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I joined a homecare agency that is not through Medicaid but private pay. I have had nothing but ups and downs with this employer. Things started to get crazy back in September 2024 when the owner of a new location for a homecare agency asked me cover a shift with a risk fall client. The client fell on my shift there were mistakes on my part but my manager played it off as if it was fine that i was right to protocols. After I started having problems within the company. She told me I was a scapegoat for new things and at the time I thought she meant in good ways. even though I have been a caregiver for a while my Medicaid agency would never put me at risk with clients or in situations that cause me to put them at risk. anyways, I told her my hopes to be a good caregiver and become a shift lead when I first started after the secretary left(she put a lot of responsibility on her) she told me I was a shift lead but never gave me real power. She would undermine me quietly but give me tons of hours. I wanted to quit plenty oftimes because of my financial issues and my living situation I stayed with the company. Recently she has put me in a horrible position with a client that is told not to be left alone. The client is said to have dementia and anxiety and must be monitored at all times. Recently she has cut my time with this client and has told me this client is okay to be alone for a while. This client seems to be sharp but acting like she may have dementia. She shows signs of cognitive decline but I would say her anxiety is more the issue. The owner has told me I am scheduled to leave the client at a certain time. The client then would be left alone for a 4 hours. Supposedly all other staff has followed this. However my position as shift lead/ office assistant has been removed indirectly and been given away. My manager keeps offering me hours but the clients i am seeing I am either doing a horrible job with or just barely making it out. I wanted advice because I am supposed to leave this client alone for 4 hours till another caregiver shows up but I am worried this is set up for a neglect. what are my options here should I find ways to stay what are the legal actions. Also I have documented that the family left a paper stating they leave her unattended for periods of time but I figured this can be used as a set up.

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This is your second posting of this question.
I have answered you on your other thread (Is This a Legal Case?) which has a different title but the same information.

It will be a great help if you only post one question with one title.
Otherwise things become quite confusing.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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First of all, there is no such thing as being made a scapegoat in good ways. The fact that you believe this nonsense would make me question your judgment on any matter and you certainly should not be working in hands-on client caregiving if your judgment is this poor.

Secondly, I own a homecare agency and I was a homecare CNA for 25 years before going into the business. Your boss should be turned into the state and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) because she is running a real fly-by-night, crooked business and you need to get away from that mess right away before you get implicated by your boss on something serious. You already let her make you a scapegoat in "good" ways, imagine how much of one she'll make you on illegal stuff? Quit this job immediately otherwise you'll be taking the criminal collar for your boss at some point. Don't be Fredo Corleone for a lousy homecare job.

As for the leaving the client alone for any amount of time. It's pretty simple. The caregiver works the hours they are being paid to work. It is not for the hired help to worry about whether or not a dementia client is being left alone when their shift ends. That would be for their family to worry about. Or for APS and the social services of the state they live in to worry about. Not you.
You could put in a call to APS and tell them a vulnerable senior with dementia is living alone and being left alone. This would be up to your boss to do, but if she doesn't make the call you should.

Then find another job. Homecare for the most part is a cut-throat business that most aides cannot make a living at unless they are cut-throat themselves. A homecare agency that doesn't accept insurance is pretty ridiculous and likely the reason why is because they can't get properly licensed. Don't work for an homecare agency like this. Get away from your boss and her scam agency. Go private care for yourself. Caregiver websites like care.com and others make it easy to find all kinds of work today. Put up a profile.
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Reply to BurntCaregiver
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There are participants on this forum who are professional caregivers who will be able to answer this question.

You might want to check the laws about mandated reporting for your state. But it's really up to the client's PoA to make the decision about hours of care. There's nothing to report if the client is left alone and nothing dangerous or worrisome happens. Ultimately it is the PoA or whoever has hired the agency who is responsible.

I realize you are in a financial situation that necessitates you working there, but in the long-term they are not treating you right or seeming to managing the company in an ethical way (which may get them reported eventually by others) and it's not helping you to grow professionally. I think you need to job hunt.
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Reply to Geaton777
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BurntCaregiver Jan 29, 2025
@Geaton

The homecare agency is supposed to report to APS if a client with dementia is being left alone or any vulnerable person for that matter. Caregivers are supposed to be mandated reporters. I tell all of mine to come to me first, then I will handle it with a family or APS. All too many times the homecare agency doesn't because they want to keep that money rolling in. Even if nothing bad has happened yet, it's only a matter of time if a demented elder is living on their own. Then guess who will get the blame laid on them? The homecare worker.
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