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24/7 is not a sustainable schedule. You have to sleep at some point, so how are you a caregiver 24/7? This is the problem most of us face as caregivers - and one I'm dealing with personally now. My mother took a bad fall recently, and now I'm afraid to sleep at night for fear she will fall again. She never sleeps all night, but gets up to go to the bathroom, etc. She's a huge fall risk right now, because we haven't yet determined why she blacked out and fell - so now I live with the fear that I will wake up and find her on the floor, having not heard her fall during the night.
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Another perspective: After only 18 days, understand that there is an adjustment period. Ask yourself if you are qualified for the care you are required to give. Are you "living in" without your own home to go to on your days off? When she is asleep, do you have peace, or is it all on your mind 24/7?
It is a good thing you have asked this question. Continue to educate yourself. Keep checking in with your fellow caregivers as you are able. Take care, have you showered today?
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ayucan, you are on duty 168 hours per week, that is almost impossible for any one person to do without some type of physical or emotional burnout.

You are doing the work of 3 full-time caregivers, each of which would work 8 hours each, and go home to their own family, have a good nice sleep, and be ready for their next shift.

It is totally unfair for your patient's family to even think you could work around the clock with someone who has memory issues, and probably other medical and physical issues when someone reaches 96 years old.

Keep us up to-date.
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It would be bad for you to continue this schedule, and not so good for the "patient" either.
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Three days/nights on, three days/nights off.
Of course you are not bad. This type of caregiving requires a team of three caregivers. Some people can do 24/7, but not without breaks, respite care.
Have you tried Monday-Friday, weekends off? Have you read articles on this site about how many caregivers die before the ones they are taking care of?
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If, only 18 days into what might be years, you are feeling burned out, then yes, You owe it to the family and the client to either shorten your hours or get out of the business altogether. Even family members can't do 24/7 without some relief. It's an unreasonable schedule for a paid attendant and they are taking advantage of you.
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You are a bad caregiver if you continue with this schedule. Mistakes are bound to happen. This is not a viable situation.
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