Feels shady. My parents have live-in care. Both are in wheelchairs but can walk with walkers. Mom sleeps in a pull-up, Dad is catheterized. HHC agency is saying the aide is not getting enough sleep and is pushing for an additional aide at night. Our current aide is not complaining and I feel the agency is just trying to get more money out of us. My sister visits 1-2 hours daily (the aide takes that time to herself) and both parents say they rarely get up at night. They are also pleasant and grateful (our current aide says they are very nice people). Any advice on how to push back with the agency? We're NOT shelling out for a second aide.
As a 24/7 caregiver for my husband for 10 years, and a week-end caregiver for my mother, I can tell you that not getting enough sleep is unpleasant and dangerous. If your parents really do sleep through the night, then all may be well. But that would be kind of unusual in the world of people who need caregivers.
Needing breaks and needing sleep has nothing to do with how nice people are. I loved my husband (and mother) with all my heart. I was nice. He was nice. But I still needed uninterrupted sleep.
Certainly you have a duty to protect your parents' assets. I don't blame you for being cautious. See how you feel after 4 days on site. But if your parents need night care ... or when they do in the future ... it would be penny-wise and dollar-foolish not to provide them with that extra care, since they can clearly afford it.
A resting shift is where the caregiver gets at least 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep overnight.
A non-resting shift is an overnight shift where the caregiver doesn't sleep.
It's good that you'll be able to assess the situation first hand. If your parents are up and down during the night some changes might need to be made. If you're there for several nights in a row and your parents sleep through the night you'll have to have a talk with the agency. The agency isn't going to want to lose your business so I don't know why they'd be pushing this issue unless their caregiver--YOUR caregiver--has mentioned something to them. And when asked by you she may not have felt comfortable being forthcoming if there is a problem.
I see different patients all the time and the families always want to speak with me and I always compliment their loved one. Some patients may be old grouches in which case I tone down the compliment but even the grouches get a compliment. Your aide may be just being polite. If there's no problem with your parents overnight I can't understand why the agency would risk pushing you to spend more money thus risking you going somewhere else. It doesn't make sense. When we get an aide on a case and everyone gets along and the schedule works for everyone we move heaven and earth to keep that client happy.
I think you'll find the suggestion of your HHC is not only realistic but in the best interest of your parents.A tired caregiver makes mistakes.
Good luck.
"Elder-care aides stuck without wage hike"
a good place to start.
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