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You are the caregiver for a man (?) and his wife is making your job impossible? Is that what's happening?
Who will be asked to provide the care, and who will be asking - your client or you? I think you'd be lucky to get respite care that fast, but it can't hurt to ask. Isn't the key thing, though, that until you've found someone to hand over to you're kind of stuck with them?
I'm assuming that you are an independent provider, and not employed by an agency.
Twice, I received calls from the son demanding that I RUSH to his mother's aide bc she had soiled herself. Worse, he was calling from his mother's home. I was with other clients 20 mins away and could not leave. Mind you, this was last week. He was emotionally unstable and irrational in his expectations of me. He became verbally abusive, which I excused as this is stressful for him. I mean, we all get stressed out.
The second time he did this, I suggested she needs more care than he was seeking and that I felt respite or an agency that offered more than 2 hrs a day would be best for his mother's well being while he was away. I could not be responsible for the time she was alone. That I agreed to the 2 hrs daily he wanted for her as "she would be fine the rest of the time". He told me (loudly and waving his arms) he didn't appreciate my opinion and that he wanted to know she would be in good hands while he was away. I told him that she would be well cared for in the time he wanted me there but that I could not offer more hours as I was booked already. I had made room for his mother bc I really wanted to help, I have that heart. I was told by another caregiver that he interviewed before me that I tried to scare him into more hours from him. This is a flat out lie. I was already stretching myself thin to fit the 2 hrs a day he wanted. His mother lives near my home, it wouldn't be out of my way to "pop in" to and from other clients. So being verbally abusive twice, demanding I come while with other clients before the agreed days needed and ignoring my heartfelt suggestion of more care for his mother and then telling another caregiver that I tried getting more hours out of him than he asked for. Honestly, I do not need the money. After being told what he had said about my trying to get more hours with "scare tactics" and his ignoring my suggestion of getting respite or an agency to provide more care, I felt this is not a good situation for his mother or my reputation as a honest, compassionate and reliable caregiver. More, if he lied about me trying to get more hours, who is to say he wouldn't lie about something else. He could have had more than 2 days notice but he refused to hear my concern while he lost his temper. I have learned from this, trust me. I just wanted to know if he could place her or get more help on a now very short notice. Thank you to each of you that gave your input. I see the mistakes I made before I backed out. I appreciate each reply, even the stern ones. I've not run into this in the many years I've been a CG.
If you are not related, don't think you can set up respite care.
I see no other posts to help see what is going on.
She may be problematic but you are supposed to be a professional, start acting like it.
Best of luck to you. It’s a tough job and your heart should be into it, otherwise it’s just a job. Everyone should appreciate all hardworking caregivers.
Stay away from them. Don't even work for them for one day. It's his responsibility to arrange respite care for his mother. Not yours.
Your safety and reputation come first. He lied once, he will lie again. Think of the possible liability that he might try to pin on you if something goes wrong when you're not there.
I'd say that is a big relationship issue.
You are correct that you can not work for this man caring for his mom.
His behavior has left him without a caregiver, you are not responsible for providing any alternatives for him.
Just curious, why did you say she was nuts? It sounds like you haven't even dealt with her.
I agree with you that this is a man under stress, and it is therefore fair to overlook his regrettable manner; but what you know for a fact is that his mother has substantial care needs and he is completely failing to grasp her situation.
As far as regards you, stupid man, walk away, no problem. But his mother may be at risk and that needs to be investigated by the appropriate agencies.
Just curious, who has been changing Mom? Some people do not listen. Hopefully, you looked him in the eye and said NO, this will not work. TG you didn't plan on charging him.
After he yelled at me in person & throwing his arms, even though I was shaking inside, I suggested her needing more care than I could give. Not sure he heard me while in his rage, I texted him to verify my suggestion again a few hours later. & then my decline to accept him as a client and another suggestion for her care. So the texts were documented on separate days. I didn't mention his temper as to why, thought he would reallllly go off. And he told me she changes herself but when he was demanding I rush over to clean her up, she had diarrhea. Poor lil thing, it breaks my heart. But I just CANT go back, the stress was too much and I have to stay healthy for my other clients. I am thinking of telling APS my concerns. But he will know who did this even though i'd be anonymous. He would just be nice like he was when I came the first time to discuss her care plan. So, I am going higher up, and praying about her care and needs for now. I might wait until he is gone and speak to a neighbor to see if they hear his yelling at her. Someone has to hear him if he yells at her.