My mum (91) currently has a part time home aide until I move in soon. How do I, as a son, instill in the aide to anticipate needs?
Mum has "mild" dementia, is basically very nice (sometimes TOO nice, IMO), has lost the ability to make "Executive decisions" and it seems she does not give commands to the Aide to do stuff, will not supervise like she used to supervise and give orders to me! lol I do not expect that same level of energy, but is it the Agency who should be coming down on these Home Attendants, the family or both? We've already been through six or seven of these Aides since October of 2015! Two of them brought their young child to the house. Mum promises me to say more to them and then apparently forgets to do so and then I come by and see something is broken, bleach spots on a rug, laundry undone on top of the washing machine, or the bathroom unclean, or the bed just pulled-over and not "made" like Mum likes it or her dinner started so she only has to heat it up. I should not have to remind the Aide to "take Mum for a walk because it is going to be warm today", should I. Sometimes I'm at my wit's end. I know it could be much worse if Mum was crotchety. Need to hear what you guys are going through if similar and some strategies. Guild net says they will reevaluate Mum once it is in-stone when I am moving out of state, by the way. ThanQ.
I think there are real advantages to hiring through an agency, there is some oversight, there is a possibility of backups if the main caregivers can't come to work.
I also think there is an advantage to having different aids through the week, that way that no one of them begins to feel entitles to their position and your mom doesn't become over dependent on them. Also each will have a different area they might focus on, so in the end she will have more rounded care.
As for duties and expectations, make lists of things you do and don't want. Pare it down to short bullets, print several and post in relevant places.
And I would try to find someone that can check on things periodically, perhaps a geriatric care manager?
I suppose you could have a checklist on which the workers check off when they do the various things they're not doing now.
I am wondering though - it seems there are more than a few issues and a few neglected tasks. Do you think it's the particular agency, or the caliber of the workers?
If this were a business and the workers neglected their assignments/responsibilities, it would be documented by management, the workers eventually would be counselled, and perhaps eventually released from employment.
Since you're apparently leaving, it doesn't seem as though you'll be there to supervise, so try to get this straightened out now. Forget about re-evaluation later - get it done now.
Are there are friends or family who will still be in the area to check to ensure that the various tasks are performed? I wouldn't rely on your mother; she sounds like a nice little old lady who wouldn't be comfortable being in the supervisory position, nor should she. The agency should provide qualified, responsible workers. If they don't, find another agency that does.