Integrative Health Caregiver & Recreational Companion
$25–$40/hour
I'm James. I'm a nutrition professor at Colorado State University and I've lived with a C5 spinal cord injury since 1999. I live independently in Old Town Fort Collins with the help of a small care team, and I'm looking to bring one more person onto that team.
I'm looking for someone who can give me real, consistent coverage across my week and grow into the person who can handle every part of my care. Trained across all of it, comfortable in any situation, fun to be around, and able to travel with me when I visit family or take a vacation. That person becomes the backbone of my care team, and the path forward includes full-time hours, top-of-range pay, and a real conversation about benefits after six months.
The Role
This is a personal care position, and it's personal. We get to know each other. We share meals, go to live music, hit a restaurant or trivia night, and build something real. The people who thrive here aren't just clinically skilled. They care about people. They're invested in making someone else's life better, and they let that investment go both ways.
You'd be trained on everything: morning routines, transfers, catheter and colostomy care, medication management, monitoring for autonomic dysreflexia, meal prep, transportation, errands, and the household side of keeping life running. The goal is for you to step into any part of my day and handle it confidently, calmly, and well.
You don't need to arrive knowing every aspect of SCI care. The right person will be trained thoroughly and given time to grow into the full role.
Hours and Pay
You would ultimately work 15 to 35 hours a week, with room to grow into a bigger role once we know each other. Regular weekend availability is critical. I'm looking for someone who can start training this summer and has increased availability over time. Your schedule should not be dictated by an academic calendar or holiday breaks. Pay starts at $25/hour and moves toward the top of the range as you take on more hours and demonstrate consistent reliability and efficiency over six months. After that, the conversation opens up to more hours and benefits.
What You'd Handle
Bathing, dressing, grooming, and hygiene
Transfers using a Hoyer lift (no manual lifting required)
Catheter irrigation and urinary care
Colostomy care, including appliance changes and skin checks
Medication setup and management
Monitoring for skin integrity, blood pressure, and autonomic dysreflexia
Meal preparation and assistance
Transportation to CSU and appointments
Groceries, errands, and household tasks
Joining me for meals out, live music, trivia, happy hour, community events, and travel
Physical Endurance
This isn't sit-down work. A typical day involves transfers, repositioning, kitchen work, errands, and being actively engaged for hours at a stretch. Some days are heavier than others, but this role asks for real stamina to do well over time. The people who last here already live active lives and have the capacity to take this on fully.
Travel
From time to time, I would like to visit family or take a trip, usually for a few days at a time. Traveling with me means being able to handle all of my care independently while we're away, from morning routines to medical tasks to whatever comes up. If you can do all of that and still be fun to road trip with, that's a real plus. For the right person, travel can become one of the most meaningful parts of the work.
What Works Here
Calm. Things can escalate quickly with a spinal cord injury. Autonomic dysreflexia, equipment issues, unexpected medical situations. The people who do well here stay steady when things go sideways, think clearly, and act.
Flexible. This works best for someone easygoing, who takes direction well and is up for whatever the day brings. Plans shift. Schedules move. The people who do best here roll with it.
Communicative. If something isn't working or your situation is shifting, I want to know early. Mistakes happen. What helps is hearing about them when they're still small.
Self-motivated. This works best for people who notice what needs doing and just handle it. My best team members might prep food for the next day or tidy up the kitchen while I catch up on work without being asked. That kind of initiative is what makes this role feel like a partnership.
Reliable. When you commit, I'm counting on you to be there. That's the foundation.
Who This Is For
You might be a CNA, home health aide, or experienced caregiver who's tired of the agency grind and wants to work with one person long-term. Maybe you're a rehab professional, nursing student, or someone with a clinical background looking for something more personal.
You should love food. I'm a nutrition professor and food is a big part of my life. We'll cook meals together, eat together, and go out together. I'm also not afraid of a burger, taco, or slice of pizza. Somewhere in the middle is a person who appreciates a great meal, takes care of themselves, and can keep up with an active life that includes getting out into Fort Collins and enjoying it.
You should love music and people. Empathy matters here. Mental strength matters. I want someone who's invested in making the world a little better and who sees this work as part of that. Someone who's genuinely interested in other people, not just going through the motions.
Required
Direct experience with hands-on physical care, preferably with complex medical needs like spinal cord injury or similar
Valid driver's license, clean driving record, and ability to drive a wheelchair-accessible vehicle
CPR and First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain)
Ability to pass a background check
Authorization to work in the United States
Regular weekend availability
Preferred
Experience with spinal cord injury care
Familiarity with catheter and ostomy care
Background or coursework in a health-related field
A Note for Students
I've worked with a lot of students over the years, and some have been incredible. The pattern I've also seen: someone takes on this role alongside a full course load and other commitments, trains for weeks, gets comfortable, and then midterms hit or life gets busy. Hours shrink. Communication drops off. And I'm left scrambling to cover shifts that were supposed to be handled.
If you're a student, I'm not ruling you out. But I need you to be honest with yourself about whether you can actually commit to this. If school is your first priority and this would be your third or fourth obligation, this probably isn't the right time. If you can genuinely make this a priority and communicate when things get complicated, I'd love to hear from you.
Growing Into More
For someone who demonstrates consistent reliability, clinical skill, and strong communication over six months, there is room to grow into a full-time or near full-time role at the higher end of the pay scale with a real conversation about benefits. I've learned the hard way that commitment has to be proven, not promised. But once someone shows me they're in it for real, I'm willing to invest seriously in return. That means more hours, better pay, and a genuine partnership.
About the Work Environment
I live in Old Town Fort Collins, which is a genuinely great place to spend time. My home is accessible and well-equipped. I'm quiet, respectful, and I care about the people who work with me. I want to know your name, your story, what you're working toward. The people who last here aren't just good at the job. They're people I enjoy having in my life, and who enjoy being in mine.
I'll be straight with you: personal care work is intimate, and it can be demanding. Morning routines are real. Catheter and colostomy care is real. But if you're the kind of person who finds meaning in that work rather than just tolerating it, this is a place where you'll be valued for it.
See What a Typical Day Looks Like
Visit A Day in the Life to walk through my daily schedule before you apply.
How to Apply
I read every application personally. Visit the application page to tell me about your experience and why this role speaks to you.