I talked to my friends at Visting Angels and they told me that you should've been paid "extra" for caring for the last two patients - the blind guy with the gun and his alkie wife. But two at once is not a beginner job.
This lady seems like she is okay but when you are Driving Miss Daisy - you have to know where you are going. You can never listen to a sick person and if she wasn't somewhat sick, you wouldn't be there. So, if the situation presents itself again, depend on your instincts and say "no" if she tries to take directions, etc.
Generally, here there are two ways to go - the freeway and the streets people used before the freeway. The streets are slow but managable.
Mainly - my advice is that you have excellent instincts and you just can't let these manipulative old people push you around. Just say "no" and add a safety tape on those nicotine patches.
You poor kid!! Rough day.
Thanks HG. :-)
I did tell her today that I would not be able to drive her to her son's house anymore. I also called her son this morning and told him the same thing. I'm not a competent driver when I'm lost and especially when I have someone yelling at me and screaming for me to turn left when I'm in a right lane.
She got very upset and started yelling at me today and I told her that if she is not happy with me to please call Visiting Angels and they will be more than happy to replace me but I will not drive her to her son's house again. She said she doesn't want me to leave, that I do everything else so well and Rex loves me now and lets me take him for walks without her having to hobble along so he'll go.
So, we'll see what happens. At this point, if she calls to have me replaced, I'm fine with it.
I think I am going to start looking into Hospice Home Caregivers and other places and see if I can find something that will give me the 30 hours I need. All this grief this weekend for an 8 hour paycheck is going to financially wipe me out. And the water heater! And electric bill and water bill and mortgage and condo fee....OY!
Anyone want to buy a cheap but beautiful 3 bedroom/2bath condo in beautiful Central Florida? LOL
Thanks for the advice. I do feel that I am learning a little more to stick up for myself. And that's thanks to you all and your great advice.
I feel so bad for you, what a horrendous duty that was. The son should have come to get her if she really had to go there. Hugs to you for hanging in there, and I think you are right in saying you will NEVER do it again. Hang in there.
OK... I had my whine and cheese party and feel better. LOL
It was just a hard day, much like you all have on a daily basis. I'll think of it this way....if getting those wings were easy, everybody would have them. You've really got to earn those things.
Deb --- you will grow callus in time and it doesn't come overnight. It may be that you have to experience many of the different situations and see the outcome to several responses before the callus grows. You can't be a shrinking violet all the time and time will teach you when you need to use your fangs.
Hang in there kid. The desire to do good is the largest step and you already have that behind you.
Bless you for your efforts.
Have you double checked you insurance? Does it cover transporting her?? Or does the company cover the insurance?
If it was easy, the family would be doing it. Take a deep breath, steady. I am taking up Yoga again to steady me nerves. Good-luck
:::::::::::: Have you double checked you insurance? Does it cover transporting her?? Or does the company cover the insurance? :::::::::::::::::::::::::
I don't know! I guess I'll write this story up and fax it with my hours.
:::::::::::: If it was easy, the family would be doing it. Take a deep breath, steady. I am taking up Yoga again to steady me nerves. Good-luck ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Thank you!
I can't wait for the next Chapter in "The Angel Gets Her Wings" - seriously, for the other caregivers (like me) - it shows us what we have been through.
Good morning everybody. I hope you had a great weekend.
Just to have a happy ending to my weekend horror story, I met the patient I'll have for this week and the caregiver gave me a training of how this week will be. Oh my God!! If that's what most of these visiting angels have, I'm just going to cry! A beautiful place, (close to my current patient's house), light...and I mean very light housekeeping. The gentleman is 95 years old and likes his privacy, so you just have to take him to the grocery store 1 day a week, then the light housekeeping and small meal preparation and take little "Maude" with the bulldog looking face out for a couple walks and then the caregiver spends the rest of her time reading and if he wants to talk, he'll come sit out there and talk a while.
I am thanking God that this week is going to be a pleasant job and that will renew my spirits. :-)
I did talk to my supervisor and told her how the weekend went. She thanked me for telling my side of the story and said she's sure my patient will not call to replace me because that's just how she is, and then she apologizes for screaming or carrying on and forgets about it.
I told her that this week is going to be such a pleasure and she said, "yeah, you have had a couple challenging ones, haven't you?" I said yes and that it would really be nice to get an assignment like this one. So I hope that can happen and soon.
Join us next time for the newest installment of "The Angel Gets Her Wings." LOL
You are one super angel Deb. You do need to keep a journal. With blogs like yours, soon you'll have a best seller and won't have to worry about your finances at all. Many blessings.
