I have two caregivers full time, one from Monday through Friday and one on the weekends. I believe they do an excellent job of caring for my parents and I am home to observe. My father has severe dementia and is a challenge to change and feed. My mother has mobility issues. My mother has recently pointed out that she does not like that the aides watch movies on their devices or look at their cellphones. I see them do this when parents are resting. The aides are in the parents' room at all times and keep on top of things. I don't see the reason to bring this issue up with them because they do so much for them and are very pleasant and competent. Shouldn't this issue be left alone?
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I won't deny that sometimes it irks me, especially if they're standing in the middle of an aisle and have to be awakened just to move so others can get through. And it really does irk me if I'm standing in line and someone is blabbing so loud that everyone in the area is subjected to her private conversation.
Whenever I watch a nature program about evolution and the changes life has made in adaptation, I wonder if a few hundred years from now humans will have lost the ability to speak but will totally be communicating electronically.
Demstress, you might try explaining to your mother that many people now communicate this way, or spend their time playing with their phones instead of speaking with humans.
I remember my Dad complaining about one evening caregiver who was on her cellphone all the time. She was a semi-regular for the short evening shift until the night shift came in. She was going to college during the day. She just wasn't very chatty, but was attentive to Dad's needs. Dad was spoiled by his day time caregiver where the both of them had a lot to talk about :)
I didn't like seeing mom
Asleep at the kitchen table and the aide on the couch
Otherwise caregivers have a difficult task dealing with bedridden demented folks who are oftentimes difficult to care for