When you say the Home Health Care is no longer needed what do you mean? Is it because the aid is not doing what she is supposed to be doing and family is doing what the aid should be doing or is it because the person no longer is in need of that type of care? If it is because the aid is not doing what she/he is supposed to be doing and the family is picking up the slack then the aid should be replaced. There should be a list of tasks that this person should be doing Tell the agency if they are through an agency. And if having a discussion with the agency and the aid does not help then a replacement should be provided. If you hired this person then have a sit down and discuss expectations. If that does not work to correct the situation then you need to let this person go and hire someone else.
When this aid sits and talk is it to the person they have been hired to care for or are they on the phone? Big difference.
Is the home health aide from an agency or hired privately? Either way, it might be good to have a checklist of things you want done. The most important of course, are things done directly for your LO (meals, medication reminders, help with bathing, etc.). We have a great aide through an agency, and because my hiusband has LTC insurance and that requres documentaion, the agency has a 3-ring binder with sheets of checklists the aide has to fill out each day. "Companionship" is one of the categories, and that can be very important for a lot of people. Having someone there for safety purposes is often the most important thing a home health aide can do, even if the person they are working with can do some (or many) things for themselves. Our wonderful aide loves to keep busy, so she has a routine for the 2 mornings she's here--laundry, bathroom cleaning, vacuuming, etc. I'm so spoiled! She also helps with shower and dressing, goes for daily walks with my husband (who uses a walker), etc. If you think your aide should be doing more housekeeping, and that this won't detract from what they need to do for your LO, then you need to nicely make that clear--perhaps just a written list of chores, if this is a private aide. Some agencies specify that their workers are to clean and take care of the client's area, i.e. bedroom, bathroom, maybe the client's laundry, and are not required to do general house cleaning.
Steven Its a fine line. In the beginning when I hired the first care taker for my aunt, she was very personable, good with the meds and made Aunt a hot breakfast. That was it. Since these were the most important things, I let other things slide. Little by little it got worse. She was late. Then she would leave and come back. Then she would bring her children, who were precious but she wasn’t focused on aunt. Finally she had to quit. I was grateful.
Then I found a great aide. Her problem is she never wants to sit down and visit with aunt and that’s important too. Aunt complains if she vacumns. So the aide will wait for the bather to come so she can vacuum while Aunt is in the bath. I think it’s amazing that we have an aide who has to sneak to vacuum.
The one on the weekend makes no bones about it. She makes breakfast, gives meds and then they talk and laugh for two hours. But aunt is happy and the primary chores are done.
So I let it go. But it took awhile. I try to remember what the most important things are and focus on those. Visiting is right up near the top.
If the aide is always on her phone as smeshque asked, I wouid have to let her go. Does she work for you?
5 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
If it is because the aid is not doing what she/he is supposed to be doing and the family is picking up the slack then the aid should be replaced. There should be a list of tasks that this person should be doing Tell the agency if they are through an agency. And if having a discussion with the agency and the aid does not help then a replacement should be provided. If you hired this person then have a sit down and discuss expectations. If that does not work to correct the situation then you need to let this person go and hire someone else.
When this aid sits and talk is it to the person they have been hired to care for or are they on the phone? Big difference.
ADVERTISEMENT
Its a fine line. In the beginning when I hired the first care taker for my aunt, she was very personable, good with the meds and made Aunt a hot breakfast. That was it. Since these were the most important things, I let other things slide.
Little by little it got worse. She was late. Then she would leave and come back. Then she would bring her children, who were precious but she wasn’t focused on aunt. Finally she had to quit. I was grateful.
Then I found a great aide. Her problem is she never wants to sit down and visit with aunt and that’s important too. Aunt complains if she vacumns. So the aide will wait for the bather to come so she can vacuum while Aunt is in the bath. I think it’s amazing that we have an aide who has to sneak to vacuum.
The one on the weekend makes no bones about it. She makes breakfast, gives meds and then they talk and laugh for two hours. But aunt is happy and the primary chores are done.
So I let it go. But it took awhile. I try to remember what the most important things are and focus on those. Visiting is right up near the top.
If the aide is always on her phone as smeshque asked, I wouid have to let her go. Does she work for you?
Or on her phone?