I started working for a hhc agency here in CT. I have a client who's very nice, 86, gets around well and lives at a nice senior living place. So I'm supposed to go Mon, Wed, Fri from 9 til 1.
Minimum wage of course. My cna license is expired so I couldn't be so picky. Well as nice as she is she amnoys me. Literally non stop talking the whole 4 hours. Shopping where she is actually rude to the employees. I usuapologize on her behalf. Instead of telling me what she needs done she expects me to shadow her as she does it. So strange. I broke away to do laundry she says ok that's fine. Next thing I know she's right behind me. She's also heavy into the negative news which I try to avoid. I can tell she tried to get info out of me like in terms of politics and I stay out of that w people. Just not a good match. I don't want to hurt her feelings bc I know she likes me.
I also think she's stressing me out for minimum wage. The other case I have is so much easier. What do I say to the agency when I know they will try to make me stay? I've tried to get off this case before. Älso why does it seem so many agencies are so disorganized? Or is it me? Thanks everyone!
Anyway, on to the "problem" at hand.
I myself don't find anything especially problematic with caring for a client such as your own. Whether we are CNA or RN our mission is truly the elderly in this day and age. So few under that age spend any time at all in facility care. And the elderly come with a whole variety of problems.
Consider overall if this is the right profession for you. I think that I always found these folks fascinating and unique. As Oliver Sacks, the great neuroscientist said, they have their own world, a whole complete world, it just isn't OUR world. They suffer from disinhibition and can often be rude, even those who never had a rude moment in their younger years.
I try to avoid negative news as well, but you know you may actually be able to help her with that, suggesting project runway or some such. Get her addicted to Hoarders. Court TV. Whatever. And if you can't avoid it? Well, it's what you are getting paid for.
I am just giving my own perspective. I found elder patients endlessly fascinating and at 80 now myself I can still remember Stella from long ago who always tried to whack me with her cane. I had to be fast!
I wish you the best whatever choices you make for your future. Stick around on Forum and help us answer folks. You will learn that the variety of our elder's behavior (let alone OUR OWN) is endless and fascinating.
A hint. Some time when a client is being especially mean, look her right in the eyes, smile, and tell her "Have I told you late how very fond of you I am". You would be surprised how far your loving care can go to change the day.
2. Be honest with your agency supervisor. Not everyone gets along with everyone. Personality conflicts happen. Ask your supervisor to transfer you to another client as soon as one is available.
Your only recourse if your supervisor does not want to transfer you to another case it to tender your resignation. (It is possible that if you do that your supervisor may just find another client for you if they can not afford to lose an employee. But the fact that you do not have a valid certification you are on thin ice when it comes to your requests. I am sure that they can only assign you to clients that need "companion care" rather than "hands on care"...I might be wrong about that though, not sure what the regulations are in your State)
You don’t have to apologize for not liking this woman. Some people will drive anyone crazy after awhile.
Speak with the agency and see if they will assign another client to you. I doubt if anyone else will like working with her either.
Good luck! Wishing you all the best.
If you want to make more than minimum wage, renew your CNA license and keep your schooling up to advance your career so you're not forced to work with quirky elders at all anymore. My stepson is an LPN and my DD is an RN. DD especially gets to choose her job and she makes quite a bit of money and benefits for working 4 10s in an environment SHE wants to work in.
Good luck
You need to renew your certification if it means u make more money. If you can't get along with this client can u not ask your supervisor for another assignment. Really, you only see her 4 hrs 3x a wk. Does she have Dementia? Then she is shadowing u. May get angry because of her Dementia. I understand where ur coming from, I can't stand anyone in my kitchen let alone shadow me. I don't do needy well. If this women has Demenia what u wrote is normal. Maybe she is lonely and likes the company. When she gets rude, just smile at the salesperson. She is not that way because of you.
If you are going to work with the elderly your going to need to know how to deal with them. My Boss used to say to her Nurses that they may be the only person that client sees that day so take a little time to talk with them,