Ok I had several from different places and may I just say. These people have no training. They are hired off the street and just put in a home. I just let go the last one I had for breaks. He was causing more issues than helping. I caught him on camera calling my husband a d**k and an a******e. And instead of trying to change the direction of the conversation he was badgering him. No wonder he’s angry. I asked him do you have any training at all and he said not really. My son worked in a home in California as a caregiver and he was in training for over a month to learn how to talk and change the ways of talking to calm things down. He’s teaching me and I guess I’ll have no relief because why pay for someone who doesn’t know a damn thing about the disease. These places charge an arm and a leg and you get nothing but whoever they can find to fill the billet. I had one who stole pain pills and I had to bring charges against her with the police. Just be sure and watch your camera. I got lazy and thought everything was ok. Then he was so upset I watched the tape. I am so mad. Why aren’t these people trained? How can we change this? That's why we are frustrated and over our heads. We are trying to learn how to do things but the people they send to help you know nothing. Ok end of rant.
I hired an agency to send over an aide for four hours a day to do caregiving and "light housekeeping." I had to teach the girl how to load a dishwasher because she'd never seen one before. All she had to do was make breakfast for my mother and put the dishes in the dishwasher, and she couldn't even do that.
I didn't have enough time in my day to deal with my mom and the aide was supposed to free up some time so I could handle other things, but she took up more of my time than my mother's needs did, so I gave up on the aides.
Funny you should mention the Nigerian princess who's too good for this job.
I think I interviewed her yesterday. Suffice it to say I did not offer her employment. I have to get back in the field myself until I hire a new one which will be very soon.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately after all), we got the bad apples early enough to know that we couldn’t trust any of them.
The few that really were VERY GOOD were from agencies that were paying the aides peanuts, and the “administrative fees” were outrageous.
Rant away if that helps you. You can find plenty of agreements here.
I run my business differently because I will not even consider an employee unless they have a valid CNA certification, and a 5 and 5.
A 5 and 5 is when the potential hire produces five work references that I can personally check up on as well as five personal ones. Also I insist on random and regular drug testing, must own a car with insurance, and must not be unemployed for more than a year. Most care agencies don't expect this much from a potential employee. I do because I expect of myself.
I'm not taking any wet behind the ears caregivers who don't know their own a** from a hole in the ground. Seriously experienced only. The starting pay is higher than any agency pays. An agency who takes care of its help gets help who will take care of them.
You'd probably be better off using a caregiver website like care.com to find a well-trained caregiver. You check their references personally. When you hire privately, the caregiver has to meet your standards and requirements which are very different from an agency's. The downside to hiring like this is private duty caregivers who will work like me and are dependable, do not come cheap. We are not to be trifled with either.
I always made myself plain to every client and family ahead of time what my hours were and what my wages were. There's no staying a little longer or doing extra for free. My pay was to be on time and in full. Otherwise I walk away from your loved one regardless of their needs or their family's. No trifling.
You've done well to have cameras set up. It's always a good idea to have people popping randomly at times if you can. Lock up valuables and don't leave any access to narcotic medications either.
Talk about “Profits over People”! The “Caregiving Industry” is a scam perpetrated by greedy inept leaders.