Expert Column
Arleen R. Stern, LCSW 
Arleen Stern has been working with the elderly and their families for over twenty...read more
Articles In This Column
- How to Help Seniors Cope with Pet Loss
- Advance Planning: Making Tough End of Life Decisions
- Choosing a Home Health Agency: A How-to Guide
- Homecare: 7 Surefire Ways to Create a Symbiotic Relationship
- Coping Strategies for Caregivers: 4 Ways to Make it Through
- Life and Loss: Coping Strategies for Caregivers
- Long Distance Caregiving: How a Geriatric Care Manager Can Help You
Geriatric Care Management
Comments For "Homecare: 7 Surefire Ways to Create a Symbiotic Relationship"
Working in someone's home is never easy. I have done it for the last twenty years. Some people will give you a lumpy bed that seems filled with rocks and wonder why you're grumpy after "sleeping" which usually doesn't happen. I'll take criticism if it is merited, but often adult children are very adverse to hearing that they do not in fact know what is best for their parents. It's a tightrope you walk, but your first priority is not the grown children. And sometimes you have to just let the storm blow over with family members.
The people that do this type of work are angels. I know there are horror stories out there, but we've had an amazing experience with the caregiver for my mother. But your points are well taken. I believe that treating people well will only return a positive result. We always remember how difficult the job can be and do our best to treat her with the utmost respect and professionalism. It's a business, yes, but it's a business of caring. We couldn't care for my mom without her.
The difference between what the care giver earns and what an Agency charges goes toward the caregiver's social security and medicare payments, state and federal unemployment insurance, workers compensation, liability insurance, state and local licensing fees, ongoing training, background checks, recruitment costs, payroll expenses, backup staffing, development of a plan of care and much more. If you are choosing to pay a caregiver directly then you are assuming all of the risk and responsibilities of an employer. Using an agency can provide a great amount of peace of mind.