Description

Full-Time Caregiver Needed – Gentle, Supportive Role for Adult with Autism (Level 3) – Denver, CO Hi, I’m looking for a steady, emotionally attuned full-time caregiver—not for my parents or someone else, but for me directly. I’m an adult with profound support needs, and I’m seeking someone who can help me live safely and meaningfully in the community. This is not a clinical or task-only role. What I need is a steady presence: someone who is kind, patient, emotionally grounded, and truly invested in helping another human feel safe, engaged, and connected. I need someone who will prompt me gently, guide me supportively, and help keep me regulated—especially during times of emotional overwhelm. ⸻ Important to know about me: Although I’m intellectually gifted and articulate, I am diagnosed with Autism Level 3, and my needs are significant. People often assume Level 3 means low intelligence or nonverbal, but that’s not my case. What makes me Level 3 is the severity of my shutdowns, trauma responses, emotional dysregulation, and functional needs in day-to-day life. Emotionally, practically, and functionally, I am like a child in many ways. I need to be spoken to and guided with the same gentleness, encouragement, and consistency you might offer a child—but I’m not childish or immature. I just didn’t get the support I needed during key developmental years, and my trauma, autism, and demand avoidance make adult life overwhelming and disorienting without help. I always need prompting for activities of daily living (ADLs) like showering, brushing my teeth, eating, changing clothes, and regulating my sleep routine—even when I’m doing well. During shutdowns or emotional crashes, I often need hands-on assistance with all basic care. ⸻ What a shutdown looks like: Sometimes I crash hard. I may go nonverbal, dissociate, become immobile, or emotionally flood. These shutdowns can last for hours or even days, and I may be unable to feed myself, take medication, or move. I wear diapers 24/7 due to incontinence, and during shutdowns I may need help changing or reminders to do so. I’ve experienced wandering and confusion during shutdowns—sometimes walking into traffic or losing my way. A key part of this role is to help keep me regulated so I don’t reach those crisis points. That includes noticing when I’m overstimulated, helping me slow down, and guiding me to a safe, quiet space. ⸻ Emotional outbursts: Because of my PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) and trauma, I can sometimes become loud or verbally intense. I’m a big guy, and I know that during emotional outbursts or meltdowns, I can appear intimidating. But I have never hurt anyone, and my outbursts are not aggression—they are nervous system collapses, not personal attacks. The right person will know how to stay calm, not take it personally, and stay present with me until I settle again. Praise, gentle tone, and offering choices really help. For example, instead of “Go take a shower,” say “Would you rather shower now or after lunch?” That kind of language makes all the difference. ⸻ This is not a shut-in job: I have spent the last two years stuck in bed. I am miserable, and I’m ready to get out and rejoin life. I want someone who can help me do that—not just clean and sit around the house. This role includes: • Going out to eat (especially when I don’t have meals at home) • Encouraging and guiding gentle social interaction • Supporting me through light outings like nature trails, museums, bookstores, coffee shops, etc. For example, at a museum, I don’t want someone to just walk beside me in silence. I need someone to engage me—say things like, “Want to check out the dinosaurs next or the space exhibit?” or “Wow, this fish looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie!” Without that, I’ll just walk through the museum with my head down, dissociating and miserable. ⸻ Also important: I need support visiting my daughter in the mountains. She is very important to me, but I struggle to socialize even with family. Without help, I tend to shut down or isolate, which can look rude or avoidant. Your presence helps me stay grounded and connected. ⸻ Key responsibilities include: Daily Living Support • Prompting and helping with hygiene, dressing, toileting (including diaper changes if needed) • Medication support (organization, reminders, pickup) • Preparing meals/snacks and encouraging regular eating • Supporting a calming bedtime routine Household & Organization • Cleaning: dishes, laundry, vacuuming, organizing • Grocery shopping and errands • Maintaining a shared calendar and reminders • Supporting paperwork and scheduling Emotional & Crisis Support • Remaining calm during meltdowns and shutdowns • Co-regulating through praise, presence, and choice-based prompts • Monitoring for dysregulation and helping me avoid emotional collapse • Preventing wandering or unsafe behavior during shutdowns Community & Social Integration • Accompanying to appointments and outings • Gently prompting social interaction (e.g., “Want to say hi or just wave?”) • Teaching small talk and helping me stay engaged in public • Supporting trips to see my daughter and socialize appropriately ⸻ Ideal caregiver: • Emotionally grounded, calm, and not easily flustered • Able to speak with gentle tone, praise, and choices instead of commands • Patient and understanding of autism, trauma, and PDA (or willing to learn) • Comfortable with personal care, but also truly interested in emotional connection • Neurotypical or socially skilled enough to help me build social bridges • Has healthy boundaries but is warm, consistent, and nurturing ⸻ Additional details: • You must be able to drive. I have a car, but driving dysregulates me, so I need support getting around safely. • You must be comfortable with occasional on-call availability in case of crisis. • Background check and references required. • Ideally, you’re someone who sees caregiving not as “just a job,” but as a relational, human, healing connection. ⸻ Compensation & structure: • Location: Denver, CO (home not yet selected—you will help with this) • Hours: Full-time, with support building a small backup team over time • Pay: Private pay and DD waiver—negotiable based on experience • Live-in may be an option down the road once trust is built ⸻ If you’ve ever said to yourself, “I just want to be there for someone who needs real support, who’s trying hard and just needs someone to meet them where they’re at,”—this might be the role for you. Please reach out with a little about your background, where in town you’re located, what kind of caregiving you’ve done, and what kind of schedule and pay range you’re hoping for. Thank you for considering this.