Just moved & in just 6 weeks I'm on my second caregiver agency. This time around the caregivers seem OK, other than one, which I'll discuss later) but I'm issues with the ladies in the office. First after using many different companies I've just discovered the 'Notebook' where instead of having a checklist or calling in and doing an automated checklist they write stuff down in a notebook. I found out when I read it that they were writing things about my spouse & I, i.e.: Chuck came up at 3 pm...Chuck left for gym at 4 pm etc.. I felt it was creepy so I called the office after talking to mom's Aging Waiver caseworker, a friend who has 15 years in Hospice and some others who all agreed that it was 'creepy'.
The office lady first put me on speaker without telling me then when I said to take me off she lied and said she did but didn't then she proceeded to very nicely imply I was overreacting & or being paranoid and ," no one else has ever complained'. She then defended someone writing that I had left for a hair appt. At 3 pm because of some bull about liability and if mom should fall or anything after the shift was over at 5pm blah blah blah. I was so shocked at her response and there have been other things too that have left me very uneasy. What are your thoughts?
I can understand the issue of liability, but I think it turns on the purpose for which they've been hired, and what their duties are.
I would be a bit uncomfortable as well. One thing you can do is start documenting them! Arrival time, what they do and how long it takes...
But I think I'd work on finding out why they're doing it and try to get it resolved, or else eventually consider another company. What do you know about this agency?
Also, who just moved in? Your profile states that your mother is living with you; is she the one who's just moved in? And what happened with the first caregivers?
I like the journal, that way Dad gets one shower instead of three, as whomever gave Dad a shower will make note. No need for another shower unless there was a bathroom accident. The caregivers made note of what Dad ate, what he did during their shift like they took a walk down to the sunroom where Dad read the daily newspaper.... who came to visit [yes, even my name is written down]. Also what time Dad got his medicine, and how his memory was doing that day.
Even I would read the journal to see how Dad is doing as I am not at his facility every day. This journal catches me up.