Private duty/home care

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I was wondering the pros and cons of this.

I have been looking for a job to no avail. Over the weekend a friend of mine told me that her inlaws are looking for someone to care for their parents at home because they do not want to go to a nursing home, they want to be 'at home'.

I told her I would think about it and speak to someone more experienced in home care because I dont know how it would work God forbid one of them slips and fall breaks their hip or something because they couldnt wait for me to ambulate them etc or follow certain rules.

I would hate to lose my license, end up in court etc.

Anyone familiar with home care.

Thanks so much.

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Home care can be wonderful, but. . . . .

It's probably best not to care for your friend's relatives. If something happened between you and the people you are caring for, it could change the relationship between you and your friend.

It can be tricky when mixing business into your personal relationships.

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Specializes in Cardiology.

I'd definitely be careful with this one. The only home care jobs I would take would be through a home care agency- there are too many risks.

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Specializes in Cardiology.

I just wanted to add that maybe you could give them the name of some agencies?

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Thanks guys. You are right, I never looked at it that way.

Before I was thinking maybe I should put an add out or something, I need a job badly.

I will sign up with a couple agencies then. Ive just been applying to hospitals and nursing homes and havent heard anything back.

If anyone know of anything pls. pm me.

Thanks.

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Specializes in LTC.

Private duty home care is a cake job. I did it for a year. You can spend all day doting on one person, which is nice compared to the "okay quick lets wash your ass and haul you out of bed so I can move on to the next person" kind of hustle and bustle you get in a nursing home.

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Specializes in LTC.

It is a cake job! I worked nights at a assited living home and I only had three people to care for. 2 were independent. The other one just needed help going to the bathroom all night, and getting her dressed in the mornings. Then I cooked breakfast for them. My shift was 11:00pm-7:00am. Didn't really start till 6:00am though. I sat on the couch all night watching t.v. Got bored often and lonely at times but it was easy!! I only left because It didn't work with my school schedule. Try it out though.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

I'm doing private duty right now. The facility has their own agency so I work with a client in the nursing home part & one in the independent living part. My nursing home client has dementia & I get her washed & dressed, put her in her wheelchair, take her to the bathroom & feed her at meal times. My other client had a stroke & her right arm is paralyzed. I help her when needed, take her to PT, and fix her meals. But mainly she can do for herself. I kinda like private duty but then again I don't. Its kinda boring to be with one person all day, but to each their own. At my other job there are a couple of residents who have aides that are paid directly by the family, not through an agency. That has its pros & cons. Sometimes being paid directly by the family is good in the fact that you might be paid more than through an agency. Its cons are though you might not receive mileage reimbursement like you would through an agency, and you will most likely have to take out your own taxes.

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I'd definitely be careful with this one. The only home care jobs I would take would be through a home care agency- there are too many risks.

If there are legal problems, you should have the backing of the agency, to include legal representation. If you work independent of an agency, you have nothing but your own resources and your own . Just think about this before you jump at the opportunity.

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