Combative Resident and Sitter Issues

I will go down to her room and get the resident and take her to the activity and the sitter will let her stay for a few minutes and then take her back down. Unfortunately, I don't have all day to play chase with this sitter. She told the daughter that I am always looking over her shoulder and that I am harassing her. Damn right I am! She isn't doing her job and she places the resident's safety at risk constantly! The daughter does not want to believe any of it! How awful is that?!

The daughter also said that she doesn't want to hear any 'commentary' from our staff on our her mother is doing. She wants it to all come from the sitter. The sitter doesn't give her an accurate portrayal because she just wants her to think everything is fine so she can keep her job. When I told her that the sitter was as much as an hour and a half late she just breezed right over it. The daughter actually raised her voice and yelled at me when I suggested that the sitter not allow the resident to nap during the day seeing as how she is awake much of the night. She yelled and said 'how dare you tell me my mother cannot nap. SHe is 90 years old.' LISTEN TO WHAT I SAID!!! UGH!!! I am so frustrated!

Okay, so I have somewhat of an update! On Monday, our Executive Director went onto the memory care unit where this resident lives and caught the sitter red-handed watching tv instead of taking the resident to an activity as she was supposed to. The next day the ED caught her her coming in over 20 minutes late. I think that, while our ED believed me, it helped that she saw all of this for herself. So then we were kinda waiting to see what the next move on the part of the daughter would be. Well........Wednesday we both got a nasty email from the daughter stating how unprofessional and disappointed in us she was. She contradicted herself many times in the email and flat out lied in other parts. My boss responded with, Thank you for taking the time to reflect on our meeting. We received the new medication orders for your mother today and hopefully this will help with the continued behavioral problems. I think the EDs response was the best way to handle. To try to defend ourselves would be pointless. I think the best response however would have been to say we obviously cannot make you happy, so in the best interest of your mother we are going to give you a 30 day notice. You need to find another facility.

Our plan going forward is to try the new meds, but if the family is truly not willing to work with us on the sitter situation and follow our recommendations its adios!

This situation has really just struck me has odd. MOst of our families are so caring and loving and appreciative of everything we do...Then to have this is just upsetting.