non medical home health aide/companion question

NoWomanNoCry · Sep 16, 2013

I actually replied to a tread awhile back about something along these lines...let me see if i can find and copy/paste it because its kind of long.

NoWomanNoCry · Sep 16, 2013

Here I found it.

I worked HH for 2 different company's in texas at the same time. I have patients 7 days a week. All I did was work and I got to know my patients very well. Company number 1 was a joke...all they cared about was the money! I went to a clients home and on her porch was a zip lock bag of pot. Needless to say after a few weeks of seeing things going on in the home I came to the conclusion without a doubt she was selling drugs and pills as well as stolen merchandise out of her home. Now I may get flamed for this part but there was no reason this client needed to be on the home health services. She didn't have the nursing part of the services where a nurse came out weekly all she had was the aid services which is basically a glorified maid. She was 100% able to do housework and things for herself. I remember the company giving me this woman's info saying she really has no reasons to be on HH But she knew how to work it to get it. But they were getting money and were happy. Then one day her unemployed son (in his 40s lived there but wasn't suppose to because she told company she had no one to help her. Who was the one bringing in the drugs/stolen items) anyways he cut his hand on glass and my patient (his mom) had told be before her son had Hep C and when he cut his hand she was wanting me to clean it up and bandage it. I said I needed gloves she said not to worry about it there was none but I needed to help him. I refused and she started going crazy (I think she was on something) and ran me out of her home with a metal crutch (when I think about it now I laugh but I was scared back when it happened lol)

I called my company crying and told them when happened. They told me to come right in and write a incident report. I went in told them what happened explained how her son had a cut that was not even stitch worthy but she was verbally forcing me to clean it ungloved ...told them about the other things I witnessed. They were on my side and said they would find me new patient.

Then few days go by I find out they kept this woman on their list and was trying to find other people to be her aid. I was shocked because after everything they cared more about the money then their staff.

NoWomanNoCry · Sep 17, 2013

Also I'd like to add a few other things. It's not all bad but you need to make sure you work for a good company. I had 2 different company's I worked for along with a family that hired me on their own. One company which is the one I listed in the above post was horrible, the other company I never had a issue with and the clients were great.

My typical day was getting there in the AM making breakfast for my client...I would remind her of her meds (I never handled them but I simply reminded as she ate her AM meal she needed to take them because being non medical u can't handle them) I would start wash while she ate...collect mail..clean an pick up her home. Depending on the day would depend if I would deep clean or spot clean because I liked to have a schedule of deep clean days and spot clean days. I have her little dogs a bath (this was actually a no no but she was unable to do it and I felt bad for the dogs...if I were to ever got bit I would have taken full responsibly for it) I would pick up her meds run to wal mart and grocery store along with dropping bills off at places to be paid. I would make sure she had a big dinner made before I left so she could pick at it for lunch if she wanted but it was there ready for dinner so she wouldn't have to cook. I also started gardening for her lol she was unable to so I bought (out of my own pocket) gardening plants and pots she would watch me and it was something she enjoyed watching bloom.

I would be there for 4hrs 7days a week. Keep in mind I didn't run errands around in my car everyday but it did require me to at least 2 days a week. I also kind of went above what I was required to do like the dog bathing and gardening. But it made her happy thats what mattered.

Also another thing I had a client that moved her granddaughter and granddaughters 2 kids into the home after me working there about a month. That was fine until my client was telling me I needed to cook and do their laundry. I was too cook the kids breakfast before they went off to school while the mother slept! I cleaned up after them all...the mother did nothing! Didn't work....then got put in jail and I was asked to pick her up when she was released. Needless to say that was my last day there cause I'm not going to put up with that. That wasn't my job. So you really need to feel your client out (as do they you) make sure it's a good match cause some WILL take advantage of you. When that happens get your company involved and if that don't help ask for a new client and leave. It won't get better trust me!

When you get a good client...hold on to them! They will be the ones that make your bad day a good day...they will be the ones that remind you why you work with the elderly. They need you :)

Hope this helps. I have many years of exp in HH in a none medical standpoint. Now I'm going to enroll in nursing school.

shounds · Sep 17, 2013

thanks for the info.... i have been looking for HH agency's as well as facilities that have independent living in my area and reading their websites and trying to learn as much about them as possible before i send in my resume. i want to make sure i pick the right companies that are not all about the money and all about the clients.

how was the interview process with the companies?

NoWomanNoCry · Sep 17, 2013

The "bad company" was a friend gave them my name telling them I needed a job. I called them they said to come in...asked me nothing..handed me a packet of papers to fill out (references...tax stuff...ect) I turned it in and she told me she had a client for me and I was to meet another worker there at clients home to be introduced the next day. I went there the next day meet up with another worker from company and met client. The co worker explained to client and myself things I'm suppose to do and not do. Some clients need more things done for example some have it listed to have so many meals made each visit made..some require just one meal. It all depends on how many hours your with client.

With "good company" I went in to there office and basically asked for a app and filled it out...I asked for the boss so I could hand app into her. We made small talk and she asked about my exp and looked over my app and said she would call my references and my current job (with the bad company) and get back within the day. I knew I would t have a issue with references or even current job at that time because I was and still am in good standing with both company's. she called back and said she was giving me a client and that was it.

I made sure I dressed up..just cause I was applying for a aid position I wanted to look professional.

Also a lot of time they will ask you how far your willing to travel. I told them within my town I was living in. Neither company paid for gas/mileage so I couldn't be driving all over just for a $7.25 hr job along with running errands for client.

This was all when I lived in Texas and they didn't require any kind of HHA certificate or CPR / first aid training. However since moving to Pa a lot of non medical aids positions are asking for people to take a HHA Training course and be CPR/first aid trained as well. So that's something to consider...make sure you know what your area requires. :)