Granny
Gold Member
I'm putting this is the health and lifestyle forum because I don't know where else to put it. I am an "elder" because of a number only. I take care of elders as an in-home companion and right now I am speaking from my heart.
Many elders have a tendency to want to stay in their home until the end of life or as close thereto as possible. Sooner or later some of you other posters will have parents who you may need to provide care to - or you may find yourself in need of such services yourself. I think another poster, Bones (and maybe others), can attest to how hard that job can be and the toll it can take.
I've been so pissed off the last few days taking care of someone's mother that I could spit nails. I BEG YOU, when considering someone to care for your elder parent, DO NOT ask a "friend of a friend" or whoever else to step in. Bite the bullet and pay the extra money to go through an agency that provides in-home healthcare workers/services. "Privates," as they are called, are NOT accountable whereas agency workers ARE accountable for what goes on.
I walked into a home Monday only to find the woman I was to care for down with bronchitis AGAIN, coughing, wheezing, hacking phlegm - and I returned to my car to retrieve a face mask. There was a bottle of cough syrup and a 5 day script for antibiotics on the kitchen table along with a note from the "private" to give them to the woman. Then I went nuts. I dumped on my employer big time via email last night.
I'd already been concerned about her nutrition - pre-packaged lunch meats and canned soup for meals has been the diet for this woman along with the occasional call-in for pizza or whatever delivery. I went through the pantry - instant potatoes, instant this, instant that. Pre-packaged cups of jello and pudding in the fridge, left over sandwiches, two sauce pans that have been sitting there for the last few weeks - I took a look and both had chicken noodle soup which I promptly dumped; was going to fix a grilled cheese sandwich ... reached for the butter compartment ... "what the hell is THAT?" ... on, yes, a damned sandwich that was at least 30% mold. Yep - into the garbage. It's not a matter of money - there's a real hefty petty cash envelop.
When I turned in my time sheets this afternoon I started dumping again - the house is filthy in spite of having a housekeeper come in every other week; meals are "let's do it with as little effort as possible;" AND I think then damned microwave is not safe - great big rusty hole in the interior by the door. My boss was taking notes and said that her other employee with this woman is making the same complaints.
I have been LIVID for two days now. When the "private" showed up to relieve me this afternoon - late AGAIN - and according to the little lady she's late every time she comes - I'm met with "Why are you wearing a mask?" "I'm wearing a mask because I take care of other people and I don't need to be carrying this stuff into their homes." "Oh." Thought: "YOU F**KING MORON!!!!!" I worked in "the real world" for many years and if I had shown up late to work as many times as this woman does I would have been FIRED. Period. It's irresponsible.
I'm sorry, folks. I know some of you probably consider Granny to be a pain in the ass idiot, but my heart really is good. Please take care of your elderly parents. I know the job is tough and that you have jobs, families and obligation that may prevent you from personally doing the job, just be careful to choose people who are accountable to stand in for you.
Many elders have a tendency to want to stay in their home until the end of life or as close thereto as possible. Sooner or later some of you other posters will have parents who you may need to provide care to - or you may find yourself in need of such services yourself. I think another poster, Bones (and maybe others), can attest to how hard that job can be and the toll it can take.
I've been so pissed off the last few days taking care of someone's mother that I could spit nails. I BEG YOU, when considering someone to care for your elder parent, DO NOT ask a "friend of a friend" or whoever else to step in. Bite the bullet and pay the extra money to go through an agency that provides in-home healthcare workers/services. "Privates," as they are called, are NOT accountable whereas agency workers ARE accountable for what goes on.
I walked into a home Monday only to find the woman I was to care for down with bronchitis AGAIN, coughing, wheezing, hacking phlegm - and I returned to my car to retrieve a face mask. There was a bottle of cough syrup and a 5 day script for antibiotics on the kitchen table along with a note from the "private" to give them to the woman. Then I went nuts. I dumped on my employer big time via email last night.
I'd already been concerned about her nutrition - pre-packaged lunch meats and canned soup for meals has been the diet for this woman along with the occasional call-in for pizza or whatever delivery. I went through the pantry - instant potatoes, instant this, instant that. Pre-packaged cups of jello and pudding in the fridge, left over sandwiches, two sauce pans that have been sitting there for the last few weeks - I took a look and both had chicken noodle soup which I promptly dumped; was going to fix a grilled cheese sandwich ... reached for the butter compartment ... "what the hell is THAT?" ... on, yes, a damned sandwich that was at least 30% mold. Yep - into the garbage. It's not a matter of money - there's a real hefty petty cash envelop.
When I turned in my time sheets this afternoon I started dumping again - the house is filthy in spite of having a housekeeper come in every other week; meals are "let's do it with as little effort as possible;" AND I think then damned microwave is not safe - great big rusty hole in the interior by the door. My boss was taking notes and said that her other employee with this woman is making the same complaints.
I have been LIVID for two days now. When the "private" showed up to relieve me this afternoon - late AGAIN - and according to the little lady she's late every time she comes - I'm met with "Why are you wearing a mask?" "I'm wearing a mask because I take care of other people and I don't need to be carrying this stuff into their homes." "Oh." Thought: "YOU F**KING MORON!!!!!" I worked in "the real world" for many years and if I had shown up late to work as many times as this woman does I would have been FIRED. Period. It's irresponsible.
I'm sorry, folks. I know some of you probably consider Granny to be a pain in the ass idiot, but my heart really is good. Please take care of your elderly parents. I know the job is tough and that you have jobs, families and obligation that may prevent you from personally doing the job, just be careful to choose people who are accountable to stand in for you.
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