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Care & carers

Lack of Carer's courtesy while in your property

(55 Posts)
langelei Mon 29-Jun-26 15:44:13

A really new predicament for me, having nursed my husband for over four years but now accepted, begrudgingly, one visit a day for a Carer's agency (Marie Curie supported) to come and wash him and cream him just once a day. I totally accept that but quite honestly their standards, against my own, full down. They seem unable to make a bed without any forethought of how to first remove the bed rails first and then tuck in all the bedding. I seem to be forever cleaning up after them after they have left, the longest they have been here is 12 minutes. Today I caught a new one standing at the bathroom sink supposedly filling the bowl for his bed wash, scrolling lazily through her phone. But what really upsets me, and perhaps I am being a little petty about it, that they all seem to want to use the bathroom for themselves before they leave (male & female) without ever having the courtesy to ask if I would mind first.
Now two weeks into this regime with differing carers, two visit at a time, I discover they then sit in their vehicles in the carpark for another 30 minutes no doubt being paid to do this.
Please, how do I deal with this, as they are being invited into our home and property?

BlueBelle Sun 12-Jul-26 08:20:12

Well I think you are being very unreasonable about them having a wee before they go surely your toilet is usable for any visitor.
They also may be writing notes up or getting new instructions when they seem to be in their car for ages also don’t discount their use of phones, they are probably using them for their jobs not necessarily private texting
I don’t think anyone’s care will come up to your expectations, because you ve had to hand some of your care over to others and no one will ever do the job as well as you.

My dad had carers for a few years most were from overseas and he was very scared that he wouldn’t understand them, at first, or they wouldn’t him, but as soon as they were there he built up lovely friendships, and they were so good with him they all loved him and him them, they were from Portugal, Brazil Zimbabwe and a few English. they would go the extra mile for him and I remember one young Portuguese lad rushing off in his car to buy Dad a tub of Vaseline he needed A lot of them turned up at Dads funeral
On the other hand my aunt had a carer who she became very fond of they built up a mother /daughter relationship, however on my Aunties death we found the ‘carer’ had been thieving off my aunt for years and had had most of her money, we tried to take it to court after she died and when we found out but they wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole as my aunt although old and frail was of sound mind. She had even put herself down as next of kin, my dad, her brother only found out when he visited her in hospital and was told they could only talk to her next of kin and he said well that’s me then it all came to light but my Auntie died within a few days of the revelation

NotSpaghetti Sun 12-Jul-26 09:24:51

I wouldn't be happy with people letting themselves in just to use the loo (without asking) though BlueBelle .

I think that's very cheeky indeed!

BlueBelle Sun 12-Jul-26 11:36:40

But she didn’t say anything at all about “letting themselves in to use the loo” Notspaghetti she said they all seem to want to use the bathroom for themselves before they leave (male & female) and I don’t see anything wrong with that, I agree they should ask, but it’s hardly the crime of the centaurs is it.
If they are miles from home on their rounds and she has a nice clean bathroom why ever not. Perhaos the next person on their list lives in nasty conditions with a dirty smelly loo.

Oldnproud Sun 12-Jul-26 13:40:34

BlueBelle

But she didn’t say anything at all about “letting themselves in to use the loo” Notspaghetti she said they all seem to want to use the bathroom for themselves before they leave (male & female) and I don’t see anything wrong with that, I agree they should ask, but it’s hardly the crime of the centaurs is it.
If they are miles from home on their rounds and she has a nice clean bathroom why ever not. Perhaos the next person on their list lives in nasty conditions with a dirty smelly loo.

I mentioned that particular scenario somewhere above, BlueBelle. It was happening to my mum last year - when her carer was at her house, other carers in the area started popping in to use her toilet if they saw their colleague's car outside!