My mom wants me to get a job outside the house, but she's a fall risk. Any suggestions?

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My mom wants me to get a job outside the house, but she's a fall risk. Any suggestions?

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I want to know if I can leave work to find a part-time job while my mom's a fall risk.

I am my mom's caregiver and she's not eligible for IHSS. She has a part-time caregiver who would be available, but there's an one hour window in the morning and in the afternoon where she would be unattended because I would be driving to and from work.

Her doctors placed her as a fall risk and if I think that if I leave her unattended for an two hours, I could be liable for neglect.

I'm trying to find a job, whether online or part-time, in order to pay for my personal expenses. My mom has to pay the caregiver, taxes, and everything else.

If you have a solution, I thank you!

Falls Family Caregiver Working Caregiver

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It depends on her mental acuity. Can she call you via a device such as a simple cell phone or other device? Would she be able to follow instructions not to move for that amount of time?

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I'll ask her right now. She was okay with the cell phone before the fall. Then, when she was on Norco for a month, her texts were poorly written.

Sometimes she asks me for help using her own cell phone.

There are a lot of simple things that I'm overlooking right now.

Thanks for your help.

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Mattomatto, a lot depends on how reliable your mother is mentally.

For example - my mother would promise, Guide's Honour, that she would be fine and she wouldn't move around without help; and then the second my back was turned she'd be out of her chair like a little jack-in-the-box and crashing around the furniture. She could NOT be left unattended.

But my mother had vascular dementia on top of the falls risk. If your mother is sound of mind, and will go to the bathroom before you leave, and sit tight in her comfy chair until there's someone there to assist her, then the risk of leaving her alone for an hour or two is very slight.

What does your mother have against the idea of a life alert or similar device? Why won't she agree to that?

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Why can’t she get a life alert necklace? Tell her that you won’t get a job until she has the necklace as an added safety precaution.

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Oh, my mom thinks LifeAlert is too expensive. ($50/mo.)

The part-time caregiver is also freaking out that she'll be liable if my mom has fallen on the floor when she opens the door and I'm gone, and so now she wants me to stay at home.

I found an online job, but it's kind of difficult doing regular work and then being summoned to help my mom to the bathroom or getting her meds or so on.

I should bring your ideas up to my mom, my sister and the caregiver. I'm kind of putting myself in my own pigeonhole.

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You wouldn’t be liable for neglect. Get that idea out of your head. Most agencies will not send someone out for an hour at a time. Perhaps a neighbor would be willing to come over? There are also volunteer groups that will come sit with someone. They won’t be able to pick her up if she falls but at least they would be there to call for help. You owe it to yourself to have your own life & earn an income. Think about it, right now you are not paying in social security or a retirement plan. You’ve got to think about your own financial security and your future. Go ahead and find a job outside the house. Good luck!

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I never thought of those ideas before. Thank you for your help!

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I'm not sure I understand your situation:

- "I want to know if I can leave work to find a part-time job" Are you working now? Or do you mean leave your caregiving task for your mom?

- Are you asking for resources for someone to come in to watch your mom for those 2 hours?

- Are you seeking suggestions as to certain kinds of flexible jobs?

I think it won't be easy to find someone to spend 1 hr at the beginning and end of each day to watch your mom, but maybe you can have a nearby neighbor do it if you pay them.

You may be able to work from home as a customer service rep. My relative does this and it's a great gig. No office to go to. No gas to buy. Look for jobs that allow you to telecommute. Do you have a computer? You'd need one to work from home. Good luck in your search!

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Unfortunately the OP is in California I don’t know why but customer service rep jobs from home are not really available to those of us in this state. They won’t hire people in CA. There are sites like rat race rebellion that advertise work from home jobs and every company specifically says California residents are eligible. It’s hard to get remote jobs here unless you find a small local business that allows you to work from home. Must have something to do with our employment laws.

My mom wants me to get a job outside the house, but she's a fall risk. Any suggestions?

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