Mom's Home Caregiver is Unreliable

3/13/2010 1:35:16 AM #

Ironically, this is the exact situation which is likely to occur if the Dept of LI and Office of LTC get their Quality HC Commission.  Providers offer consumers protection from this scenario.  We act as the middle man and can mediate the situation while salvaging the relationship.  We understand that every relationship won’t be peaches and crème and can act as a pin cushion if the relationship sours.  My advice to the daughter would be to call a member of the NPDA to get assistance from a reputable provider.  Depending on her location there are providers throughout WPA who would be willing to assist her.

In addition, if her mother qualifies for services through the AAA she can use this tactic to dismiss the caregiver as the family will have to go through a contracted provider.  The same would hold true if mom had a LTC policy that would cover the in-home care.  Most policies require the caregiver to be an employee of a licensed agency. Hope this helps.

Answer by: Laura Partridge, MBA, NHA  
Administrator, Extended Family Care

More Information on Extended Family Care:
www.todaysseniorresource.com/closeup.asp

admin

3/13/2010 1:37:41 AM #

She is your employee and if she is not performing you need speak to her about her performance and to let her go immediately if her behavior does not change. You have no obligation to be paying for a service which is not being provided to your standard. The longer you wait to fire her the worse the situation will get for both your mother and the caretaker. It is very difficult situation to place a vulnerable elder person in which is why I always recommend families not hire a person directly but use a reputable agency.  

You will pay more for a agency caretaker but you will get more for your money. Reputable agencies assure the person does not have a criminal record, is bonded, and has gone through their orientation program. They should have a medical person, preferable a Registered Nurse, who can sit down with the family and develop a plan of care. Should things not work out for any reason, you can go back to the agency, and they should offer a replacement. They should also guarantee back up coverage should the person call in sick.

The other benefit of using a agency is your mother could meet the IRS level of this care being deductible. If she has long Term Care Insurance, this is definitely the choice you need to make. It is illegal to “pay someone under the table”. If you are hiring someone privately, you should be keeping track of her hours and issuing a 1099 at the end of the year.

Answer by: Barbara (Bobbi) Kolonay RN BSN MS CCM  
Geriatric Care Manager, CEO, Options For Elder Care

More information on Options for Elder Care and other Geriatric Care Managers:
www.todaysseniorresource.com/thumbnail.asp

admin

3/13/2010 1:39:22 AM #

When you hire someone with the best intentions you expect that person to do the tasks agreed upon. You really become an "emloyer". If you have never been one, and that might be the case here for your mother, it is frankly intimidating for her to act as the "boss". If the employee came by the recommendation of a friend , your mom has even that to consider. If your mother had the strenght to deal with all that she probably would not need the service the first place.
      
Here is what I would do: I would tell my mom "let me (us) handle this". I would contact a service close to her that offers home care. I would set up an appoinment with the administrator and request a home visit and assesment of my mother's needs. ( This usually is free of charge)  Before the appointment I would make up a list of questions, with the help of my mother, so the administrator could respond to them during the interview. If you are satisfied with what the agency has to offer hire the replacement on a trial basis. Then let the other person go. Justify it as a family decision. (there is strenght in numbers)
      
If you work with an agency, and there are some good ones out there, the task of having emloyees come on time etc. is their job.  If your mom is not up to deal with them, you the children want to be (or find ) an advocate.

Answer by: Susanna Fussenegger, ElderChoice, Inc.

More information on ElderChoice and other Geriatric Care Management Services:
www.todaysseniorresource.com/thumbnail.asp

admin