I am a live-in carer. I work for one Live-in Care Agency. My client is 86 years old lady. She has Dementia. Every night she calls me for assistance to go to the toilet 2-3 times. It is very stressful for me, because I can't fall asleep again for 1-2 hours. Next day I feel dizzy and can't concentrate on my duties. The daughter of my client told me that they couldn't afford to have a night carer. What are my rights? Who could help me in this situation?
When my dad was not sleeping nights and calling for help constantly, we had a day and a night caregiver. A live in can be expected to take care of occasional 24 hour issues, but active 24 interaction requires someone "at post".
Maybe the agency can place you elsewhere, but I expect most live in assignments will have some nocturnal duties. If you have trouble getting back to sleep, live in assignments may not be the best for you.
Sleep deprivation will set you up for illness.
The relatives of my clients pay me £81 for 24 hours. I am a self-employed carer. I usually work two weeks, with two hours break, 7/24. At the beginning of my lice-in care, I was paid £65 for 24 hours plus extra £12 for every night call. But soon afterwards the conditions changed. Obviously, to pay for every night call was too expensive for the family, so they have called my Agency and they have received a suggestion to change the rate of payment - to be paid £81 for 24 hours, without considering how many times I will be called during the night. I was very naïve to accept that suggesting without first thinking that I could be disturbed so many times. My Agency states that night calls are from 00.00am to 06.00am. Is it correct?