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Problems with carers

(31 Posts)
Carequestion163 Fri 29-Aug-25 23:06:24

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Today 23:01Carequestion163

After a SS needs assessment, I was given a care package of 2.5 hours per week to include: general cleaning and laundry.

This has been in place for 3 weeks now and it's just getting worse. I have a 1 bedroom flat which is reasonably tidy and I've noticed a pattern to what the carers do.

They start in the kitchen and spend a good hour or so wiping the two counters and cleaning the floor. Then they do the bathroom, then run a hoover around.

One week the carer spent 2 hours in the kitchen. I eventually went in and said she only had half an hour to do the rest of the flat. This week I handed the carer a list of agreed tasks and she put it down and ignored it. Then she tried to clean the bathroom with my face flannel, and refused to move furniture in order to hoover, so she just cleaned the rug.

I provide a box of cleaning products, dusters, cloths and microcloths, so have no idea why she was trying to use a flannel.
She also didn't understand what a duster was.

I've already spoken to the care agency twice and confirmed that they have a list of things to do. I called SS today and they said they'll speak to the agency again. I don't know if Im expecting too much (even though everything has been agreed with the agency) and what I should expect.

Any advice?

avrorakanc1 Mon 08-Sept-25 14:35:59

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Aveline Tue 09-Sept-25 08:54:47

Reported

Esmay Tue 09-Sept-25 09:19:53

I think that being unhappy with carers is a common problem .
My father had them when first ill .
I kept a diary at that time and noted that he had seven different ones .
They varied enormously in what they did .
One of them was really fantastic ,one constantly trying to persuade him to have her daughter at the house to cut his hair snd give him expensive manicures and pedicures and one shouted at him and made him cry .

When his health deteriorated during the last two years the hospital suggested carers again .
It was a disaster .
They did very little .
They left him without a drink .
One poured half a bottle of Dettol into a bowl to wash his highly inflamed skin .
They complained a great deal .
They began to steal things .
They left the front door open .
They nearly set the house on fire .
One of them told me that her job was just a hobby as she was wealthy and she was doing us a favour .
They used to sing irritating songs enjoying teasing him and chat loudly- intimidating and frightening my father .

Unknown to them I could understand most of what they said .
They'd been recruited by a distant relative.
They lived in a really poor area and slept on sofas .
They were expected to keep house for the people that they stayed with .
They were constantly asking for their salaries and were never paid on time .

The only person , who was happy with the situation was the greedy care agency owner.

Aveline Tue 09-Sept-25 09:41:44

Various neighbours and friends have had visiting carers over the years and firm up my intention to go into a care home when the time comes. Main complaints include the ever changing rotas of people turning up with very varied notions of what they were supposed to do. Some good, some dreadful. The powerlessness of the person being cared for ie being put to bed for the night at a very early hour, not knowing who exactly was in the house or who had access to it. One direct comment that struck me from one lady, ' When my bedroom door closes at night I never when it'll be opened again or who by.'

GoodAfternoonTea Tue 09-Sept-25 11:29:01

Contact the agency and just keep at it. Does your carer speak English? I had this problem when looking after my mother. One carer just wanted to make her cups of tea and chat to her. She said she had a bad back and was allergic to chemicals! Another local case I heard of was of a daughter suspicious of her mother's carer and nothing ever seemed done. She popped in one day unannounced. The carer was sitting on the balcony smoking, having a coffee and scrolling through her 'phone. The mother was just left sitting in a chair in the lounge. Both cases were reported to the agencies. We finally got a super lady for my mum who my mother adored.