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My mother has moderate dementia, and we have had the same caregiver from a local agency for nine months. The home aide told me that she will be giving her 4 week notice next week (leaving the area). I have not told my mother yet, because it only adds to her anxiety levels.


My thought was when the agency contacts me for a replacement, to ask if I could have the new person come and share an hour so the current home aide can give pointers to the new aide as part of the transition. Obviously I would have to pay for both, but it might make the transition easier for my mother. Change in routine is very hard for her now, and I would like to make this as smooth as possible.

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It's a great idea to have the new caregiver come over and get the lay of the land by the outgoing caregiver. Can I make a suggestion? After the outgoing caregiver is done showing the new caregiver around have them sit with your mom to chat. Like 3 ladies lunching and enjoying eachother's company. It might help your mom make a positive association with the new caregiver if your mom is included as just one of the girls in a pseudo-social setting. I'm not talking hours but maybe a 30 minute sit-down might help cement the new caregivers place in the home and with your mom.
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That's an excellent idea having the previous Aide overlap. It's not easy finding the right match. And the Agency tries to do their best to find someone with a similar personality. The Agency my Dad used, they were able to switch caregivers around to find the right match for my Dad.
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Mom lives with me, has been for 3.5 years. We got really lucky that the first caregiver that the agency sent out was able to get mom to accept her without too much bother (once mom stopped thinking of her as a babysitter - her words), and now looks forward to her being here every day I think.

So I am hoping that whoever they send out next will work out as well as this one did. I can't blame the caregiver for leaving, she is underpaid as it is, and getting a better paying job as a nanny for a newborn in another town.

I need to have help come in because I have to work a full time job, and can't leave mom alone for all that time every day.
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Does mom live alone or with you ?

This is the hardest part of trying to keep consistency with caregivers - the overlap for introduction will help the new caregiver but ultimately as you probably know it will all depend if mom likes the new person and there's no accounting for that chemistry - the most competent person may not be the right person for mom

Are you aware of traits that your mom responds to wth her current caregiver and do you have an open dialogue with the agency about possible replacements ?

I nearly cry when we lose one of mom's caregivers as it takes so long to find a fit - we have two to three a week for 4 hours a day - some are young mothers and some are middle aged - my mom doesn't remember any of their names but recognizes them and is generally happy to see them
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