Why is it that

abc123

a CNA from hospice can accomplish more in 30 minutes to an hour than a caretaker from Home Instead can accomplish is a 12 hour shift? The hospice tech can bathe and shampoo moms hair, dress her and get her settled in a wheel chair, and change the sheets and start a load of laundry in 30 minutes to an hour. Even clean moms nails. While the caregiver from Home Instead can't accomplish half of these things in a 12 hour shift. My back is killing me today because of all the work I did to care for mom yesterday while a caregiver was here for 12 hours. I am dumbfounded by this. I think the first thing a caregiver should do when they get here at 7 am is get mom cleaned up and changed into a fresh diaper and change her sheets. I'd like to hear from others here, what do you think about this? I'm going to start looking for a CNA group on facebook. I'm considering hiring a CNA that doesn't work for an agency. This is ridiculous. Not to mention, extremely expensive. I appreciate hearing from others here. Thank you.

loveskitties

You might try making a list of things in the order you want them performed by the Home Instead person.  Making your expectations known may help.

My granddaughter is a CNA and had to take certain classes and testing for that certification.  Even having that certification does not mean you get the same satisfaction from all who have it.

At the very least you might call Home Instead and let them know you are less than happy with what is accomplished on a 12 hour shift.

Hope you can find the help you need for your LO.  

mrl

Please report that to them. There are good ones and bad ones. I also had Home Instead and they noted everything they did all day on a journel. Like you said- start with getting LO cleaned up, then breakfast etc. I had a grant from The Alz Association, but I remember how expensive it was- you have options. 

In NY, we have something called CD OPTIONS where you choose your own caregiver and they pay a portion. I think it was $12 and I paid her another $10. My DH passed before we really got to use it. Please look around and Good Luck. 

Michele

ladyzetta

ABC    I am sorry you had a bad experience with Home Instead. I used Home Instead for my DH and in 4 hours he was showered shaved dressed his bed was changed his warm lunch was fixed and anything I needed help with was done. And Home Instead even had time to sit down and talk about things in my DHs past I would recommend them to anyone. Some may not be as helpful as others, but mine was. Thank you for sharing your thoughts

mommyandme (m&m)

When I used Care.com in Phoenix, AZ, I posted for a licensed CNA and hired one.  With Seniors Helping Seniors here in CO, the first caregiver we had was a CNA and did bathe mom and did so much.  Hospice CNAs are trained and experienced in doing all that is needed expeditiously and they move from bathing one patient to another back to back often during the day.  That kind of repetition surely helps their efficiency. 

Making a list of your expectations is important.  Letting the office know what your expectations are is important too.  

Unfortunately the caregivers I have now are not physically able to do what mom needs since she’s progressed so I must come back and do things, toilet her, get her to bed etc… They make sure she’s taken her meds and she eats, drinks water and mostly companionship is what I hope for now.  

I’m about to look again at Care.com for a CNA that’s licensed and in good standing so my respite time is complete.

Your caregivers may not be trained well or are not comfortable with some of your mom’s needs. I understand your frustration and your back pain. I’m so sorry. 

Rescue mom

I think a lot of it, if not most of it, depends on the individual. Some are just better than others.

And, just in my experience with agencies, you can ask the agency to send someone with dementia experience and training, and they’ll say something like “we send out best,” or “all our workers are good with dementia” etc. it sounds like a yes, but whether that’s who you get is a different matter. Or, the agency’s idea of “training” and “experience” may be very different than yours.

That said, some agency help was very good, and some were, let’s just say, not so much. I really believe it depends 80 percent on the individual (and their experience and training)

If it was me, I’d be calling the agency and asking for a different person who knows what’s involved and how to get it done. Also IME, you sat down with the agency and outlined exactly what you wanted done.

CNAs do have more training, but in my area they’re also more expensive because of that, whether via agency or private care.

​fesk

I have had caregivers over the years and, unfortunately, many were not good and some dishonest. My experience is that most agencies will send anyone to get their foot in the door whether they have the right experience or not. It is rare to get a very good one but possible. Writing down a schedule and list of responsibilities may help. You may need to request a different caregiver or contact other agencies. We have a shortage of caregivers right now so it is very difficult. I have held off hiring privately, but I am going to look at care.com to see if I have any better luck.

abc123

Today is day 11 of being at my parents house. I’ve been able to see all the caregivers in action. It turns out that it’s only one lady who doesn’t accomplish anything. She was scheduled for 2 days a week. Another lady, who comes 3 days, is worth her weight in gold! She truly is a huge blessing to all of us, especially mom! The weekends are kind of up in the air at this time do to Covid and being a little understaffed. We had new ladies over the weekend, both experienced and professional. They both walked in and dealt with mom like they’ve known her for years. It was unbelievable.After being here and watching how things happen and how dad deals with things, we decided to cut back the hours for the time being. We will start a new schedule with 8 hours a day instead of 12. Our favorite caregiver is happy with the 8 hour day and volunteered to work 4 days a week. We talked with her and got her feedback, together we decided on 8am to 4pm. We actually spoke with the other ladies too. We wanted input from the experienced caregivers, to us, they are the most important.Dad and I are both happy with the new arrangements. Hopefully it won’t blow up in our faces. He is prepared to up the hours when necessary, which we all know could be any day. 

I just wanted to give credit to Home Instead. They deserve it.