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TheirWorld Asked September 2022

I can’t find aides and we need at least one. Mom's care manager is not helping and things are progressing. Any advice?

Mom has early dementia but she’s still driving and generally doing pretty well. She lives alone in a low cost senior apartment. As well as she is, she still can’t physically do a lot to clean her house and is beginning to show some irresponsible behavior that is concerning. So we need to get some help soon. Not just for cleaning, but to keep an eye on her.


 


I’ve done nothing less than literally BEG her care manager to help, several times and if/when we do talk the answer she gives me is: “There’s an aide and nursing shortage.” She’s been telling me this for four years.But really? Not one person?


 


She suggested trying to find a church nearby that might be able to help. Good idea, just not sure how that works — if you do, I’d love to hear from you.


 


Another idea was for my family to help, which I’ve been doing from out of state and unfortunately my two siblings who live 20 minutes away don’t see it as their responsibility. One has committed to visiting my mother once a week and no more. She has the time. The other sibling is too busy and still denies this is a real issue. So that leaves me, but I live about six hours away with health issues that prevent me from driving. I suggested to my siblings that we all chip in and pay for someone. An absolute “NO” was the answer.


 


Right now Mom often pays her younger friends (I found out later) to do this chore for her—she does not have the money to do this. Or once in a while she’ll ask a friend her age (mid-eighties) to help her— which scares me — I don’t want both of them getting hurt!!


 


Lastly the care manager said to try nursing or aide’s colleges or training facilities but in the past I’ve seen aides who are on their phone and basically do nothing so I’m not sure about someone who’s inexperienced still.


 


So I’m at a standstill. I visit when possible and call all the time but it’s not enough.


 


I welcome any ideas that might have worked for any of you!


 


God Bless!

freqflyer Sep 2022
TheirWorld, there is an aide/caregiver shortage, let's not forget we are still in a covid pandemic. Plus many Governors had raised minimum wage, and that had a major domino effect on employees/employers.

I saw an hiring ad in a window of a fast food place offering $20/hour. Thus, the domino effect where employees who were already making $20/hour no longer want to work at minimum wage, their wages went up, same the next tier of employees, etc. There comes a breaking point where some people are then let go because a business cannot afford the payroll.

You would think those who were laid off from work would jump at a chance to earn some type of hourly wage, but they don't. They hold out for those high paying hourly jobs.

Since your Mom is living in low cost senior housing [bravo for areas offering same] that means the county may be paying some of the rent. Therefore, if you do find an aide/caregiving to watch over Mom [if Mom accepts that idea], then someone other then your Mom would need to pay that person [siblings saying no to paying].

What's left? As most of us here had to do was wait until there is a medical emergency where our parent is taken to the hospital, then into Rehab, then into senior housing be it Assisted Living, Memory Care, or a Nursing Home. Medicaid [which is different from Medicare] will pay for that cost if your Mom qualifies.
Geaton777 Sep 2022
FF, I don't think we can continue to blame the pandemic... just read this news yesterday:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-covid-end-in-sight-deaths-at-lowest-since-march-2020/
Clairesmum Sep 2022
Well, I'm puzzled that she has a care manager who seems not to care OR manage services.
Sometimes subsidized senior housing has a contracted agency that provides a care manager and that agency provides the direct services such as home making, personal care, etc. If the care giver is from a social service agency of some sort, please call and ask for a new care manager. Or a conversation or Zoom meeting with care manager and her supervisor.
She does need to be connected to services now....I'm not sure what those 'concerning behaviors' are, related to her mild dementia. Dementia progresses, safety awareness decreases, self awareness decreases, self care declines....
Introducing helpers into her life now will help her remain in the community longer. Let us know how it goes.

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Fawnby Sep 2022
if there’s a bulletin board at her apartment, put a card on it with your contact info and maybe someone will take the bait. Sometimes there are aides at a nursing home who would like to work in a private home occasionally for extra money. Sometimes those aides have friends who only do private duty and they’ll put you in contact with them. There might be private duty aides who work in the building where your mom lives and would like another client. Ask mom’s friends if they know anyone. Try to find someone outside an agency. I’ve done this. Many of the agency aides and CNAs don’t like working for an agency. For instance, you might be paying an aide $25 an hour, but half of it or more goes to the agency. An aide often jumps at a $25 an hour job outside the agency because they get to keep all the $25. I never had problems finding aides and employed many for my parents and another relative. They were treated well and glad to be doing private duty. Asking around was the best way to find them.

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