I'm having problems with the care facility that I have for my mom and I initially wanted to interview the caregivers, as this is our first experience. My mom is 91 and lived alone — she needs 24/7 care and there are at least 6 care givers and it's overwhelming. Reason 2, the caregivers were fighting and yelling. What can I do to get this back into a calm atmosphere for my mom?
I do not think any facility would let you "interview" caregivers.
You can talk to the caregivers. but do so in a conversational manner.
When you enter the facility greet EACH person you see. Wish them a good morning or afternoon. When you leave say good bye. this includes the facility staff cleaning a window, the van driver, the kitchen staff taking a try down the hall. Trust me they will get to know you.
Greet the CNA's and other staff that have direct contact with mom. Thank them for what they are doing. Don't try to help them. (can be a safety issue for them, for mom and for you)
Every once in a while bring a basket of fruit or some cookies. Be sure to "spread the kindness" with other shifts as well.
Nothing will be "perfect" there will always be some problem.
Then become friendly with her caregivers because they are your mom's team. If they like you, they'll be helpful to you and good to mom. Thank them often. Let them know they are appreciated. Their job isn't easy.
Good luck!
In a facility you do not get to interview the aides. They are are assigned a resident by the RN who is their boss. Why are these aides arguing? You go to the RN in charge, you tell her that the aides are upsetting the residents with their arguing. This is really unprofessional. If the RN doesn't resolve the problem, then you talk to the director/administrator.
So there may be some truth to what mom said.
Mom may be right about the situation in the facility she is in.
If you are bored, it is easy to hear anything. If you are elderly, it is easy to not understand or comprehend the "noise."
If it really is the caregivers, talk to the head nurse to understand what is going on. Facilities generally do not have caregivers that exhibit behaviors that would be upsetting or threatening to their residents.
Depending upon what she is hearing, you might need to move her so that she has an environment that is less stressful.
Facility staff fighting out in the open and yelling at each other is unacceptable and unprofessional. If they have problems with each other, they need to go to their supervisor and let them handle it.
I was a staff supervisor at a nice AL facility years ago. Of course there will be petty squabbles and personality conflicts among the staff, but the staff that was under me knew better than to bring it on the floor in front of residents or anyone else. The supevisor needs to handle these fighting aides. You stay away from those aides and don't even talk to them. Make the supervisor handle it. If the supervisor doesn't handle it go to the Office of the Ombudsman in your state and file a formal complaint.
Years ago I remember one petty squabble between two of my aides. One was a brown-noser, a snitch, and a trouble-maker who thought that instigating, kissing up and tattling about her co-worker would score her points with me. It did not. She'd come into the office and complain that 'X' was hiding in residents' rooms because she was lazy and didn't want to do any work. This wasn't exactly true. On slow days this aide would often visit certain residents in their rooms who didn't get visitors or who were a little shy and didn't like to join in the entertainments. I knew she did this and was fine with it. Some nosy residents complained some about her spending more time with certain people but were promptly told by me to mind their own damn business.
Let the supervisor handle the aide staff. Also, your mother isn't going to get the same aide at the same time every day. It may seem overwhelming to her, but the facility is not going to do this. If she's getting too overwhelmed you may want to discuss medication that can keep her calm.