We have a small group of regular carers who are efficient, to an extent, though they are beginning to cut corners sometimes and speeding things up and saying they are glad to finish early… up to 15 minutes early when we are charged for an hour’s call! They could spend that time with OH, chatting.
I accompanied each of them on their first visits, some of them quite a few times, to familiarise them with the routine, even though it was written down.
Things have ticked along OK until this weekend which has been a bit of a nightmare and I would appreciate your comments on whether I am being a nit picking old so and so or not.
Friday am call: carer arrived having phoned in sick with D&V but was told to work. Spoke to a manager and expressed my concern as to infection, (OH is still very weak and on antibiotics), and was told that a replacement carer would be sent… someone who had never attended before. I got on with most of the care myself.
Saturday evening call: the least efficient carer came, after not being here for some weeks, and me still having to accompany them on the call after many visits. We had friends here and the hour call extended into 1hr 45 mins!!! with me having to pop out many times.They made many serious mistakes, sheath not fitted properly, last bed guard in wrong place which made this morning when getting OH out of bed an ordeal. Not even a proper wash was given.
Sunday am call: one of the regular carers arrived with a new person in tow. I had no prior notification of this. One regular carer had asked that he accompany the newbie; however, he spent half of the call time putting in place things for the evening call and showing the newbie the ropes. Consequently there was no time for OH to have a shave. Regular carer was going to ask duty manager if they could also accompany the newbie this evening. That request was obviously refused.
Tonight I spent 1 1/4 hours doing the routine with the newbie. I consider,unless there is an emergency and my help is needed, this hour to be ME time, to watch a programme, do a crossword, or, as I do during the morning call, get on with some jobs that I can’t do at other times because I can’t leave OH alone. The newbie is on day 3 of this job, never done this type of work before, and, even though they said that they had received training they mistook a raised toilet seat for a stand with urine bag attached and had no idea how to attach a sheath.
I am furious and exhausted but need to calm down before I telephone the company tomorrow.
Please be frank in your comments, I won’t mind.
