Bella Zambrano

Lead Caregiver – Young Women with Special Needs

Specializing in Autism & Developmental Disabilities

As a Lead Caregiver, I provide compassionate, person-centered support to young women with autism and other developmental disabilities. I foster independence, build trust, and lead by example to create a safe, empowering, and inclusive environment.

• Direct Support & Daily Living Assistance
  Provide individualized support with personal care, hygiene routines, and mobility
  Assist with meal preparation, and special dietary needs
  Support clients with dressing, grooming, and daily organization skills
• Emotional & Behavioral Support
  Practice trauma-informed care to de-escalate distress and support emotional regulation
  Use gentle, consistent redirection and positive reinforcement to encourage healthy coping strategies
  Cultivate safe relationships based on empathy, communication, and dignity
• Communication & Advocacy
  Established a relationship between clients, families, and interdisciplinary teams
  Document daily progress, behavior, goals, and incidents clearly and professionally
  Advocate for client needs in educational, medical, and social settings
• Leadership & Team Collaboration
  Train and mentor new staff on care protocols, communication strategies, and safety
  Maintain a calm and confident presence in crisis or emergency situations
  Support a collaborative, respectful, and inclusive team environment
• Safety & Health Oversight
  Administer medications according to care plans
  Ensure a clean, safe, and sensory-considerate living environment
  

As a volunteer art instructor in a community-based youth program, I supported the emotional, sensory, and social development of children through creative expression and hands-on art activities.

• taught children how to express themselves through visual art, with a focus on creativity, communication, and emotional development
• Designed and led sensory-friendly art projects tailored to developmental needs and various learning styles
• Guided children in collaborative mural work, including wall painting preparation, stencil cutting, paint rectification, and technique development
• Encouraged teamwork, focus, and confidence through group-based art activities
• Created a supportive, inclusive environment for self-expression and skill-building

Provided full-time, one-on-one care for an elderly autistic man with severe OCD and chronic anxiety. Supported his physical, emotional, and behavioral needs through consistent, trauma-informed care and structured daily routines.

• Offered calm, steady emotional support to manage OCD-related compulsions and anxiety triggers
• Maintained highly structured daily routines to reduce distress and promote a sense of control and comfort
• Assisted with hygiene, grooming, medication administration, and meal preparation with attention to sensory sensitivities
• Practiced clear, predictable communication and built trust through consistency and respectful interaction
• Ensured a clean, orderly environment aligned with client’s specific preferences and needs
• Worked closely with case manager and mental health professionals to align care strategies and support goals

As a private caregiver, I provided holistic, one-on-one care for an elderly woman in her home, supporting her physical health, emotional well-being, and daily routines with dignity and attentiveness.

• Personal Care & Daily Assistance
  Assisted with bathing, grooming, dressing, and incontinence care
  Supported safe mobility and transfers around the home
  Prepared nutritious meals tailored to dietary restrictions and preferences
• Medication & Health Monitoring
  Administered daily medications and monitored for side effects
  Attended and supported during medical appointments, advocating for her care
  Kept detailed logs of health changes, symptoms, and needs
• Household Management
  Maintained a clean, safe, and organized home environment
  Managed laundry, grocery shopping, and light housekeeping tasks
  Created calm routines and soothing atmospheres for comfort and safety
• Companionship & Emotional Support
  Offered consistent companionship to reduce isolation and promote joy
  Engaged in meaningful conversation, memory-sharing, and preferred hobbies
  Supported emotional wellness through patience, empathy, and respectful care