doing duties I dont think I should be

[jess_v]

So im working for a family member as thier HHA. At first it was ok until their spouse got involved saying I basically get paid for doing nothing! I mean there spouse is there 24/7 so I don't even understand why they qualify for one ! I do what im suppose to do everyday ! So my question is since im only there for that person does that mean I have too cook and clean for the whole family , I know thats what they does for them but does that mean I have to ? Oh and I also do all their laundry ! I mean thats not in my job description since I only work for my patient ..

[anothergrumpyoldRN]

If it is on the POC it is fine to do.

If it is not on the POC, it is not okay, and the POC should be adjusted to include those necessary duties/tasks.

At least that is how it has always worked for me in HH...if you are routinely doing things not on the POC your agency could get into trouble if they are audited/reviewed.

Additionally, having clear duties and boundaries helps to protect ourselves from overly demanding patients/families...Lord knows we have no shortage of them.

[Race Mom, ASN, RN]

You should discuss the POC with your supervising RN. The POC directs the care you are authorized to provide. The others are correct in saying that to provide more than authorized or to be providing services to those that are not "on services" is considered Medicaid/Medicare fraud. We had a nurse reviewer from the state do a "drop in" to a home that they were concerned about. The caregiver was making the ENTIRE family dinner infront of the nurse reviewer. That was a phone call our agency will never forget! She and the family were committing fraud because the caregiver was being paid but using the time to provide care for other people.

If the person you ARE supposed to be providing care for does not need as much care now, it is your agency's responsibility to request a modification to the Dept of Health/Welfare so the hours can be reflective of the care currently needed.

Good luck to you. It is really hard, I know, when the family expects you are the new maid. If they want to pay privately, they can all get fed.

[sharpeimom]

I'm not medicare or Medicaid. I'm 100% private pay when I have outside help. There's much more leeway when you're private pay.

[marcyct, CNA]

I also had a patient in the past that had a huge family, she was elderly but within 3 months they expected sunday dinner by me also bake cakes for coffee, I did do extra things to stay busy vacumm, did floors, windows scrubed toilets and washed nic nacs etc but, when I was being asked to cook for everyone I called the rn and she fixed that to when ever she had visitors I was to catch up on my lost ZZZZZ's. I was a live in

[sharpeimom]

I dug out the paper the HH agency gave us. Here is a list of approved HHA duties:

laundry for client

meals for client

grocery shopping for client

light errand running for client -- such as picking up meds at the drugstore or library book return

adls assistance

"light" housekeeping chores -- such as vacuuming, dusting, loading and unloading dishwasher, plant watering

Because I was a private pay client, she also fed the dog, walked him one time when my friend had a conflict, washed the dog bed

covers, and kept the cat food and all pet waters topped off.

If any of those tasks offend you, then I apologize. Believe me, I'd much much much rather be able to be a nurse and take care of my furry kids, my husband, and the house myself again, but such is not to be, ever again, unfortunately.

[NC29mom, ASN, LPN, RN]

If you are being paid by a government agency to provide care for a pt who doesnt even sound dependent for any needs....you should alert your agency.

Reason #353 why govt broke...

[Isabelle49]

Someone may have addressed this, but here goes anyway: If you are injured while performing a service that is not a part of your job duties, you will not be covered by workmen's comp. More importantly, you cannot allow yourself to be taken advantage of. I have found that if your give and inch, they will take a mile!

[Interpolfan89]

I don't know about everyone else but I don't get paid enough to take care of a whole family. And it defn is a liability issue. What if your doing the family laundry and something happens to that laundry and the family wants you to replace ruined clothes? Your job is gonna tell you that you shouldn't have been doing their laundry and you're on your own. Another tip, don't work for relatives. It can get nasty.