Has anyone ever had an aide just stop showing up?
So we hired this lady who at first seemed great, until she wasn't. First she'd show up late. Then she'd show up late, leave early. Then some days she wouldn't turn up at all and eventually she stopped showing up altogether. No phone call, no text message, nothing. Not a word.
My family and I are trying to find another aide, but meanwhile we're left wondering what happened. I thought maybe something happened to her, but my aunt tried texting her from a different phone number posing as a potential new client, and got through to her- surprise, the aide who ghosted us is available those days.
What gives? Does this happen often? We were paying this person out of pocket, mind you, not going through an agency (horrible experience!) We hired her off of care.com. My aunt thinks that maybe this lady stole something of value, but I haven't noticed anything gone missing. And this lady is from a rich area, according to my aunt she has money (but then why is she caregiving if she's "rich"?)
I personally don't think it's theft. The aide never struck me as the type of person to steal, especially from an elderly person. You never know, but my gut says no. I think either she got offended by something, or something happened with her ill child and she had to suddenly quit, tried to give warning and couldn't get through to my aunt. She always said she had trouble contacting her. But then, leave a note or something. Maybe she did and my grandmother threw it out? Who knows.
What are your thoughts? Has anyone had this experience? Has anyone had an aide steal from them? What happened? Please share. Any advice/input would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry, I don’t have time to read all of the answers.
It’s a shame that your caregiver failed to show up. When your aunt called her with an alias did she confront her about not showing up for work? I’m so sorry this has happened to your family.
Hopefully, you will find a suitable replacement.
Through my experience with caregivers I came to realize that if you find a reliable person pay her in gold as it is well worth it. Not even through agencies they are reliable.
Theft I have been lucky so far with nothing being stolen. I tent to believe that people are good with great intentions but low pay and family issues and plentiful opportunities they just walk.
Best of luck to you
Thieves keep a good thing going until the jig is up. If anything, a thief would pose to be a model employee.
Those in the midst of falling off the wagon behave exactly as you've described.
.
However, "this lady" is no longer your problem. It's time to move on.
Next go-round, don't allow the caregiver to run the show.
She/he works for you.
Politely-but firmly-make your expectations clear during the interview.
Expect nothing less from day one.
Also, I know taking care of all of the formal administration involved in properly paying freelancers can be an extra hassle, but it's really not worth getting into potential problems by paying someone off the books for long term assignments. You can hire services to manage the administration for you at reasonable cost. And yes, it may mean you have to shell out more in the end to cover taxes, insurance etc., but you don't want to get into a situation for example, where heaven forbid, the aide gets hurt on the job and wants restitution.