Should you go to church with your clients?

You can attend with her
Since you are not a member of the church you are not expected to participate in any rites they have.
If you are paid from 9am to 5pm and if your client is cognizant in theory the client can ask you to help her in any way. This may mean attending a service but it does not mean you have to participate nor convert.
YOU are not sharing YOUR religion, personal views or beliefs or political stance, SHE is sharing hers with you.
If you feel uncomfortable in the church or even attending you can bring her in, if she needs help getting in, then you can go sit in the car and when you see people leaving you can go in and get her.

As Burnt said, if your on the clock then u take ur client where she wants to go. In my church there is a lounge. You could sit in there waiting for ur client or go someplace for the hr or so she is there. Ask someone if there is a lounge or someplace u can sit outside the sanctuary. When I have people trying to get me to join their church, I tell them I already have a Church I attend.

The cracker and grape juice was Communion. Its the blood and body of Christ. Since you did not understand the purpose of Communion, then it was OK not to participate.

It is quite common for caregivers to accompany an elder to church. Some may sit for service whether they--like me--are atheists or of another faith. Most do not. They will be hearby for any problems if the elder can reach then, say, by phone.

I would make it clear to your elder that you are more than willing to attend her church but that your faith is a personal matter to you that isn't up for discussion, that you aren't a member of her church and won't be participating in the services.

And a little church going never hurt any of us, I figure. It's a lovely outing for your client, and brings her close to her much loved community.
Best out to you.

I was in my friends wedding. Her husbands family was catholic so she converted to become part of the family, and to get married in a Catholic Church.
Wedding day is here, all us girls in the wedding party were not catholic or baptized so we were not allowed to take the wine n cracker. We crossed our arms over our chests, bowed our heads and the priest blessed us.
All the men were baptized. They all got their wine and cracker and a blessing.
If your company allows you to take her places, and you’re insured, go ahead. She needs to socialize. If she’s trying to convert you into taking up a religion, tell honestly, I do have my beliefs, and I am blessed. Thank you. No, I don’t believe in talking about it. I see people naturally for who they are. They u hope they see me for who I am.
Just be nice, courteous and caring.

I’m still working on it. Don’t have it quite yet, but I’m getting there.

If you're on the clock and the client wants you to take her to church, take her.
Explain that you will not participate in any of the ceremony or ritual though. You are a ride and companionship brining her because it's part of your job to take her to social outings. Any kind of religious service where people gather is social.

I used to take an old lady client I had years ago to the Italian mass that the church had on Wednesday mornings. I'm Jewish but I never saw it as a problem. I was Catholic for most of my life and I speak Italian. It made her happy and I was glad to do it.

It won't hurt you to just take her to her bible study or church. You don't want to be part of her church and maybe you did not make that clear to her. Make it clear to the people at church that it isn't your thing. They will probably get pushy and insistent because some of the faithful make it their personal mission in life to spread the Word and get people to join. Tell them you're Jewish and that usually stops them in their tracks. They'll leave you alone.

I'm sorry you had to spend your Thanksgiving at work. Maybe you should have told them that at the actual Thanksgiving there was no grape juice or crackers. The Indians who saved everyone from dying that winter for no other reason than these were people that needed help and it was the right thing to do, couldn't have cared less about the "Word" they'd never heard anyway.

It's ok to transport her to her activity and not take part in it. She needs to understand this up front. Put in earbuds and sit in a corner and listen to a podcast or something else. She can't foist her religious beliefs on you in such a passive-aggressive way.

On the other hand, you can choose to participate to a limit and then you'd have something to talk about with her later. It's up to you, but know your boundaries and make them clear.

Just because you drive her to church doesn’t mean that you have to participate in the service.

I would politely say that you have no intention to take part in the service.

She should respect your views on this matter. No one should expect you to believe whatever they believe.

You don’t have to hide the fact that you are bringing her to church to your employer. Why would they care about you taking her to church?

I have a friend who passed away recently; for the last several years, he had caregivers accompany him to our synagogue for services.

Some of the caregivers sat with him, others waited in the lobby. None of them participated in services, but were invited to eat the meal/snack served afterwards.

I certainly agree with CM that lying to your agency about where you are transporting her is a line you don't want to cross.

What's the main agenda?

- Having transport?
- Having transport + a caregiver for nearby assistance? (Either waiting in the lobby or sit quiety at the back)
- Having a companion who also engages in the activity. (Like a friend would)

I politely refused a LO's request for regular transport to their chosen worship as I could see potential mission creep into territory I was definately not wishing to be part of. (I felt an expectation/wish that I would join - I chose to help my LO in other ways instead).

However, if I was a paid Support Worker, I would consider attending the group if eg communication or behavioir support was required. Maybe social skills support is required a few times to introduce & get comfortable? To help them break the ice. Then you could step back & wait in the lobby.

It is a fine line to *support* but not be a *friend* with clients. Some may attach strongly & then be devastated when their *friend* abandons them for a different job.

This client may even wish to hire a different Support Worker, of that faith, specifically for trips to Church or Bible Study.

Supporting your client to continue her preferred routines is absolutely okay, and that includes her religious, spiritual and cultural life. There is nothing wrong with escorting her to services as long as it's in her care plan. As you're an in-home caregiver, run that part of it past your employers and make sure attending church services is included (if it isn't already, tell them they need to add it). DO NOT cover up or tell fibs (she should never have suggested that, very naughty of her). It's wrong anyway, and besides there could be insurance or regulatory implications - they need to know where you are and what you're doing.

But there's also nothing wrong with your declining to participate in services or socialization afterwards. You're there with your client, not as a member of the congregation, so just explain there's a professional boundary you have to keep and tell her what's important to you is helping her to stay active.

If client is paying for your time and your job is to escort her or drive her where she wants to go, you should take her to church if she wants to go there. That doesn’t mean you have to worship. You can sit with her to see to her needs, but you aren’t required to participate in the service - kneeling, singing, communion or whatever. You could sit quietly in the lobby if there is one, or in the back of the church. Or you could go get a snack at a nearby cafe and go back to pick her up. You should be honest if you don’t wish to worship. She may be on a mission to bring you to Jesus, but you aren’t required to participate in her belief unless you want to.

I don’t like communion either.