5 replies to this topic

[Muskie]

Any suggestions what to look for in a good caregiver? My son is 21, he seems to relate better to the male RA's at his rehab here in Kessler.

[Lexco]

 Muskie, on 09 October 2011 - 01:08 PM, said:

Any suggestions what to look for in a good caregiver? My son is 21, he seems to relate better to the male RA's at his rehab here in Kessler.

Hi there, My husband would always hire his own carers, he would go through what he wanted done from morning from morning til bedtime.
These we would look at how long they took me to do each task and add some. But he'd expect they improve on times but never shortcut the task.
The first sheet of paper drawn up even before he asked for their information was to get them to read and sign a confidentiality letter so anything that happened in the house stayed there. He didn't hire qualified Nurses either, he found over the years they would constantly try doing things the way they wanted them done,
this is his home his rules and if they don't work out let them go, we always had 2 or 3 we could call on in an emergency. We even took staff over to Bali with us, so get your son to get a list together give them a trial run so you get all parts of the daily activities tried and he should be able to pick from that. Tell him some times it's not bad having a female carer.
Good luck with it all to all of you. D.

[Aparr]

I would make a list of things that are important too. Meal preparation, details of personal hygiene and info pertaining to light housework that is expected tone taken care of. That way there are no questions as far as the work goes.

The one question is was or is your son comfortable with that peson. There a lot of time that lapses with that person..:o)

[Harry3082]

Defiantly want someone who:
1. Leaves their problems at home. if their up beat and Smiling it makes a world of a difference.
2. Knows to motivate him into doing, if he ever feels like taking a break that isn't really needed! ( I can get lazy when I'm not in a good mood )
3. Experienced and reliable.

Those are some of the qualities a lot of the CareGivers I've been getting lately are lacking in. Grr

[kathy.k]

Interview interview interview. My husband went to an agency for a caregiver. They would send out one and he would explain what he required and they would always say they were able to meet his needs. About a month or 2 into it they would start coming in later, would rush his care, bring children to work with them, and the biggest problem....they would be getting paid for 5 hours per day and would stay a total of 1 to 2 at the most. He eventually wouldn't way anything because they showed up. He has been left in bed all day, not fed, went without a shower for 2 weeks all because the caregiver would be too busy to do her job. His caregivers would also complain to the agency that he was hard to deal with and they would get paid more just to stay and do nothing.

When I married him his caregiver was ok......she came every day at first got him up around 11am and left. She then would come back around 6pm and put him back in bed. She did this every other day. The days she didn't come he stayed in bed all day. Now remember she was getting paid to come every day for 5 hours. Once I learned to put him in bed she would only come and get him out of bed, and to shower him still every other day though. The more I learned the less she came but still got paid. She even mentioned to her daughter that her job was a piece of cake....she could spend 3 hours a week here and get paid for 35, and she also said there was no way that I could take care of him by myself. I finally took over all of his care and we got rid of the agency. He says that any time I don't want to do all of his care we can hire someone to do it but who will do it like I do it? and I honestly don't want someone else coming into my house to take advantage of him.

Long story short, set up requirements and expectations on what they need to do. You are interviewing them to do a job. If they cannot do it fire them and find someone that will.

There are some good caregivers out there, you just have to find the ones that will meet his needs. Good luck!!

[jscott92064]

I would also make sure everything is very organized and labeled as to where it goes --such as catheters, chux, etc. That way there having to remember what goes where. I found this helps alot.