Can I hire companions for my mother who lives in Assisted Living Facility?
The doctor says mom should no longer be by herself. She refuses to go to a nursing home and quite frankly I think they do less there than the assisted living facility mom lives in. I went ahead and hired some caregivers to be companions/sitters and assist her with some things so that she could recover and get stronger. The CNAs at the assisted living facility aren't able to be with mom all the time and she often is dizzy and can't get out of her chair by herself.
I ran into a situation now that I have been told that I cannot hire unlicensed, uninsured caregivers at the assisted living. I also have been told that by their nurse that they would not take mom back unless she had more help! They are trying to force me into hiring agency employees that will cost much more. They are claiming that the people visiting mom are strangers to them and do not wear badges. I think there are lots of people around the building coming and going that people do not know. I think that is unfair that they are forcing me to use an agency. If Mom had a friend or family with her, it would not be an issue. It's because we are paying someone to stay with her. I think they will be forcing us to terminate our extra help. I realize it could be a conflict of interest legally if I hired a CNA AS A CNA; but I'm not. These are just companions. What are your thoughts about this and how can I continue to get mom help outside of what the assisted living facility provides so she does not have to go in a nursing home?
19 Answers
Popular Questions
Related Questions
- How do I move my mother to an assisted living facility closer to relatives?
- Where can my mother and father live together if they both need special care?
- Is it legal for facilities to increase their rates without notice and while a contract is in place?
- How do you know when it is time for more help for your loved one whether it be someone coming into our home for care or time for assisted living?
If say, the sitter fell back and broke her hip while transferring your mom to the toilet, then who is responsible sort of issue. It is their facility and you have to abide by their rules or find another facility.
It might be good for you to meet with social services(rather than with the DON) to get a bead on what they feel is needed for your mom specifically, e.g. sitting up, getting dressed, cleaning herself. She may be at the grey area of not really needing skilled nursing level that a NH does (or should do) but is more work than what her AL allots for care.
The issue for the ALF is that they are "unlicensed, uninsured caregivers" coming into an assisted living facility that has specific accountability standards to the state & licensing boards. What if a resident says 'Mrs Breitone's mom's sitter took my pain medication, watch, magazine.......whether it's true on not, whether the resident has dementia and not grounded in reality.....whatever the case, this is a real problem for a ALF.
Where I am (deep South) a lot of the residents have sitters. Not to do anything skilled per se but really for companionship (read to them, change the TV, most of them worked for the family in the past, & often their kids work for the family still,so they know the stories). The NH that I know allows this, requires that the sitter be bonded, has a visitor ID clipped on them at all times & takes their meals with the staff following the NH schedule, all which the family pays for (so no bringing in food). Perhaps that could work.
The place where my Dad lived, the caregiving Agency had to be licensed, bonded, insured, have workman's comp for their employees, and show that the caregiver had passed their TB test and had proof of a flu shot. The facility didn't want outside caregivers roaming the halls if they didn't know who they were and what Agency.... it would worry the residents if they saw an unfamiliar face.
will change ones life
See All Answers