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What is wrong with the "Homehelp" system it's disgraceful
Main Post:
My mother is in a really bad way she has osteoarthritis, a disclocated knee, no left hip, and has been on crutches her whole life. Now she needs an electric wheelchair. Her Home Help from the Irish Wheelchair Association is utterly useless. She is supposed to arrive on Monday 1:30. But often she arrives different days, and always leaves early is smart, sarcastic etc or brings her boyfriend in the car who waits outside. She pretends on her app that she does her full 2 hours. Which my motner needs way more than 2 hours a week we had to fight for that even.
There is no such thing as going the extra mile all she does is get shopping because my mam can't get out she always gets the wrong items and when is explained which ones to get cuts her off and doesn't care.
If there is an issue such as putting out the bin or making the bed its that's not on my list of things to do. She takes 5 mins to hoover and its never done right.
My mother put her hand on her back to say thank you for putting away the shopping and she said don't touch me stomed out and slammed the front door! My mother is very independent and it kills her the big issues always made. She does be anxious whenever this girl is arriving and that's not right. What can be done?
We raised concerns about a previous worker and my mother was left without help for months on end so is now afraid to speak up and they never believe anything always taking the side of the carer. Are there rules and regulations these people are supposed to be following!?
Top Comment:
- get whatever documentation there is and check what the list of duties is
- if there’s no list, find out from the agency
- have a list of tasks planned for each day (whether personal care, or housework)
- get groceries delivered (valuable care time is being wasted on that, and driving to and from the shops etc, and the carer may not be getting mileage)
- record the starting and stopping times (not sure how much you want to kick up about that, but good to have the info in case you need it)
- personally I’d complain like mad if the carer didn’t turn up on the right day, or turned up at a completely different time
And lots of people don’t like being touched. I think the carer wildly overreacted to that - but it’s not the best idea to do it.
As mine is currently the top comment ETA:
- get your GP onside
- talk to you local public health nurse / public health centre
- check out the citizens information website, it’s excellent
- pressure to get an occupational therapist to assess your mother’s living conditions
- apply, reapply, and reapply again for the carer’s allowance