If it weren't for you the patients wouldn't get care at all..

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Since working in the healthcare industry, I've learned a lot about life and how the saying that "family is always there for you" does NOT always ring true.

Sometimes, I feel like if it weren't for home health aide/nurses some of the patients would probably starve or not get hardly any care at all.

I remember I cared for an elderly woman, who had two non working & very able bodied 50 year old sons, who would call me on my day off to "feed" their mother like it was some kind of an emergency. Like they couldn't heat somthing up for her and do it themselves if no home health aide was available. If no one showed up, I am very inclined to feel that they wouldn't even feed her

Has anyone else noticed this with their patient's family?

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

Wow.. every now and again, you will find some family members who are appallingly apathetic if not downright negligent. :o

You need to make it clear that you provide NURSING services only, and not personal care services. If they need someone to help with these other ADL activities, they need to look into obtaining personal care services either through your agency, or elsewhere.

These cases often warrant a closer look by a MSW if you think your patient is not getting her basic needs met. Keep your eyes and ears open.

So sad.

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Wow.. every now and again, you will find some family members who are appallingly apathetic if not downright negligent. :o

You need to make it clear that you provide NURSING services only, and not personal care services. If they need someone to help with these other ADL activities, they need to look into obtaining personal care services either through your agency, or elsewhere.

These cases often warrant a closer look by a MSW if you think your patient is not getting her basic needs met. Keep your eyes and ears open.

So sad.

Yeah, I've seen this quite a few times since I've been working in Homehealth. I swear some of the patients only get fed, changed, and paid any attention to at least ONCE a day and that is when I arrive. I suspect that is what is going on with one of my patients. But every family is different ya know? Don't want to get beside yourself and start meddling. It's already a big responsibility to take care of a diabled/elderly patient

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