What is important to discuss on the first day with a new Medicaid aide? What are the rules for mask wearing?

Imho, a home health aide is NOT a cleaning detail.

I think the other posts are right on about duties. It seems to me, if you want the house clean, you need to hire a cleaning service, not a home health aid. These are two completely different jobs.

I have to have a cleaning lady because of my back. I have two gals and they wear masks all the time they are in my house. I love the way they finish cleaning as they go out the door. They do not step back over their work as they leave.

Can you afford to have the house thoroughly cleaned twice a month, in addition to a home health aid to tend to your loved one? That would be a great solution. My gals dust the heating vents as well as the baseboards and the top of the doors. They vacuum the couch and all the other stuffed furniture. They clean the stove, not the oven, but the burners, etc. My stove is a 1955 Gaffers and Sattler, so it isn't that easy to clean. As I said, as they walk out the front door, they dust the screen and sweep the porch.

Yes! Begin as you mean to go on. It's much easier to have this discussion on the first day than having to bring up issues later on. Be honest with the aide, ask her/him if your expectations are OK. My mom was upset that her aids wouldn’t scrub her floors on their hands and knees the way she would have done. Also, the aids would do laundry everyday to wash soiled clothing and linens which doubled my parents water bill.

You should have already talked to the person in charge of the new aid to discuss whst is expected.
Hourselves Cleaning and wash is only done for the individual being cared for, as they're not a maid.

I would ask any helper or person whom you don't know well to wear a non-vented face mask while inside the home or when travelling inside a vehicle. He/she may take their mask off when outdoors and more than 6 feet away from: the client, client's family. or client's pets. I would ask them to wash their hands with antibacterial soap on arrival, after touching soiled items, and after touching their face or cleaning themselves. I would ask that they disinfect surfaces - counters, table tops, door knobs... - on arrival, before and after prepping food, and before leaving. Spend some time with him/her discussing the care to be given your mom. Have a discussion about housekeeping and together outline what housekeeping tasks should be completed. Realize that different types of aides do different types of tasks and you need to know what he/she is qualified to do.

In addition, it would be helpful to ask the aide what kinds of snacks and beverages he/she likes. It would be a kind gesture to keep a supply on hand for their use when they are on duty.

Most aides have a list too . They are expected to help as a caregiver, not so much as a housekeeper . They are usually poorly paid , and they bathe , change diapers and give meds to the patient. This is what I have experienced in Texas , and in talking to other caregivers, in other states , about caring for a ALS patient. The ALS patient has many needs . I preferred my husband to get the attention , and not our home .

Mask are not being enforced when it came to my dad's aid.

To an extent, the Nurse who did intake give aides a careplan which tells them what they can and cannot be doing. The problem with Ageny/Medicaid aides is employer liability. Lets say, you want the aide to dust and you have something like a lamp on the table. They can only dust around things not pick them up. Same with vacuuming.

Medicaid or the agency pays for gloves so it is not something you really need to address. Yes to masks.

Yes, the aid needs to be masked at all times. This is for your protection. This aid is going to other homes that may infect her and she can bring infection to your home. You should be masked when the aid is present to protect her in case YOU are infected and do not know it. When she is gone you can revert back to living with your Mom as you have been living.
Your new aid, if she is from an agency working with medicaid may already have a check list of what duties she does and does not do. Often aids do NOT do any housekeeping. Some do only ADL and such with the senior. Bathing, help with feeding, some do cooking and some do not. Sit her down and give her a list of what your Aids typically do, and what you would hope/expect she will do. Ask her to let you know first interview what she expects, what she accepts as duties, and what you need to know. It is basically an exchange the first time about yours and her expectations. And again, yes, she wears the mask.

Yes, be up front on what you expect. Maybe a mask will only be needed when she close to Mom. Gloves are appropriate anytime she helps Mom bathe or toileting. They are really to protect the aide more so than Mom. Washing of hands all the time is necessary especially when handling food.

You are the employer. Its what you expect.