Carers going to the wrong house!

How did the carer get into your house. Do you leave the door unlocked or open ?

I would start by keeping a diary, and take it in person to the agency, record not only the number of times you are disturbed, but also how it makes you feel.

You could pin a note immediately underneath your door bell with 'Mrs lives next door, please knock there' in the hope that carers might read that. I can understand your desperation. The problem with carers now is that it is rare to get the same one twice, so they never learn from previous visits, and some of them have problems with English too. I do hope you get some peace soon!

You need a large notice beside your doorbell saying who lives here and that Mrs Neighbour at no. X lives in the other house with a description of where it is. Then in block capitals UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE RESIDENT OF THIS HOUSE BE DISTURBED BY CARERS.

Do you have family who could phone the agency on your behalf?
A stern word from a cross relative may do the trick.

Are SS involved in the care plan?
If so get onto them stating the problem .

Well the carer only had access to your hall if you left your front door open so first and foremost keep your door locked
I d put a notice on my door saying
MRS BLANK DOES NOT LIVE HERE and see what happens

I do sympathise. It’s happened to us a couple of times and was quite scary late at night as the two carers on the doorstep were adamant they had to come in. I’m surprised the agency isn’t taking it more seriously, the agency here certainly did. If you are on good terms with your neighbour could you ask her to speak to the agency? As their ‘customer’ they may take more notice of her. I might also try a signed for letter rather than email. The idea of a sign on your front door is a good one but really you shouldn’t need to do it and at the very least should be receiving an apology from the agency.

That's very annoying indeed. Can you get an arrow-shaped sign put up, with your neighbour's house number on it and pointing in her direction?

Does she have a clearly visible number? If not then it may be a genuine mistake. Should your house have a number as well as it’s name and if so is your number visible?

It seems you've done all you can in the way of signage and it doesn't work.

First of all lock your doors. I would have thought that went without saying. If you need to leave your door open for your own family, ask them to ring ahead as you will now be keeping your doors firmly locked until you know they are due.

Second, be glad you don't need a carer as it's clear your neighbour does, possibly even to put her to bed at night.

Thirdly: write a letter to the agency and ask for an urgent visit. You don't need to tell them at this stage what it is about. Then tell their representative that this is impacting on your own well-being and you are going to alert your own health professionals if they cannot prevent their workers bothering you.

Do all their workers read English? In my experience, many of these low-paid workers do not.
However, it is up to the agency to make it clear to every one on their books, especially your neighbour's care team, that you will not tolerate this.

Finally, always make sure every caller proves their identity. Do not take the chain off your door (you do have a stout door-chain don't you?) until you are absolutely sure, even if this means ringing the agency to check, whilst they wait on your doorstep. This is what the police advise.

If you have a house name, and the neighbour has a number, maybe this is the problem. The carers come looking for a house with a certain number, and there is your place with just a name - maybe the carer then mistakenly thinks your place is the right one. House names / numbers must be confusing for people employed to do house visits.

I'd get a number for your house, and make it nice and big. And I'd put a clear sign next to your door bell , saying that the house is not the one for the carers.

Thank you all for your advice and suggestions.

My door was not open just unlocked because my friend (87 years old) had just arrived and I was settling her in the lounge before returning to put my bar lock back on, that's when I met the carer!

My neighbour and I get on really well she is aware of everything that's going on, she has spoken to the agency, they assure her it won't happen again...
I must add my neighbour is not bed bound or seriously ill, the carers come to put and take off her elastic stockings, dish up her ready meal and wash up. She is 88 a little unsteady on her legs and just doesn't have the strength to deal with the stockings. Her opinion of the carers are 'they are as dull as bats'

I live in the South Wales valleys, 1200ft up a mountain and so far all of the carers have been Welsh.
I have noticed they all, without exception, walk across my drive head down keying something into their mobile phones.
Anyway I have spoken to a social worker who advises if I get no response from agency then I should contact the local coucil, I presume they license it.

So once again thank you all for advice and ideas.