I was so sorry to hear of your experience with the Home Health Aide. You are very wise to give advice to check out any help that is hired as a caregiver.

There are people who do take advantage of the situation. As a private NA/Companion I see very untrained people trying to cope as a caregiver. Some Agencies will hire anyone to work with elderly. As long as it is a warm body to fill the time = cash for them, they pretty much don't care who they send into the home or care center. In the past I have worked for agencies so don't get me wrong, some do care but, most are just to busy to care.

In the last 16 yrs of private care I worked privately for 4 years  every day with a woman who was in a Care Center/ Nursing Home. She had developed Alzheimer's 2 yrs previous to our meeting and during our 2nd year she became non vocal and immobile. Her loving husband was there to visit with her as much as possible and her loving daughter was in another country. The trust that they placed in me to care for their loved one was incredible.  Even though she was immobile I took her shopping, on outings, cared for her personal needs, her nails, hair, making sure she ate, proper clothes for the seasons and most of all kept her stimulated. Her husband belonged to a support group and always told others to explore private care.

I don't know everything about the elderly with dementia and Alzheimer's but as her caregiver I did my best for her. I slept for 4 days and nights in a chair in the care center as she found her way to God.  Caring for her every step of the way.

Some words from me to others in search of a health aide.

1. References (always even if it is an Agency) You have this right to ask who this person is caring for your loved one and don't be afraid to question their abilities.

2. Check the Care Center, try to walk around without direction, if you see staff relaxed and laughing you know have a good place.

3. Always try to see how your loved one relates and interacts with the health aide.

4. Most importantly is that you have regular communication with the health aide. You must trust them.

Too many people are working with the elderly because they need a job. Try to find someone who wants to be there. It will make all the difference.

Someone who knows

Barb

I am sorry you had a bad experience with hiring a private individual to care for your grandparents.  As a board member of the National Private Duty Association (www.privatedutyhomecare.org) we discourage families from hiring private individuals to provide in-home care for many reasons and this is just one of them.  I have attached NPDA’s position paper on this subject for your review.

On the other hand, I realize that many families have a great experience with hiring private caregivers.  If the family cannot monitor the privately hired caregiver due to distance, etc. or does not feel comfortable monitoring the privately hired caregiver, a geriatric care manager might be able to provide that service for the family.  Geriatric Care Managers can be found by state at www.caremanager.org.

I enjoy reading every one of your newsletters.  Thanks for sharing this personal experience.

Best regards,

 Cheryl A. Smith, MA

I know the problem well Gary.  I went through a reputable agency and they sent me some of the most weird people I'd ever met. My husband told me that the first aide rested and relaxed on the sofa, falling asleep.  She had a hangover.  Being a recovering alcoholic (myself) I didn't find that a good choice in a home health aide.

The next one couldn't show up in time.  I had to leave for work at 6:00 A.M. and she was supposed to be there by 7:00 A.M.  Many days I'd call home at 7:15 A.M. and she hadn't showed up yet.  I had to get off work and go home.  Sometimes she'd be there when I got there.  I sent her home and she didn't get paid for that day.

Good help is hard to find even if you go through an agency.

Hope your grandparents are doing all right.

C. B.

I question why you feel that "good support" can also be found from independent agents when you have to:

1. Worry about a method of deducting taxes from their wages  
2. Secure workman's comp insurance for them, and  
3. Make a plan to have family (if nearby) or friends make unscheduled  visits to see if the caregiver is doing his/her job.   If the patient's family lives far away, it is not always possible (and may be an inconvenience) to have neighbors and friends check to see if the care is going well.  Geriatric care managers get paid for their time, and this would be yet another financial drain on the client.

It is sad that you had the type of experience that you did with your grandparents,  but I would think that you would  have to agree that the safest and best care comes from reputable agencies that are licensed by the state.  It is our responsibility to educate the caregivers as I suggested, and to promote their safety and peace of mind when faced with choosing care for their loved one.  This did not come across in your article.                                                

J.K.