New caregiver company woes.

Question

J

joyinthemidst Asked August 2016

New caregiver company woes.

Just moved & in just 6 weeks I'm on my second caregiver agency. This time around the caregivers seem OK, other than one, which I'll discuss later) but I'm issues with the ladies in the office. First after using many different companies I've just discovered the 'Notebook' where instead of having a checklist or calling in and doing an automated checklist they write stuff down in a notebook. I found out when I read it that they were writing things about my spouse & I, i.e.: Chuck came up at 3 pm...Chuck left for gym at 4 pm etc.. I felt it was creepy so I called the office after talking to mom's Aging Waiver caseworker, a friend who has 15 years in Hospice and some others who all agreed that it was 'creepy'.
The office lady first put me on speaker without telling me then when I said to take me off she lied and said she did but didn't then she proceeded to very nicely imply I was overreacting & or being paranoid and ," no one else has ever complained'. She then defended someone writing that I had left for a hair appt. At 3 pm because of some bull about liability and if mom should fall or anything after the shift was over at 5pm blah blah blah. I was so shocked at her response and there have been other things too that have left me very uneasy. What are your thoughts?

Home Care

9 Answers

Most
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First

Recent Questions

Related Questions

score 0 · Answer 1

...and it can work in your favor if you have an over-stepping busy body - you can used her over-documenting as proof she can't mind her own beeswax - should you want her replaced - not that you really need to explain yourself. Just a thought. Can you tell my mom has a caregiver who is an over-stepping busy body? Lol! She drives me insane but my mother adores her. And as long as mom is happy, right? Grrrr!!!

Helpful Answer (0)

score 0 · Answer 2

joyinthemidst, why have the question removed? It was a very good question which will help others who were thinking the same thing.

Helpful Answer (0)

score 0 · Answer 3

Joy, I totally understand where you are coming from. Yes, it is usual to keep written notes about the day and to detail when guests or other workers come and go, but what the other members of the household are doing is absolutely irrelevant unless it impacts the care recipient (F used the bathroom all morning so I couldn't give C her shower). Our privacy is invaded enough with having a revolving door of strangers in our homes, I can see no purpose having them record your personal habits. Sometimes companies do things thoughtlessly just because that's the way they have always done it, I would put the complaint in writing so that the next concerned person who calls them can't be told nobody ever complained.

Helpful Answer (0)

score 1 · Answer 4

No, not creepy. When I visit the nursing home, I sign in with arrival time and sign out departure time. Same with a group home: time in, time out. The group home also tracks when my sister goes out with me and where we went. Just good recordkeeping.

Helpful Answer (1)

score 0 · Answer 5

Thank you for all your input. I've asked administration how to remove this question but have not received an answer

Helpful Answer (0)

score 1 · Answer 6

I've used two different agencys that both used notebooks for note taking. I found the notes directly related to the personality of the particular caregiver - the over-stepping, busy body would practically detail what I was wearing as well as my coming and going, the quite efficient lady just made bullet point notes - time of meal, tasks done, medication reminder, etc. For the most part I just blew it off - too many other things to worry about.

Helpful Answer (1)

score 1 · Answer 7

Joyinthemidst, I don't think its nessisarily Creepy, I guess I'm just not understanding why you have any sort of problem with this? A Nurse or caregiver often makes note in this manner. I think I would prefer it, as the person who is being cared for, may possibly be reacting to the events of the day, different people in the home, at different times of the day. Do you feel like they are spying on you or your privacy is being invaded on some way, are the caregivers making you feel uncomfortable? If that is the case, I would ask them directly, as to Why they do it that way? It might make better sense to you that way. Other than they way in which they write their notes, are they doing a good job?

Helpful Answer (1)

score 0 · Answer 8

joyinthemidst, my Dad has caregivers from a well known caregiving Agency, and there is a "journal" 3-ring binder that each caregiver will write what happened during her shift. This journal is very helpful detailing the shift, thus when the next caregiver comes onboard, she/he will read over what the previous caregiver had written.

I like the journal, that way Dad gets one shower instead of three, as whomever gave Dad a shower will make note. No need for another shower unless there was a bathroom accident. The caregivers made note of what Dad ate, what he did during their shift like they took a walk down to the sunroom where Dad read the daily newspaper.... who came to visit [yes, even my name is written down]. Also what time Dad got his medicine, and how his memory was doing that day.

Even I would read the journal to see how Dad is doing as I am not at his facility every day. This journal catches me up.

Helpful Answer (0)

score 1 · Answer 9

The caregivers are for your mother? What were the specific duties you discussed before hiring them, and would the type of documentation they're doing affect those duties?

I can understand the issue of liability, but I think it turns on the purpose for which they've been hired, and what their duties are.

I would be a bit uncomfortable as well. One thing you can do is start documenting them! Arrival time, what they do and how long it takes...

But I think I'd work on finding out why they're doing it and try to get it resolved, or else eventually consider another company. What do you know about this agency?

Also, who just moved in? Your profile states that your mother is living with you; is she the one who's just moved in? And what happened with the first caregivers?

Helpful Answer (1)

New caregiver company woes.

9 Answers

Recent Questions

Popular Questions

Related Questions

Ask a Question