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My co worker has left our client home alone for up to 2 1/2 hrs at a time, I just found out recently.

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Caregiving is hard enough as is. You may not know the agreement or arrangement your coworker has. Worry about your shift and only your shift.

At times people are too clavier with APS. If you must know speak with your coworker approach it in a kind and respectful manner. Don't accuse them of anything.

Be 100% sure it is true before you get APS involved.
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Reply to WTFchoice
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My mother’s live in caregiver would leave her alone for a couple of hours at a time & I knew because I lived across the street from her. My mother was a fall risk with dementia.

Leaving someone like that alone is elder abuse. There’s a reason why 24/7 care was requested in the first place.
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Reply to Jada824
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Why would you even need to ask a question this ridiculous? Do you think it's all right to leave a person with Alzheimer's alone?

How do you know that the caregiver is leaving the client alone in the house anyway?

I did client homecare (both agency and private pay) for 25 years. The person who authorizes your paycheck is the boss and that is who you should speak to. Also, I'm sure the caregiver and her mother (who brought you in on the job) have never discussed with you how they leave the client alone or for how long. Nor do you know how many times the client was supposedly left alone in the past or for how long.

If they've been with the family for six years, they've proven themselves to these people. You have not. So if you're planning on telling the family about what you think has gone on or you believe is currently going on, be prepared to get fired.

Now, I did this work for a LONG time and many times when the position and the pay is good, and is a shared assignment with other caregivers, it's pretty common to see caregivers trying to push others out and take over a position. I don't know you, but what this sounds like to me is some planned brown-nosing with the family member who signs the paychecks so you can take over the position. Happens all the time in these kinds of jobs.

You say the caregiving assignment is private-hire. So if you're getting paid in cash (which I don't have a problem with personally), and you report to APS and the state, that could very well blow back on you.

I'm going to give you a good bit of advice and I hope you take it.

Do your job during the hours you were hired for while you look for another position. Don't worry about whether or not the other caregivers may have left the client alone in the past. Believe me, telling on them is not going to score you any points with the family or with the caregivers who have worked for that family for years. The caregiver in charge hired you on their own so this family puts a lot of trust in these people.

Look for another position.
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Reply to BurntCaregiver
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JanPeck123 Oct 28, 2024
To BurntCaregiver:
Please don't be so quick to think this caregiver is trying to brown nose her way into getting the other aid's hours. I've been a case worker for 20 years, and I have also seen some shady shenanigans from a few agencies. It may not happen often, but it is naive to think it doesn't happen at all. A woman supervising her own daughter in her employment may be tempted to overlook things, especially if oversight by the family is little to none (don't know how much family involvement there is) and the patient cannot self-advocate. That is why I advised to let APS sort it out and for this aid to find new employment. If APS finds the report untrue, then good for the patient's well being. If it turns out to be true, then that aid has put her patient's well being and safety over her own employment.
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You are a mandatory reporter to APS for neglect of a patient. Any aid is. The agency you work for is committing billing fraud, and neglect. I would definitely report them to APS and turn in a resignation. If the agency is willing to do this, they are more than likely capable of trying to blame you for anything that happens while this patient is abandoned. APS can go by the patient's home during the time the other aid should be there but isn't. There's the proof.
Think of it this way: if someone was doing this to your loved one, what would you want done? Good luck. Aids are in high demand and an aid with ethics is a gem. Should not be a problem getting new employment.
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BurntCaregiver Oct 25, 2024
It's a private-hire/private-pay assignment. No agency is involved.

The OP will not get blamed for something happening to the client if nothing happens during her working hours.
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Her mother hired you but the family does not know. Whose mother, the Clients or the other aides? Is thisca mother and daughter team? So if she hired you, she can fire you. I think I would look for another job. When I find it, Ivwould then inform a family member in what is going on. If the aide is leaving and being paid for the time, this is fraud. For now, you have voiced your concerns and have been given answers. Now just do your job to the best of your ability.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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I agree with Scampie.

Look for a new case or sign up with some new agencies.
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Reply to brandee
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I had home health care with an agency and had a problem with a couple of aides leaving before their time was up. After my sister was placed in a day program, this cut down on this.

However, in your case, I would suggest looking for a new case or signing up with a couple of agencies for some work.

In this line of work, you will see all types of mess going on.
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BurntCaregiver Oct 25, 2024
@Scampie

Ain't that the truth. We see ALL kinds of mess in this work.
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How did you find out?

The mother of the person who is leaving hired you? The mother made the person who is leaving your boss? i.e. head caregiver?

How long have you been working there?

Have you ever met the family? Is the family in the area or out of state?

Normally you would report this to the person who hired you but if you report the situation to the mother I can see the mother and her daughter just making excuses.

Can you clarify the other questions?
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Reply to brandee
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Her mother hired me and has handed the boss roll over to her and she's fully aware. It's the family who are unaware, it's a private homecare job. I've been told before that they have been with her for 6 yrs and the family will believe them over me anytime.
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AlvaDeer Oct 20, 2024
I would not continue to work in this situation if you are not believed.
You need to
1. REPORT THIS
2. If you are not believed you need to report this to APS
You are a MANDATED REPORTER
3. You need to resign this position with a letter saying why you are leaving and with copies to APS, the woman you are reporting, and the family.
4. Keep a copy of your letter of resignation with your records.
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If you work with an agency you report this at once to the agency.
If you work independently you report this at once to the person who hired you.
You already know, I must assume, that this is quite dangerous.
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I terminated a one person for this.
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Healthcare1961 Oct 19, 2024
That's absolutely what I would do myself, unfortunately her mother hired me and then made her boss. They've made it plainly clear the family will take their side over mine. She puts her in bed before leaving and puts sidewalls up, and feels this is ok. I feel very uncomfortable and if I were family I would want to know. Wasn't sure how others felt about it.
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If she is scheduled to be with the patient and she leaves for hours, she's committing fraud. She is stealing pay and she is endangering the patient.
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Reply to Cashew
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Nope
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Reply to waytomisery
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Absolutely not.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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No.
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