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My 90+ aunt has had self-pay round-the-clock homecare for 10 years. She enjoys music but now always sits with eyes closed, meaning that TV is of no interest to her. Current caregivers have requested internet connectivity in addition to cable TV. As this would be solely for their benefit, not for the patient's, can they be asked to contribute? What about the inevitable "but I don't use the internet" type of complaints? As financial resources are dwindling, suggestions on what is appropriate and how to handle the situation are greatly appreciated.

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I don't know. Half the caregivers I have for mom don't even know how to use the cable remote. (I have them 5-6 hours at a time, though; not round the clock.) One lady watched the same channel all evening long because the last time she was over, she pressed the wrong button and had no TV at all. (I sympathize. Really I do.)

Phone? Of course. A decent TV? Of course. Cable? Probably unless one is in a major city and has a high-quality antenna on the roof. Internet? Meh. How many of their elderly clients have internet? Very few, I'd reckon.

I'm gathering you have cable, though. So internet is an add-on...probably, at the most, $40/month. In the scheme of 24/7 caregiving, $40 is a teeny-tiny itsy-bitsy drop in the bucket. I suspect it's more principle with you than the cost.

Me? If the person was a good caregiver, I'd pop for $40/month in a heartbeat. But I don't think it's a necessity.
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I'm very surprised at the attitude that one is doing the caregiver a favor giving them food and shelter. That's like a boss at a company thinking they're doing you a favor by giving you a roof over your head to do your word processing.
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When I start working for my client, she had the cable TV but not internet access.... so another Caregiver and I are willing to pay for the service (TWC) after 3 months. Well sometimes my client family bring their own computer and they wants access. Lucky us family decided have connect service!! My client loves look all my family and friends pictures, also client family member that they do travailing often to another States and Country, they send me so many pics to my computer so she can enjoyed it! Also good thing to have internet, I play old songs from You Tube!! It is very much money worth it. Give us tools so we could make our client's and our life much easier!!I also use Kindle at bedtime before I go sleep....
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I would provide cable, internet, and phone free of any charge to the caregiver. Caregiving can have long stretches of time that need to be occupied, so having cable and internet would help accomplish that. The utilities can be bundled, so having all three doesn't cost so much. I would look around for some promotional prices on packages and take advantage of a good one that includes all three services. My only concern would be that they become so interested in the TV or internet that they neglect their caregiving tasks.
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LadeeM, I'm with you. ;)
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sooz55, another thing to add to my gratitude list.... I don't work for you!
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as a cargiver of 20+ year my I feel you get what you pay for. also to answer your question if the tables were turned would you want those amenities. treat people how you would like to be treated and you will get your answer
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We had very good success using Roku for TV for my mthr. It runs off internet, not cable. She had no idea how to use it, but the rest of us enjoyed watching the programs on demand. You can subscribe to the ball game channels, but we simply added BYU tv for sports she could watch (added benefit of the Christmas choir programs she loved). She did not care which teams, so this worked for her. We did not subscribe to Netflix for her, but for outside caregivers, that would be a great idea and all together, Internet + Roku (or other internet tv box) one time purchase + Netflix is cheaper than internet + cable by far.
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No favors. The food and shelter are accounted for in the salary paid. Why should anyone have free rent and be able to eat as much as they want without cost? For sitting and watching TV a majority of the time, plus having no living expense? Do they shower and use hot water? Do they do their laundry? Do they eat cooked food? Use the toilet? All of these are not free and it needs to be included in the salary offered. It's a high stress job that should be compensated and that compensation needs to include room and board. I wouldn't think the office where the person does word-processing would agree to pay for the person's food or allow them to do their laundry or take care of their personal hygiene simply because they do word-processing.
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Our CG is only here about 15 hours a week, but she does watch TV with my parents. And has her own cell phone. She does not use our computer, but her phone can connect to the wireless. If she would' need to look up directions to a Dr or medicine or something I am glad she can. She also brings her Kindle for when everyone is reading. Our first CG (male) was on our computer alot, used to forget to close his FB, was on dating sites for Christians.. LOL And JOB hunting! He didn;t last long... Funny what people forget to close out or clear!
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