Deliver basic personal care and companionship to a fun and friendly disabled man.This job is administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services. If hired, your time tracking, pay, and benefits will run through this state agency.
Details
Location: Our home in West Dundee, IL
Pay rate*: $18.75 per hour (rising to $19.50 on 1/1/26)
Time commitment: 1-2 visits a week, for about 6-10 hours total
Schedule: Daytime sessions based on your availability. See the calendar.
Start date: Flexible. Begin immediately, or work out your own timeline.
* Rate set by state
Main duties
Basic care
🍕
Handle feeding, personal care (like brushing teeth), and bathroom trips.*
Companionship
🎨
Play games, do art projects, or enjoy sports and TV shows together.
Light housekeeping
🧹
Prepare food, load the dishwasher, and keep the kitchen tidy.
* Occasional lifting required. See note below.
A note on physical requirements
Caring for Ryan involves occasional lifting in and out of his wheelchair. Expect to move him a few times per visit for things like bathroom trips or getting into his “stander” for stretching.
Typically he can partly support his weight (115 lbs.) during these transfers, so you don’t need to be a bodybuilder. But you do need the strength of a reasonably healthy adult.
Note: You will have a chance to try out this task before committing to the job. We don’t want you doing anything you’re not comfortable with!
Who might be a good fit
A nursing student who wants a flexible job that’s related to providing care (without the certification requirements)
A nurturer: think someone drawn to special ed, teaching, therapy, or camp counseling
A person with limited availability who wants to pick up a few hours when it's convenient
Anyone who is a caregiver at heart and would enjoy spending time with a fun-loving buddy
What else to know
No prior certification required. This job is not “medical” in nature, and you do not need to be an RN or certified home health aide. If hired, you will complete a brief paid online training.
You won’t be on your own. A primary caregiver (Tim and/or Barb) will be present in the home while you’re there. They’ll walk you through everything you need to know, and can answer questions as needed.
Pleasant company. Ryan is an easygoing guy with a good sense of humor. He does not have any behavioral or emotional disorders.
Smoke- and pet-free home. We like to keep a clean and healthy household. (A little clutter doesn’t count!)
About IDHS
The Illinois Department of Human Services is a state-run agency that helps residents who have self-sufficiency challenges.This agency will track your hours and administer payments and benefits. This arrangement protects us both by ensuring the job is conducted fairly.
What IDHS handles
Training: Take a brief paid online course
PTO: Accrue 1 hour for every 40 hours clocked
Social Security: Earn credits for the time you work
Workers' compensation: You're covered for on-the-job activities
Schedule details
We’re looking for about 6 to 10 hours of support per week, though we’re flexible on days and times. If you have daytime availability, we can likely work something out.
Available hours
Here are some arrangements we’d be happy with:
One longer visit on a day of your choice (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Two mornings (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
Two afternoons (1 p.m. to 4 p.m.)
Mix and match a morning and afternoon
These are just examples. We’re open to working around your schedule, especially if we like you!
Drop us a line - Ry would love to talk to you!
(To be fair, he likes talking to everybody.)
Apply now
How to apply
1
Submit your app
Fill in the form below to get in touch.
2
Phone interview
Discuss the job with Barb and Tim by phone or video call.
3
Meet Ryan
Swing by the house to meet Ryan and see what you'll be doing.
4
Final steps
Background check
References
Register with IDHS
Trouble viewing the form? Try accessing it here.If all else fails you can also reach us here:
[email protected]