ShenaD Asked January 2019
How do I get peace of mind when caregivers/home health aides never show up?!?
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My 81 yr old dad is very accommodating. He toilets himself, is mobile and dresses himself. HH Aide was to come once a week to clean his apt, remind and assist him showering, and change his bedding. He lives with me and has his own "apartment" in my home with his own entrance door. Three aides have failed us. One was a no-show half the time. One came once, dismantled my appliances, stole from me then never returned. The third was GREAT, however she was convinced it was a racist endeavor that he had his own entrance at the back of the house. She quit because I wouldn't give her a key to MY house to cut through to his apartment. The "peace of mind" they tout is non-existant. Where do I go from here?
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I agree with mollymoose response, find a caregiver who really needs the money. It will help a little. Also, put some cameras at your entry doors and bedrooms. Putting cameras up helped curtail the sticky fingers of caregivers. Remember that so many caregivers are barely making ends meet financially. Some of their backstories are frightful. Interview them well.
I know how frustrating this can be and it's hard to find the right answers for your situation. Keep looking and never give up. Pray, trust and believe that the right person will come along. Stay encouraged.
The basic one that kept coming up is the lousy pay--minimum wage and I never got a raise. 2+ years and no raise? They said they simply "didn't do raises". My client's family routinely tipped me out so I was making almost twice what my company paid. This was all done on the up and up, with a new contract being written between my co. and my "family". Honestly? For $8.50 and hour, I probably wouldn't have stayed long. For what ended up being closer to $15 an hour, I was happy, my client was happy and I stayed to the end.
It's a real crapshoot. I am not trained as a CNA, just basic first aid and a desire to do my best, which, sadly, is not always an attribute you see in millenials.
My "lady" had hired and fired 3 CG's in the week before I met her. I think she liked me b/c we are of the same faith and I was not 18 years old.
You do need to vet your CG's. We had nothing but problems with my FIL's--they simply wouldn't show up, and we were relying on them. We never did sort out their issues, he passed too soon. I would have kept trying until we found one that clicked with him--eventually it would have worked out.
As long as the pay is so lousy--you are going to keep having these same problems. Sometimes hiring someone you know is a better way to go---but make it legal and pay taxes and such--at minimum consult an attorney before you hire them. (I was a 1099 employee for another person, just a contract employee and the pay was better--but I did have to pay taxes on the money).
Or the lying PCW who broke Ma’s dentures all the while trying to blame someone else. This was horrific!!!
If a caregiver quits, they should be replaced by the next working day.
If a caregiver steels from you and damages property that should be reported to BOTH the police and the agency.
As far as the caregiver that wanted to come through your house to gain access to the apartment, the entrance should be discussed with the rep from the agency and then when you meet the caregiver in the apartment not in your house. And it should be indicated on the forms that this is an apartment with a private entrance.
If caregivers routinely arrive late or do not show you should call the agency right away so they are aware of this and if possible send a replacement. (and so the employee does not get paid for a full day!)
If you are hiring on your own it can be a bit more of a challenge.
Background checks usually will show CONVICTIONS not arrests, reports, or even if a case was dismissed.
I hired 2 great people from the local Community College, they had just completed the certification for CNA and they were waiting for the semester to start Nursing School. I told both that I could work around their class schedules when the time came. (never had to worry about that as my Husband died prior to the start of classes)
But hiring 2 or 3 people is the way to go. They get a break and can sub for each other if there is a problem with their personal schedule. ( I did have one that had previously worked for an agency and later on I did hire him but he did show up late on occasion and it did create problems for me so he moved on.....)
I see this as a general maybe generational workplace problem. I was raised to do the job I was hired to do, show up on time, do my work, then leave and show respect to my fellow workers. And while I was at work I did not talk or text on my phone or watch the latest show (of course that did not exist when I first started working). Whole 'nuther generation with a whole 'nuther set of "values" .
For you, I would go to this person's boss. I did and she was appalled that my mother was letting it happen and that the agencies were cheating!
for dad I get to know my client before I send a care giver . I made sure my caregiver is working when she is there