Home Care Travel Dilemma

[Scarlett9705]

I have an issue that hopefully someone can help me with. I wrote about it in another post about home health care, but I don't think anyone has read it. I've just started a new home care job and completed the orientation process this week. They gave me a case to go to today and it was in a really bad area. The patient already has a regular aide. I was supposed to shadow her before I went on my own cases. I ended up getting completely lost. I called the office for directions, which they gave me, but I still couldn't find the house. I was driving around in circles in bad neighborhoods. I was also wasting gas. I finally gave up and went home. I called my supervisor to tell her I couldn't find the house and could she please give me another case to shadow with that's closer to home and in a safer neighborhood. Actually, when I went home I looked on a map of the street the house was on. I know, I should've had it with me in the car. Anyways, the street was definitely in a very bad neighborhood. I would never feel safe going there and parking my car on some side street for four hours. My husband doesn't want me doing it either. My supervisor wasn't very happy with me and told me that I have to go wherever I am needed. I've worked with other agencies in the past and they have always asked about the areas that you are willing to travel to. That's the way I think it should be. My personal safety has to come first and it's my car that I'm using as well. I mentioned in my other post about the escort driver they have if a neighborhood is really rough. Well I just found out that they don't have that service on the weekends, which is when I would've been working. It doesn't matter anyways because I still don't want to work in those areas, escort driver or not. It should be my choice. I certainly don't make enough money to risk my life. My supervisor told me to think about it over night and call her tomorrow morning telling her if I still want the job or not. I think she already knows my answer. I can't stay if a great majority of their cases are in this city that I don't want to go to. There are so many other towns I am more than willing to travel to, even if they're somewhat of a drive. I just want to feel safe. This isn't too big of a loss. It was only per diem weekends and extra money for me. I'll try somewhere else and this time I will interview them while they interview me. I will make sure they also don't have a mandatory go where we send you policy or I'm not taking the job. I just wasted about 25 hours on all of this companies extensive orientation program. I had the physical and drug testing done. It was company paid atleast. I also had the most grueling interview that I've ever had before. It was two actually. One with human resource and the other with the hha supervisor. I feel like I've not only wasted my time, but their time as well. I was really looking forward to starting this job. I've always felt that home care is where my heart is. Hopefully the next agency will be a match for me. Anyways, I'm curious what other aides opinions are regarding this matter. Would you go somewhere you're not comfortable going or would you stand your ground and not take the job? I think cases should be offered to us and we can accept or decline after they review them with us first. Thank you to all who respond.

[Hausfrau]

With my agency they tell me where the location is and if I am interested. They know that their CNAs also work for other agencies so our schedules could already be filled, etc So it's not a big deal if you turn it down.

I was offered like 5 or 6 cases in a row that I were too far for me. The gas cost alone would of been half my paycheck. I said no and I was worried that they'd stop offering me cases.

I finally got a few cases that work perfect for me.

I would not go to an area I did not feel safe, either.

I would sign up at another agency and tell them I what areas I am willing to drive to. You could also tell the agency, call me if you have cases in these areas, etc

I wouldn't work for an agency that wasn't flexible!