Carers

[jennyjoan]

If a person gets 2 carers 3 times a day - why are they not the same ones so that the ill person can perhaps build up a relationship.

[Peter Pedant]

cost of course !

[jennyjoan]

I don't get that Peter - sure they are paying the non-consistent ones anyway.

[pixie374]

Logistics mostly... my sister and I do this, but with agencies, there are hundreds of staff, who all phone in sick, work different days or times, live in different areas and so on. It's almost impossible to work sensible rotas, which is why we left...
Private agencies might be better, and little difference in cost.

[bobbinwales]

Depend's on the visit times too. If say 8am, 1 pm and 5pm then the morning shift may of finished by 4pm

[Sunk]

Presumably the carers come spread throughout the day, say morning, mid afternoon and late evening.

That would mean they would have to work a 14 hour day.

[jennyjoan]

I sure as hell hope I'm away if I need care, some of the carers are so young like late teens/early 20s and sorta don't have the compassion as an older carer would have - methinks.

[jennyjoan]

Yes I see but I'm talking about these carers are different in follow up days.

[MartinMillar]

My dad had the same carers but they were there 830- 6 but only worked with him every other day.
Having said that 2 off the girls were gems 1 woman was pregnant so she said she couldn’t help my dad in and out of bed another was as old as my dad and dropped him twice and the only man fell asleep continuously and letched at my stepmother!!
We had to change agencies the second one did 2 carers in the morning and 2 in the afternoon so over a course of a week we had 8 carers

[Peter Pedant]

quality costs
and is not cheap

one of the standard exercises is to cost a cuppa tea in a lay by and at the Ritz - and yup the tea at the Ritz costs more

tea is an objaaay but here a service can be substituted

( and so if they are off shift then you can pay them to come back: no one does of course)

[Vagus]

Being a carer is a job, and even the most sympathetic carer has a life beyond their job.
Most do shifts and varying hours so it’s not surprising there are different ones on duty at varying times of the day, and days of the week.
Some of the younger carers are wonderful, and some of the older ones couldn’t care less, don’t just dismiss them because of their age. It’s down to each individual.

[gness]

It's a hard task at times for some carers, JJ. I doubt the same carers could do breakfast, midday and go to bed. Mine lasted three days. Any hope of a relationship ended when my mother tried to stab them with some scissors she'd hidden down the side of the sofa. They ran and would never come back...x

[rowanwitch]

Another reason is the risk of an unscrupulous carer forming the sort of relationship where they can abuse trusting clients by conning them out of money, or persuading them to leave money as a bequest. Regular rotation reduces the risk

[pixie374]

PP //quality costs
and is not cheap//

Private agencies' prices are not far off the local ones. People who have trouble paying, can get the majority paid per hour, that they are assessed with. So, the majority, pay a top-up.

[gness]

I'd not thought of that, Rowan. Much as a familiar carer seems ideal that's to be considered too.

[roopower]

A lot of carers are young because the money is so bad older people, perhaps with property etc, can't live on it. My mother had some wonderful carers of various ages. When she went into care the most compassionate ones were eastern european, especially the young men and mum loved them!

[pixie374]

I think there are great carers of all ages and backgrounds. You have to bear in mind that with an agency, the carer is maybe getting a quarter of what the client is paying .... so expectations might be different. They are also usually not paid in between calls, or petrol, or given time to get from one to another.
Have a look at local private agencies, with good reviews. You may find they are £1 an hour more expensive, but it's worth it for consistency.

[woofgang]

This is going to sound horrible too but its often better if the person doesn't see the same people every time. People take holidays, change jobs and so on and if the patient isn't accustomed to having different carers, it can be a real problem when change happens, as it will.

[Maydup]

As much as we'd like to think of people being able to form relationships, its best not to become too attached. Apart from the potential inappropriate emotional attachment on either side, this is their job and they need variety and flexibility to get the logistics right.

[pixie374]

Yes, you would think... although my sister and I worked 365 days, because we had clients who didn't want anyone else.
Nobody is invincible.... but I honestly think that consistency is surprisingly helpful, and especially with dementia.

[pixie374]

^ that was to woof. Maydup, one thing that bothers me, is when people tell me they could never be a carer, because they would get "too attached ". Of course you will... the clue is in the name. It never supercedes relatives, obviously. But frankly, if you aren't gutted when a client passes away, you aren't human....