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I have a male client who is extremely unsanitary. He is an alcoholic with bilateral kidney bags and other health issues.
I went to his home last week after a long weekend and his bathroom was covered in feces. He was wearing pants soiled with feces. His living room was covered in plastic carryout bags.
His care plan includes personal care, but he uses his aides for cleaning only. VA is paying for the service. From working with agencies, Medicare and any federal agency doesn't pay for house keeping services only. Personal care must be on the care plan.
He sexually harassed one nurse and she left.

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Escalate this to your manager. Someone needs to get in touch with his VA case manager. In an email, document the conditions in which you found him and that you will not return to his home because he declines personal care services. It's time for a full re-assessment of his care plan, which is much more intensive than you can provide.
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Scampie1 Jan 26, 2025
DaughterInLaw,

Thank you. I've already called my agency last week. And it is true, a call needs to be made to the VA.
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I wouldn't go back. Hell no.
Not without a pressure washer, fire hose or HazMat suit.

You are an experienced professional, that should not tolerate a feces covered, alcoholic sexual predator. Shame on the VA for funding this guy, when it took me 3 YEARS to get my decorated Vietnam Combat Veteran/ex husband a dime from them. He is now in a pristine civilian tax break senior apt. with a gorgeous sunset view from his 3rd floor balcony daily. The VA is a disgrace I have experienced first hand. That includes CalVet too.

Waiting for Burnt to chime in here with detailed advice for you.
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Scampie1 Jan 26, 2025
Dawn, I hear you. My brother served the country during Vietnam era, was in the Air Force Reserves and retired as Batallion Fire Chief. He could barely get a couple of hours a week when diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer with bone mets. He gave up fighting and died in a hospice. I'm still reeling from the shock.

I see these people getting all types of help, free food, and even free holiday meals.
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I think this is more of a rant at this point. I'm so sick and tired of home health aides being used for these types of cases when there are so many people who need care.

I respect the veterans who served this country. However, I'm noticing a sense of entitlement with many of these cases that don't want the personal care. To me this is a misrepresentation of their needs in order to get someone for housecleaning which federal agencies don't pay for.
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AlvaDeer Jan 26, 2025
No, this isn't a rant.
This gentleman has descended into a horrible place in which he is now in danger from himself.
This can't be allowed. Our Vets have many problems. His alcoholism places him in danger of killing himself without intent.
He badly needs your advocacy. And badly needs proper placement. Don't let the system ignore him.
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This is dangerous to you, Scampie, but it is ALSO dangerous to this gentleman with indwelling catheters into his body.

I think that you must make a report to the VA about this and resign the case, Scampie. First of all, with this amount of feces, as I answered you under another post about him, he is entered into a HAZMAT situation that is dangerous to you and other cleaners. In cases like this people enter with special equipment and suited appropriately. He needs now to be in care and is no longer safe in a home setting. No one should be taking this on as a light housekeeper with caregiving. This is a danger. He has also devices that can become infected.
I actually, if he has no family, would bring this to attention of APS. You as a caregiver are a mandated reporter and this gentleman is a danger to himself and others, but primarily, with indwelling catheters, to himself.

Do try speaking first with the VA and then with APS. Take pictures of what you are dealing with this. It's dangerous.
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Scampie1 Jan 26, 2025
Alvadeer, I agree. I spoke to him about APS when I first started. It was a horrible stench in that apartment and I could not breathe. The agency seems to turn their backs on these cases.

He had skilled RN services. He gets his legs cleaned and wrapped. One RN couldn't stand the stench from his underwear and he was getting sexually explicit with her. She quit the case Friday before last, and the other agency sent a male replacement.
I took out the trash last week and the trash cans are infested with rats running rampant. There is an old building smell.

When I clean, I'm in full PPE with the shoe covers. Agencies are the problem. I reported a couple directly to Department of Health and to the BON for similar situations. The aides including myself are used as bona-fide babysitters for these drunk people with chronic health issues.

I think it is way overdue that this is an APS situation. The first month working there, I was having stomach issues on the weekends after working this particular case.

You are correct, it is time to call APS. I've already contacted the agency last week and they took report, but I doubt if the report goes any further.

One client I had before this case eventually went for an appointment that his sister set up. This client was diagnosed with third stage lung cancer after having several aides on his case. He had dementia and was an alcoholic. If I hadn't returned back to the case that day after he dismissed me, his condition would never had been detected. His sister called me when I got home and asked me to go to the hospital. I caught a rideshare. I stayed with this client to make sure that he got his lab work done that day, chest imaging and made his doctor visit. Later that night, the doctor called his sister and gave her the results.

I make it a point to make sure these clients follow through on their doctor's orders when in house. I call the agency and give them the report.
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