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My mother's Medicare-provided home care worker is supposed to help out, clean and go shopping for her, but reads magazines and leaves her with no food instead. What can we do?

Asked by Marci1116 | Jan 28, 2010

My mother has a Home Care worker thru Medicare that is supposed to come and help her clean and go shopping for her. However, my mother has told me that she comes and just sits and reads a magazine and leaves her with no food in the house. I have tried to complain to the agency but have gotten no results. What are my mother's rights?? She is getting the service thru Medicare and is not paying for it but she needs it because she is unable to shop for herself due to a recent fall.

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anonymous13319

Give a Hug

Jan 28, 2010

Hi Marci: This is not at all an uncommon experience (please see the post entitled, "The reality of any government programs for the elderly..." in this forum.)

I had the same thing happen. I called the adminstrator who listened to me in that "sympathetic" way only a bureaucrat can, then asked if it would be alright if she could send the same person back to my mom because it was too late to get another. I said, "is that what you would want for your mother?" All she was worried about was sending the maximum number of people for the maximum hours so they could bill Medicare. I cancelled the services and hired another Med. agency who was a little better.

I do not know how big your town is, but there are several companies that contract with Medicare for services. (hospitals usually refer you to the one they work with). Ask for advice at senior centers, etc. about quality of care...like everything else you need to shop around.

I have also hired (out of pocket) a caregiver to come once a month for big grocery shopping and light house cleaning. She likes and trusts this person so it is worth it for peace of mind. Everything else I do.

good luck

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Marci1116

Give a Hug

Jan 28, 2010

Thanks, I think it may be time to do some research in to agencies that contract with Meidcare.

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