God i want to scream!!! my husband is now confined to bed and his carers are now coming in 4 times a day.The idea is to re-position him due to pressure sores. His legs are now in the fetal position.The problem is they are not doing there job.When they come they check his pad and convene ask if he is ok then leave.I had to show 2 carers how to re-position him because they didnt know how to.The other day i popped out (i left my son sitting with him) when i came back both carers were watching the TV because my husband was asleep so they said they couldnt re-position him but were going to wait the half hour they are paid for i said just wake him up. Then a District Nurse turned up as the care company had rang them because my husband has a bad sore in his groin area.I was not told anything about the sore nor was i told that a District Nurse had been called and there is no reference to this sore in his carers care notes.When they started coming here they were great and all the staff are really nice but now his needs are more complex they cannot do there job properly.The other night my husband was shouting in pain when i walked in the room the carer had picked him up while the other carer changed his pad.I asked what the hell he thought he was doing he said because my husband was light he found it easier to just pick him up.i told him to put him down and to get out.I rang the care company first thing yesterday morning i was told the care manager would get in touch but she hasnt i also rang my social worker yesterday afternoon and i am waiting for her to call back.i feel as if i am living a nightmare.
carers !!!!!: God i want to scream!!! my... - PSP Association
carers !!!!!
Oh dear, why don't they train these people to do there job properly, and give the people they care for some dignity? Sending you a big hug and I hope you sort it out. Yvonne xxxxxx
I do feel for you. We have been having trouble with carers too - well not so much with the carers themselves but with the agency's administration team and also with Social Services. It is so hard to get any clear information out of them it makes me feel like screaming too ....... And they never ring back when they say they will!
Vicki
I can understand your anger, frustration and sadness. Have you read his care plan lately. That should say what the carers should be doing. I suggest you read it and if alterations need to be made tell the care company you want a review to update it. This condition doesn't stand still and what carers could do a few weeks ago may not be appropriate now. I make sure I look at Cs "bits" daily as some time ago my hubby also developed a sore in his groin. I found it as he started to smell. I phoned the care company and got them to put it on the care plan that his groin must be washed daily. Fortunately we now have the same carers so we rarely have problems and now I know them so well I won't hesitate to say something if they do something I don't like but equally I always thank them for their help and praise them when I can. It is so hard having people walking in and out of our houses isn't it. Just another thing PSP brings us but when it works, it is invaluable and keeps our loved ones at home a bit longer. I do hope things get sorted like they did for us after a very dodgy, stressfull start.
X
Every time we get a new carer (thankfully not too often) I have to show them/supervise what they do. We had one yesterday that just walked in, asked P to get out of bed (!!!), then let him fall back against the cistern (with loud cries from P). I left him to give P an all over body wash (didn`t trust him to give P a shower) and he promptly let P fall backwards onto the floor up against the basin pedestal and asked me to call out Homeline (our local service who regularly pick P up when he falls).
The term chocolate teapot springs to mind.
In all of our psp journey i think the only thing that makes me angry or gets me upset is the carers and the care company.
A third of the girls don't understand dignity in care or the correct procedure. Another third want to get out before they have even started and the other third do thier best and are acceptable in the care they give.
The care company seems to want to know all that is going on and can't accept that i am still in charge in this house. I think given half the chance they would like to take charge of everything like medication, appointments and district nurse visits.
Stand your ground and take control of the situation and make them keep you in the loop.
And as for the notes the sore in the groin should of been highlighted and they should of imformed you and then got your permission to contact the district nurse. Janexx
Oh my B does not have any carers besides me. We are not at that point I suppose. And here in the US I don't even know if we can get them.......for a prolonged pd of time that is. But I imagine what I would do if I did have these people. One thing I do know , is that these people do not get paid well . Thsi leads to high turn around, an inability to fully comprehend a situation , and lastly (tho it sounds like rarely) a lack of empathy and maybe professionalism on the carers part. I would definitily do what NannaB does and read their daily health plan.
.....I wasn't done here! NannaB has it right that you need to be proactive in their daily health care. Make sure changes are agreed to by you. make sure that new carers understand mates disorder. And go ahead and take inventory of the days care....
REMEMBER WE ARE OUR MATES GREATEST ADVOCATE!
Without us, groins will be sore, falls will be had, and carers will be out smokin' on gov't time......no way to pay taxes is it
AVB
Thank you all for your comments we are going to have a meeting today to hopefully sort out the problems.One of the managers came round yesterday he was very apologetic it seems that our own care manager had not updated my husbands care plan even though she visited my husband in hospital to asses his current care needs.I feel so sorry for my husband bless him he was dreading each care visit hopefully all will be sorted today.
Poor you. You did the right thing telling them to leave.May I suggest that you ring the Care provider and tell the person who answers, that if you do not speak to the person in authority, you will make a formal complaint against the company to the Council and your GP. Wrote your complaints down so that you can calmly go through them without getting too upset. If you do not get satisfaction from the company, go ahead and complain. Best wishes. X
HI i use the HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE AGENCY EVE RSINCE I WAS DXD AND HAD THE COUNCIL CARERS COMIGN IN ONCE A DAY BUT V IRREGULARLY INDEED SO I SWITCHED T0 THE FRANCHISED COMPANY WHICH IS V WELL RJUN I THINK
I `AGREE THAT CARERS CAN BE V VARIABLE IN THAT SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT REALIS EWHA TTHE JOB ENTAILS AND THE LOW RATES FO PAY DO NTO NEC / ATTRACT THE RIGHT PEOPEL BUT I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY
DELIGHTED WITH THE FEW CARERS WHO I HAVE HAD SINC EABOUT MAY 2 011
LOL JILL
My brother hasn't got to this point yet, but I was wondering if this might help?? Keith's daughter has a mild form of cerebral palsy and when she was small we were told to rub her legs with warm peanut oil and her physical therapist knew when we didn't do this because her legs would be so much more stiff than when we did.I don't know if this would make a difference but I would try it. This is a horrible disease.
Thanks i will give it a try his legs are so stiff bless him and his right arm and hand are the same. Hes in a lot of pain he cant even stand his duvet on his legs as he says it feels to heavy but its a light one hes just using a sheet at the moment.
I feel for you. More supervisory visits to make sure they remember what they were likely taught but do not put into practice. Strength to resolve this we are behind you.
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Carer recommendations
when the carer is ill
gaining weight as a carer
Caring for the carers
Update on carers
Finding a carer for Mum who will lift her 
why don't people understand a carer can be tired? 
Who looks after the Carers?
