About the title of "personal assistant"

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cherryblossom
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18 Feb 2017, 4:40 am

Hey all,

I'm writing on behalf of my client about an issue concerning my job title in English.
I am working for a woman who has an Asperger's syndrome. My job includes assisting her with her free-time activities a couple of times per week. She is Finnish, and would very much like to know what my title is in English.
In Finnish, the title is literally translated as "personal assistant". However, my client read on Wikipedia that in English this direct translation refers to a secretary. She would like to know what this job title is in English, in England and in America.
She would very much appreciate help concerning this issue.



Lunella
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18 Feb 2017, 7:17 am

Secretary is more of an office assistant only thing. Personal assistant is more right since you help her with her personal activities. However it depends on what you are actually doing for her, if you have to feed her and actually look after her then it would be a disability carer I think.


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Hippygoth
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18 Feb 2017, 7:45 am

A personal assistant is generally an office term - if you tell someone you're a PA then they'll think you work in an office, as an assistant. Secretary is rather an old fashioned term for it.

However, I have seen personal assistant used recently as a substitute for 'care worker', which is closer to what you do, I think.



SaveFerris
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18 Feb 2017, 7:48 am

occupational therapist ?


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kraftiekortie
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18 Feb 2017, 8:22 am

"Personal Assistant" can also be what you do (in the US)--but the person you're assisting would probably have to be someone in a relatively "high" position in life.

If you were working with someone of university age, you might be a "transition counselor."

Perhaps "personal counselor" might fit what you do.



ASPartOfMe
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18 Feb 2017, 12:39 pm

Hippygoth wrote:

However, I have seen personal assistant used recently as a substitute for 'care worker', which is closer to what you do, I think.


"Personal Assistant" is starting to replace the word "aide". Mine drives me to doctors appointments, she helps clean my feeding tube entry area, keeps track of my medical supplies etc.


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