Personal Goals and Preferences

Personal Goals and Preferences help you to crystallize your goals, the way you want to live, and how you prefer things in your life to be done. This will assist you in elaborating your task descriptions.

Personal Goals

It's a good idea to think about what you would like to achieve in your lifetime. By having some clear-cut ideas about what you want, you can determine what it will take to get you there. Then you can decide the kind and amount of assistance you will need to accomplish your goals.

Goals give you something to work toward - a road map for your life. Goals usually cover the wants, wishes, or desires that you have for every area of your life. There are many good books, audiotapes and online resources that can help you to develop life goals. Here are some broad areas to think about to get you started.

Avocation/hobbies - what do you like to do - paint, sing, photography, arts, crafts, sports, music.
Career/work - what kind of work would you like to do, what do you need to do it.
Educational - what kind of education or training do you need.
Financial - what will it take to create financial stability for you.
Health - what do you need to do to maintain or improve your health.
Home/lifestyle - what kind of a home do you want; how will you get it; how do you want to live your life.
Relationships - family, children, friends - how do you envision your relationships; how will you relate to the people in your life.
Social/community - what are your interests, how will you participate in your community socially, politically or otherwise.

Once you know what you want you will be able to plan what you need to achieve these goals.

Preferences

Everyone has likes and dislikes - things they prefer over others. What are yours? You will be able to use them in your description of yourself, your job ads and to assist you in giving direction to your PA. Following are some areas where you might have preferences that are important to you. These are some ideas to start you thinking. You can make your own list.

Food

Do you like to eat at regular times? Do you eat out? How often?
What kinds of food do you prefer? A variety? Vegetarian? Meat? Seafood? Poultry? Pastas? Rice? Ethnic foods - what kind? Fresh, frozen, canned? Dairy products?
Do your PAs eat with you? Do you provide them with food? Snacks? Drinks?

Grooming

Do you have a regular schedule for bathing, hair washing, and nail care? Do you have products that you prefer to use?
What aspects of your appearance are important to you? Personal grooming (hair, makeup, etc.)? Clothes, shoes, accessories cleaned and pressed? Looking well groomed for school/work?
Will you allow PAs to use your personal items such as hair dryers, hand lotion, etc.?

Habits/Lifestyle

Do you smoke or drink? Do you prefer that PAs not smoke or drink in your home?
What is your daily schedule? When do you go to work/school/therapy or other activities? What time do you get up and go to bed? Is your schedule different on weekends?
Do you visit with friends or family? Do you entertain friends and family at home? Do these activities require special preparation? Do you serve food or snacks? What kind? Do friends or relatives stay overnight at your home?
Are you a quiet person or do you like a lot of activity? What social activities do you participate in? What are your hobbies?
What entertainment do you prefer? Reading? TV? Movies? Plays? Cultural events? Sports? Concerts?
What kind of music do you like? Classical? Ethnic? Country western? Blues? Jazz? Rock and roll? Spirituals?
What do you watch on TV? New? Sports? Soap operas? Movies? Comedies? Dramas? Biography? Public television stations?

Housekeeping

Do you prefer your house to be neat, everything in its place or can you stand it to be a little untidy?
Do you have a regular schedule for housecleaning and laundry? Do you prefer tasks done a certain way? Do you prefer certain cleaning products?
Do you supervise your PAs while they clean or do laundry?

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Getting Started > Personal Goals and Preferences