I started with an agency 2 days a week, the rest of the time, My Mom is cared for with a team that is all about HER. I really don't grudge the agency, but I always feel like anytime they switch people, I need to meet them and introduce them to Mom.

To some of the folks new to all this, I may seem over protective, but please check out the anger room where somcome in .e members have had to deal with theft and abuse. Any one coming into My Mom's home is going to get the once over from me (not that that is true proof, but at least they know someone gave them a good look over and could pick them out in a line up.

So here was this weeks trick. Fair is fair, I admit. Live In fee is $220/day. hourly is $16/hour ($384/day), yeah, this could break the bank. Nonetheless, Live-ins are supposed to have 8 hours of rest.

No one here would argue with that. OK, Mom has a 10 hour period that all needed is to get her on the pot 2x (takes about 15 min.) The agency said they could manage Mom as a live-in. One of their people has no problem but then another did. Had to pay that person an hourly rate. Granted I am still fortunate I am not dealing with theft of abuse but STILL.

Mom may have to have hourly care in the future, trying hard to keep her money together for that time.

I Got in touch with a prior CG of my Mom's, asked her about her trips home and if we could work it out. So cool to call the agency and tell them, "Keep sending the Lady who will care for Mom as a liv-in (fri evening through Sat evening)B. ut I have some one of our own who will work Sat evening to Sunday evening . That gives you (the agency) another week to find me someone, but I got people in the wings.

Hopefully I let them know, I DON'T NEED YOU, you need me! Mom is still pretty alert. The day may come where we need to do "hourly", This is a hard call. Hourly is justified, by the "rule". Another Lady needs to come in. I think I know who.

OK, I sucked it up and paid the hourly once. I had plans with H, and couldn't cope with Mom having a "stranger" come in. (Sorry, I feel I must be there to introduce her to any CG she hasn't met, as well as to show them around , where to find things and the daily routine.) Yeah, I should leave it to them, but I need to do it this way.

For this weekend, I was able to call the agency and tell them, the lady who agreed to be "live in" could come, but I had made other arrangements for the second 24 hours.

So great, Mom has a ton of confidence in the CG who had to leave her. The woman has started to come back to the state and "wow, should we say 'gas money'". So thrilled, this worked out great. Gonna do it again this weekend. This puts the agency on notice, I am not over a barrel here. They are not going to jack it up. I really only want them on board in case there is an emergency and Bro has to call in the reinforcements. They agreed to provide Mom with companions at "live in" rate. There are other agencies and I have options. I think I got the point across. Nobody comes again that upsets Mom, leaves me a mess to clean up, doesn't follow basic instructions. I can always go back to hiring Mom's own independent team. (We still have 5 days of Us). I am not entirely happy even though this agency was highly recommended. Time to prowl again for the hidden jewels.


Mom was so happy to see this lady, I was hiding around the corner listening to her laugh. She about wore herself out showing off for her old friend. This CG says she will try to come 2x a month from now on.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bobcat,

I have had aides who told me how lazy these home helpers can be.She tells me they do very littl.Watch tv and talk on the phone.I had one and she thought I was stupid.I called the agency and she was fired.
There are some lazy ones with these agencies.If you get no cooperation , tell them to shit or get off the pot.Too many times they think they have you over a barrel.I allowed a few mistakes but when things got out of hand they saw the worst side of me.
One time I told the angency that I was going to come to the office and show some of them how to do their job.
I also insisted on consistency on the every day aide, unless it was her day off.A few people I would not allow to come back.
You have to be assertive after they do not respond to kindness.Nice guys come in last too many times

Honey I dont get this, one has a problem with doing her job?
One doesnt.
Then kick this agency into gear and tell them to send someone willing to work for her pay or change agencies take your pick but get rid of the dead weight.
I dont know if you have the same problem as some of my patients but like I tell them, "You are paying for the service which gives you the right to kick someone to the curb or request someone you feel comfortable with no questions asked"
I also remind them who I feel I work for...its the patient not the agency, not by a long shot, they may cut the check but that money $24-$48 bucks an hour comes from you...without you there is no agency period.