"She forged my name to appease her company and we do just as we like together!" my mother boasts. The companion has shared all her personal woes to my mother, drives her places when she isn't supposed to, and does whatever my mother wants. Lying to her company, forging my mother's signature (wtf: mom can write!) The lady is fighting for custody of her daughter, living with a wealthy guy who is now beating her up, and stuff like that. She sure sounds like a loser and abuser herself, but to my mother, "oh, she is so sweet." I have never met her in person. What precautions can I make? should I talk to her company?
Carol
Please keep us posted on how you're doing.
Carol
So, yes, speak with the agency. Try to meet the caregiver if you can. As a caregiver myself, it helps to have a strong relationship with my client's family and to work together to make sure their parent has the best care possible.
You WILL be sorry if you don't handle this now. There are plenty of good caregivers that abide by company rules and will still be nice to your mom.
We have a similar issue here. There are days that my mom becomes quite paranoid which she is afraid to talk about with me, her 24/7 caregiver and sometimes also her husband. Then ding-a-ling telephone rings, mom will leave the room with the phone to talk to another daughter. Then mom will tell her whatever ahe is able to, sometimes something a simple as "something is terribly wrong here". And what does sister do? She asks mom for more information that mom will sometimes not be able to answer because she doesn't know, or she will will come up with something that has absolutely no basis in reality.
If you are not able to get reliable, consistent information from your mom, leave it alone until you have substantiated that there is a legitimate concern. Reporting something like this to the agency could likely cause the caregiver unnecessary trouble with her employer. Be grateful that your mom enjoys her but before doing anything, meet and get to know the caregiver.