Been thinking about this thread and I have more thoughts on it.
I would like to say there are good and bad examples in all professions. There are good and bad clients too. Just because someone pays for a service doesn’t mean that they should be rude to their caregivers.
Let’s be grateful for all good caregivers! Caregivers are under more stress than usual during these challenging days.
If someone is disappointed in a caregiver’s behavior they can have an honest discussion with the caregiver and try to resolve the situation.
The key word is ‘excessively’ using their phone.
Sometimes a telephone conversation is about a matter that is important and should be allowed.
It should not matter if a caregiver is on her phone on breaks or at lunch.
I don’t think we should generalize about whether a ‘private pay’ or ‘agency’ caregiver is better. No one can determine this.
People may have their own personal preferences for various reasons.
A good fit for the caregiver and the client is what is most important.
Good communication is needed. Neither the caregiver nor client should be expected to have ‘mind reading’ abilities.
If a person is looking for a caregiver to be a companion than discuss this beforehand. Some caregivers are happy to play a card game, assist in putting a puzzle together or read to them and watch a television program together.
Keep in mind what the patient wants. Some patients prefer privacy, and don’t wish to have more attention than what is necessary.
Allow time to develop a relationship that works for each of them. Be aware that some people can never be pleased.
This topic will be always be viewed according to individual personalities, according to one’s own work ethics and personal needs of the client.
I do feel that everyone should show the utmost appreciation, especially in these challenging circumstances, to all people who are in any service industry. This includes caregivers and all medical personnel.
NHWM, this is where I have to disagee, there is a HUGE difference between private pay and agency, especially when the client is not paying.
Ok, this is gross, but we had workers that bitched about stupid thing like pouring a cup of coffee for a spouse. The worst was the worker used a spare bathroom, threw period pads in a basket with no liner and expected me to clean it because the client did not use it. I flipped right out and guess what according to agency and Medicaid, the worker was right. I was floored.
There are huge differences in it all. Private pay, I would have fired.
Well as a caregiver, they may be trained that they are prohibited from pouring coffee for a spouse, and if that spouse pours it on themselves and has to go to the hospital, the agency may try and get out of liability by saying the caregiver was told not to serve anyone besides the patient. In which case they can be personally liable. There's a bit of a grey area: if the client was bringing the coffee themselves and you are afraid they might hurt themselves, that might be a reason to help. But if there is not a good explanation why you were providing care to someone who was not the patient, the agency might not approve it. As to restroom garbages, a care worker might have to dispose of all kinds of things. Best to have a garbage receptacle with a bin liner available to them. They might be prohibited from taking out garbages for the same reason: the client could say it was damaged and the person was not supposed to be touching it.
I would like to say there are good and bad examples in all professions. There are good and bad clients too. Just because someone pays for a service doesn’t mean that they should be rude to their caregivers.
Let’s be grateful for all good caregivers! Caregivers are under more stress than usual during these challenging days.
If someone is disappointed in a caregiver’s behavior they can have an honest discussion with the caregiver and try to resolve the situation.
The key word is ‘excessively’ using their phone.
Sometimes a telephone conversation is about a matter that is important and should be allowed.
It should not matter if a caregiver is on her phone on breaks or at lunch.
I don’t think we should generalize about whether a ‘private pay’ or ‘agency’ caregiver is better. No one can determine this.
People may have their own personal preferences for various reasons.
A good fit for the caregiver and the client is what is most important.
Good communication is needed. Neither the caregiver nor client should be expected to have ‘mind reading’ abilities.
If a person is looking for a caregiver to be a companion than discuss this beforehand. Some caregivers are happy to play a card game, assist in putting a puzzle together or read to them and watch a television program together.
Keep in mind what the patient wants. Some patients prefer privacy, and don’t wish to have more attention than what is necessary.
Allow time to develop a relationship that works for each of them. Be aware that some people can never be pleased.
This topic will be always be viewed according to individual personalities, according to one’s own work ethics and personal needs of the client.
I do feel that everyone should show the utmost appreciation, especially in these challenging circumstances, to all people who are in any service industry. This includes caregivers and all medical personnel.
Ok, this is gross, but we had workers that bitched about stupid thing like pouring a cup of coffee for a spouse. The worst was the worker used a spare bathroom, threw period pads in a basket with no liner and expected me to clean it because the client did not use it. I flipped right out and guess what according to agency and Medicaid, the worker was right. I was floored.
There are huge differences in it all. Private pay, I would have fired.
I totally agree that is super gross. Yuck!
I would also say that complaining about pouring an extra cup of coffee is down right silly.
All I am saying is that there are good and bad caregivers in each group, private pay or agency.
There are reasons why people choose whatever they choose.
It is good to hear why people like or dislike one or the other situations and the reasons why.
The more information that people have will help them determine what is best for them.