Posting this as I am a live in carer and I’m honestly just fed up really. I never direct my frustration at clients or their families. Care companies and agencies are so greedy, they will lie to carers about the severity of the client’s condition/behaviour.
I had one client, I signed up to a month however I only did two weeks and I can’t believe I stayed that long! I would only get 2 hours of sleep per night, most days I didn’t have time to shower and I never had breaks - I am 25 years old however after the two weeks I looked about 40! Care companies do not listen to their employees, they want the client’s money so they are willing to put their carers into situations that are risky, not only was I harming my health during my time at said clients, I was also putting the client’s health in danger with the lack of sleep impacting my concentration. The gentleman I was caring for needed a carer throughout the day, an extra carer to visit so the day carer could have a break and also a night carer so the main carer could sleep. The client apparently didn’t have enough money, that’s not the Carer’s problem or responsibility to deal with - we don’t get paid extra for not taking breaks and working all night. Also this client had a dog that would bite and bark all night (putting my health at risk again). I relayed all of this to my agency and the client’s care company - absolutely nothing was done, nothing - I’m not exaggerating.
Setting boundaries can be difficult, some clients treat you like a slave and some treat you like their child and some are just chill and realise you’re an adult that has been trained enough to do the job. Live in carers have a shorter lifespan. There are loads of rules set for carers but it feels like there are none for clients and their families, sometimes you get asked to do unusual things and do things that take away from your actual duties such as keeping their loved one company and doing chores, taking phone calls, making appointments etc, doing shopping etc. You end up having to do housework during breaks or late in the evening, most of the time you’re so knackered you end up sleeping on your breaks instead of getting fresh air (even when you try and sleep on your break you often can’t as guests visit or phone rings etc).
It’s a very competitive industry so care companies will make themselves sound better than they are and will promise the family all sorts on behalf of the carers without us even knowing!
Care companies don’t do enough, there are rules they need to follow but they often do not - there was still a camera left in the Carer's bedroom (the lounge has been made into the Carer’s bedroom) the care company should have checked this.
I had a new package today with a new client, I was told the client’s power had cut out so she may have to go to a hotel which is fine. Turns out the client was already at a hotel and I was expected to sleep in a bed next to her in the tiny hotel room - boundaries? Where? I know these things can happen but this is not the carers problem, I was lied to about the situation as the company knew no carer would feel comfortable with this. It is not worth the money really.
I am a great carer, I didn’t know this I only do because my client’s and their families always ask for me to return, I love to care for people and always do more than I should, when I speak with other carers they say I’m stupid for doing the things I do for clients. It’s sad as I do enjoy this job but the lack of communication, dishonesty and greed has made me want to quit. I am doing this job to save up so I can study, I don’t have to pay rent and it pays quite good but not for what it is.