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I have a client who I have known since before I worked there. They are very dysfunctional and on drugs. The client calls me names in front of her neighbors then laughs. She buys a TV, some shirts and cups that I make in my spare time a livingroom table and some other items she wanted. Then when she is broke she takes it out on me and her sister. She has given it all to her grandkids and kids and then expects me to give her money back for what items she bought from my side bussiess. Then she threatens to call the supervisor and etc on me what do I do when I'm the victim and they are abusers trying to be the victim and cover up what they have done all because I refused to let her drug addicted grandson stay at my house.

Never get too chummy with your clients. Stop telling people about your side hustle and keep your mouth shut about your private life.

Please never let these people come to your house after your shift is over. You are setting yourself up to be robbed or killed.

I know that you need the income, but you don't sell out your integrity for a job just to keep it. Ask your agency for another type of client.
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Reply to Scampie1
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BurntCaregiver Nov 22, 2024
Never let the clients know anything about your personal life or information.

I had made-up information that I always used when dealing with clients. I always wore a wedding ring even when I wasn't married. This kept the attention of male clients away and well-meaning grannies trying to set me up with their divorced family members.
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You shouldn’t be selling clients items from your side business. You should quit.
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BurntCaregiver Nov 22, 2024
I don't think there's anything wrong with the OP selling her items to clients if they want them. The only problem with this is she runs the risk of clients potentially thinking they can use this as leverage to get other things or favors.

Back when my son was a kid his school was always having fundraisers and selling something. So I'd bring the sample pamphlets around to clients (who were still mentally with it) and they'd order wrapping paper and other things. Even small gifts for family if they couldn't get out to do holiday shopping.

It depends on the client.
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Obviously you are not an experienced, professional caregiver with any kind of training. If you were, then you would not have crossed the line of getting overly friendly with your client or discussing your side-business with her. You're not a victim either. You're an adult who exercized poor judgment getting to close to a care client. So take some responsibility for yourself and don't try to play the victim card when you're not one.

You go directly to your supervisor TODAY and tell them exactly what is going on. Get out in front of this situation so your cliebt can no longer threaten to "tell" on you to your supervisor. The client is the one who is behaving abusively making threats, and is demanding that you let her grandson stay in your home. Let your supervisor do their job.

I did homecare for 25 years and believe me I've had more clients like yours than I can count. You never tolerate abuse of any kind. I have my own business now. I would not allow this behavior from a client for one second with one of my caregivers. Let your supervisor handle. If your supervisor doesn't, then you call the police when she's making threats and let them handle it. You stop working for her today. Enough is enough.

As for her wanting her money back from cups or a table she bought from you and threatens to tell your supervisor about it.

What cups? What table? I have no idea what she's talking about.
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I believe I would quit this job. That might be best, don't you think?
You are seriously telling us that you have client who is allowing her meth addicted child to enter your own home?
I think perhaps I would both quit and call the police the next time you are approached in any way by the meth-addict.
This is a matter of personal safety at this point.
There are millions of jobs out there for a good caregiver.

I would avoid, in your next life, becoming entangled in the family and life of the person you are giving care to. While elders in the throes of dementia have little control over their vocalizations, a mentally well person DOES. You are surely competent to know which you are dealing with? If a job becomes abusive you quit that job and seek another.

Best of luck.
Do keep the 911 number handy on your phone.
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Really you should not work for people you know. They expect more from you. If your with an agency, ask for another job. If private then find another job. If this woman has Dementia she needs to be placed.
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Find a different client or job. Work for an agency since they need people and you'll at least have some protections.

If you are working for cash this will be a huge problem for you in your own senior years since to qualify for Medicare you need 40 quarters of work record (= 10 years), and nothing is being put into your social security account for future retirement income.
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Reply to Geaton777
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You are much too close to this client, and it’s not good for either of you. Previous friendship, your business sales, her drug issues that you know about, her discussions with neighbors who know you, her allegations of your ‘crimes’, her demands for ‘money back’, pressure for you to provide accommodation to her druggie relations – it’s a nightmare. You need to get her out of your life, and you out of her life. You WON’T change her, you MUST quit. Find another client, and if necessary another Supervisor and another company to work for.
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