Ok spoonie hivemind, need to pick yer brains around wording.
Am looking to hire a companion-esqe helper to fill a support/care gap, help get me unstuck and solving things instead of just grinding. Driving to groceries, helping me set up my home, food prep, helping with phone calls and life admin, even just walks in the trees.
Basically an intern, but with better pay and more appreciation.
What words would you use to label that role? Peer support? Companion? ...?
@vlrny I've seen the term 'buddy' used (often prefixed with the specific condition/disability/circumstance/etc. it applies to) in some social programs in NL for a very similar concept, although they are usually paid by the local government rather than by the person receiving help.
The "walks in the trees" would be the defining line here between "personal assistant" and "buddy" I think, here, as it highlights that the intention is social/mental support rather than outsourcing boring stuff by wealthy folks.
@vlrny (The only personal related experience I have here is in hiring a cleaner; I just placed a classified ad, and made it explicit in the ad that it is needed for health reasons, and that wearing a mask is a requirement.
Second response to the ad was a 'hit', and I had them name a reasonable price and ensured it was higher than a cleaning company would pay. I usually round up the payments.)
@vlrny Thinking about it a bit more, I guess this could be summarized as "place an ad that asks exactly the thing you're looking for, particularly with the details people wouldn't normally assume".
It'll lower the response rate, but also means the people responding will be those who are already on board with the idea. Saves a lot of spoons in negotiating afterwards.
@joepie91 exactly! Want to be clear so I don't have to sift through a lot of stuff that isn't what I need.
@joepie91 good stuff, thx! Yeah the social is important as well as the pragmatic. Basically trying to hire out something that would usually be done by a friend or family. Companionable support for life management.