Follow
Share
Read More
Find Care & Housing
eva -sorry about that negative experience. Life caregiving is hard enough w/o throwing in something like that. Shouting is inexcusable behaviour.
(4)
Report

Evamar,

Chinese? Geeeeez! I have had my online banking go to Spanish one time! LOL, I immediately changed it back.

It is challenging dealing with different personalities at times.

I truly hope that your husband’s Parkinson’s disease will progress slowly as my mother’s did.

Mom lived so long that she did suffer towards the end. Before she hit the higher stages though, she managed fairly well.

Mom wasn’t satisfied as much with the care that she received from the teaching hospital (LSU) and she switched to a private practicing neurologist.

At the time she was at LSU, Dr. Rao was well known for his treatment for Parkinson’s disease, but mom rarely saw him and had a rotation of different doctors. Dr. Rao was the first doctor to do surgery for Parkinson’s patients in our area. Mom was not a candidate for surgery.

You will need additional help as his symptoms increase. As we both know though, this disease affects everyone differently.
(2)
Report

NHWM,
No,it was definitely something against me.
But, no matter, I am not people’s pleaser. I put those things out of my mind as in general there is no problems with caregivers and many are happy to return, I just mentioned as it was unusual and I am well aware I am going to need more of help, so dealing with different people on the top of everything it could be a challenge.
Tell me about autocorrect, I cannot figure out why my keyboard switches to Chinese, all the time!
(1)
Report

Evamar,

I am not excusing her behavior but it sounds like she was just having a bad day. I agree that sometimes people can’t help being late at times.
(1)
Report

Stupid autocorrect! LOL Obviously, it should read spot a phony a mile away, not smile away.
(2)
Report

Burntcaregiver,
Yes, it was quite strange. I did not say anything about her being late, she did not apologize, I let it go.
I simply asked her what time she had to leave? Assuming she will stay for specified hours. I asked knowing many people have other jobs.
To which she started screaming, I did not quite understand her because of her accent, so I asked her to repeat. She called supervisor and started complaining about me and said she was leaving.
She was behaving strange, as if, actually I am quite sure she tried to create some kind of conflict, she clearly did not want to be here, so she wanted to leave and get paid for hours.
I understand being late, one time I was late an hour and respite guy had to go to another job, I apologized, all was well. He managed to get there on time, I felt bad for him if he wanted to have some time in between shifts. My husband does not need any help so it is simply precautionary.
They just sit talk, or watch TV, no other work is required, so most respite people are quite happy to be here, especially as most are from different cultures and my husband loves and knows lots of history and present events in any country, it is kind of his passion, so any time i come back they are happy about having interesting discussions.
She was OK when I was back. On time! With the little damage to my CC from shopping spree with my GFs, I am worth it!
(1)
Report

Burnt,

I don’t know about you but there is nothing that annoys me more than a fake smile. I appreciate a genuine smile but I can spot a phony a smile away.

Some people are naturally pleasant no matter what and have beautiful smiles. Others are more private people who don’t show their emotions. One is not better than the other, just different personalities.

Being disrespectful is a whole different story. It depends on the context of the situation.

I don’t think not smiling is disrespectful at all.

I remember when my daughter was on dance team at her school. There was a rule that moms weren’t allowed to be present at their dance practices until 15 before the practice ended.

One of the dance moms decided that she would be there the entire time. She was an obnoxious ‘dance mom.’

I blame the dance teacher for not enforcing her rules of not allowing moms in the gym for practice. This woman donated a lot of money and money talks in certain situations.

Anyway, when I would go in 15 minutes before practice ended to pick up my daughter, this woman would be telling this one girl who was a terrific dancer to smile!

The girl danced circles around her daughter and politely told her, “I’m focusing on learning my steps. Please leave me alone. When I get out on the football field to perform I will smile!”

This woman never shut up! I told the girl’s mom what she was doing to her daughter and how disturbing it was. She went to the dance teacher and asked her to please enforce her rules.

That girl ended up being dance captain due to being a great dancer and being focused on learning her routine. She wasn’t about to try and impress this woman by smiling during practice.
(2)
Report

@Evamar

I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience with a respite caregiver.
She certainly should not have yelled or raised her voice to you. That is unacceptable.
As for her being late, that can happen. She may have had legitimate reason to be. Did you ask her why she was late?
Why do you describe her as being resentful? Resentful of what? Of you?
I never had a ray of sunshine personality on any job but there's no reason to be rude to a client's family.
If something bothered you about the caregiver, you should tell her,
Way back when I ws agency help I had a long-term client whose friend was usually at her house when I came in. She always said the same thing to me every time. That I don't look like I'm happy and that I should smile more.
One time I told her. I don't get paid to smile or be happy on the job. I get paid to work. The client liked it this way. My job was to give her a shower twice a week, change her pull-up, and help her get dressed. The third visit of the week was only grocery shopping and running her errands.
She was happy with the service. Her friend was not.
Your displeased caregiver may not be the friendliest person.
(1)
Report

I just got a call from the court that my jury duty has been cancelled.... that was easy 😅 Yay!
(10)
Report

cw: DH also got a jury summons, but they had a waiver he could fill out for any senior, exempting him from any further request for jury duty.

FF: Yes, we are close to DC - Anne Arundel County. I see that you also could fill out the waiver.
(2)
Report

golden, Need, PB and Barb: Thank you; I believe it was incoming rain related.
Riverdale: Sorry that you also suffer from them. I haven't used Sumatriptan in decades. My neurologist gave me samples of two new age migraine medications, Nurtec ODT and Ubrelvy. I also take a prophylactic, Propranolol. Haven't used the samples yet.
(2)
Report

Evamar,

Stress absolutely affects Parkinson’s disease. I agree that your husband doesn’t need any additional stress in his life. Nor do you as his wife.

I also strongly agree that if a caregiver is not happy with their job they should quit. If they become so burned out that it starts affecting their job, they should find other employment.

I am glad that most of your caregivers have been good.
(1)
Report

NHWM,
We had very good caregivers, so just one makes no difference. Just too much of resentment from start, if she does not like it she should quit. But, I am not taking any BS.
As you know for Parkinson’s stress is not good.
But, my husband is good to deal with diversity, as CPA he had clients from all over the world.
(3)
Report

My mom got one too FF, I wrote back that she was 90+, demented and in a nursing home so she wouldn't make a very good juror 🤣
(4)
Report

The last couple of cases that I was called for with jury duty was a rape and drug case.

I didn’t want to do either of them. I was relieved that I wasn’t selected for the rape case and then they had to randomly choose an alternate juror. Don’t you know that I was chosen?

So, I had to show up at the courthouse everyday anyway.

I wasn’t selected for the drug case because I have a family member that was in law enforcement.

The jury for the rape case were sequestered. Some people are paid by their employers when they take time off to go to court and others aren’t. The pay is very small for serving on a jury. At that time they also paid for parking. Not sure if they still do.

I knew a woman who didn’t show up for jury duty and nothing happened to her. I never took that chance. I showed up for mine.

My dad served on a jury and found it interesting. My mom was never selected because she didn’t believe in capital punishment.
(2)
Report

cwillie, oh my gosh, a jury summons. Glad I don't get those, I have visions of me snoring in the jury box. I love a good crime case, but if it has to do with financial fraud, forgetaboutit, way too boring.

Couple weeks ago I got a jury notice from the Federal District Court, thankfully I could fill out the paperwork on line, and [x} the box where it ask if I am 70 years old or older, and prefer not to serve.... [whew].

I remember when my Mom got a similar notice from the Federal District Court.... Mom was 94 years old.
(3)
Report

Evamar,

Very rarely was I displeased with a caregiver from the agency that I used. I said something the few times that I was disappointed in their service.

I think you should complain to the caregiver’s boss. I’m sure that they would want to know about this incident.

She should not have arrived late and yelled at you. Did she have a good reason for being late?

Sometimes, a caregiver is late due to working overtime at the prior appointment. It throws their schedule off for the rest of the day. When this happened with us, they would call and tell me that they were running late.

So sorry that you experienced this. Your husband deserves better care than she provided and you should not have been yelled at. Did she apologize for her behavior?
(2)
Report

Today first time I was not pleased with respite care.
Agency sent somebody who was late, resentful and it showed. She started yelling at me. In my house!
Some should have some cultural adjustment and sensitivity training.
So good day for me to balance this with good old retailed therapy! Refreshing my wardrobe for spring!
(4)
Report

I just got a jury summons 😖
As far as I know the local courthouse usually deals with minor offences so there shouldn't be a possibility of a lengthy trial even if I am selected, but it is an hour away in a town I haven't been to since before the pandemic....really it's a P.I.T.A more than anything. I guess I should be grateful it isn't the middle of winter.
(5)
Report

Llama, I suffer from frequent migraines. I have 3 forms of sumatriptam which often help and a monthly injection of Emgality. Hope you find relief.
(2)
Report

Llama,

I hope the meds will help your headache go away. Feel better soon!
(3)
Report

llama - hope you are getting over that migraine
(2)
Report

Way and Llama, so sorry for your troubles!
(3)
Report

Llama, sorry you're having migraine. Hope you feel better soon.
(3)
Report

Ugh. Starting with a migraine. Took 2 of my fioricet (no codeine) and put compression head wrap on.
(4)
Report

Way I'm praying for your sister and family . Big hugs!
(4)
Report

(((((Way)))) I'm sorry for these complications as well as your sister's continued illness. Sometimes with family it seems no matter what we do they complain.
(2)
Report

Way: Hugs.
(4)
Report

Oh my gosh, Way. I’m so sorry. Go ahead and scream to the top of your lungs!
(4)
Report

SCREAM!!!!
My sister has been in the hospital for nearly two weeks with a number of complicated as well as rare issues . After talking with her doctors during a lucid moment , she opted for hospice the other day. Today she was feeling better and decided to change her mind and resume treatments. Although it may not last . She may be having her last rally . I’m also not totally sure of her mental status . She has had delirium on and off . Her son ( my nephew) is her durable medical POA . I have been supporting him as much as I can with some difficult decisions that he had to make regarding procedures when sis was not lucid . I’ve also been passing along info to my brother . I let my brother know that my sister right now wants to resume treatment , and I got told that he would expect more accurate information from me . My brother also said obviously she isn’t sick enough for hospice and that I sounded an alarm and upset the family.
For the record. The doctors don’t expect my sister to improve.
(6)
Report

Start a Discussion
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter