This Is A Tad Sensitive, Tell Me How You Would Deal With It?

[Jeza]

When Mic came out of hospital I was told the local authority would handel his care until they decided he was stable. Then they would appoint an agency to carry on. I was also told we would have to pay full care costs. The local authority carers were very good, they did chat a bit but nothing too bad that bumped up the fees too much.
The new company girls log in and out via mobile phone when entering and leaving the house. They talk a lot. What's for dinner, boyfriends. local news etc.
Today on one visit they were here for 45 minutes. All they did was change Mic's pad and move him up the bed. IMO less than 15 minutes. So an extra 30 mins to be paid for for one visit alone, and we have 3 visits per day. Before you poo poo this, ask Pixie how much it costs for 2 carers for 30 minutes if I told you you wouldn't believe me.
My Q is I want to nip this in the bud without falling out with anyone. I could ring their manager but I really don't want to do that, after all they will be coming here for the foreseeable future.
So what do I say to the carers. Over to my fellow ABers.

[237SJ]

I`d just sound all bright and breezy (and innocent) and say "Not much to do today ladies, I don`t think we`ll be keeping you too long" and see if they get the hint.

[humbersloop]

hi Jeza, and hoping it's b&c time with you ;)

is there anything like a care schedule or spec you can turn to?

[Buenchico]

Try asking for information and for assistance, rather than criticising. e.g.: "Could I just check please, has your boss allocated a particular length of time to each of your visits here or does your firm just look at the times you arrive and leave? Only I'm really worried about the cost and, if possible, I'd appreciate it if you could try to keep the time down to an absolute minimum".

[Ric.ror]

Make a diary of the things they actually do then appeal to the company providing the care
It might help

[Jeza]

Yes humber there is but they don't appear to be sticking to it.

B&C time is after Mic is bedded down for the night. The night carers come at about 8.45pm so 9.30 is what I call my time.

[Jeza]

Chris ♥♥♥♥♥ I could kiss you.

[Mamyalynne]

Jeza, you have some very good answers above and I echo them - the visits should last as long as they have a task to do and Chris's approach sums that up.

Things are never easy are they? - take care and love to you both. ♥

[humbersloop]

don't supose it's specced out by what's to be done at each session is it? Though short of standing there with a checklist and clipboard, that's tricky. Just thinking it's not only the money, it's is mic getting the full care he was assessed as needing?

[Jeza]

Back later, carers at the door.

[woofgang]

I agree with what Cris and 237sj have suggested and am going to add something else. If Mic doesn't enjoy the chat, then they shouldn't be doing that either. If they are chatting then it should be with and to Mic about things that interest him. if that gets you nowhere then go back to the local authority and ask them why people from the agency that they have appointed are taking so much longer to do the same tasks than the "in house" people did.
can I make another suggestion? if you are paying full care costs and Social services are contributing nothing, then you might like to look online and shop around a bit. If they aren't contributing, then you don't have to have care from the agency that they appoint.

[sherrardk]

Does the agency have a website, maybe there is a section about what you can do if you're not happy with the service they provide.

[pixie373]

The calls are awarded a time. So if they overrun, the charge should be the same and they will be paid the same. I would ring the agency and double-check how long they have his calls down for. They cannot change that without your prior agreement.

[Psybbo]

Jeza, great to see the excellent advice given here which may be of assistance to a lot of us. I can't offer any advice but just wanted to say hello and wish the best to both of you and say how much I admire the way you are dealing with everything, sibs

[black_cat51]

most agencies have a minimum amount of time for a visit (ie if they are there 15 mins or 55 mins, you will be charged for an hour)

[nungate]

Our authority has given us a choice of carer companies to deal with my mother's care so we could choose which carers we wanted for my mum. We stuck with the company she knows and the carers she likes (she has dementia). I wondered whether your local authority might operate a similar scheme so you could choose another company to provide you with help caring for Mic. I should maybe mention that we are in Scotland and things might be different south of the border.

[ummmm]

With my Granddad we had slots booked of 30 mins. If they had his routine finished quicker they did something else until the half hour was up.

[Peter Pedant]

I think you need a Mic-cam dont you ?
The one we all read about that records what they do
and how long they take .....

[boxtops]

Chris's advice is excellent, to flag up your concerns with these ladies - we know that you don't like complaining to managers. Ask them - but it could well be right that they are paid by the visit (i.e. being paid for what they are being tasked to do) irrespective of how long they are actually in the house.

[tamborine]

How much is hourly/weekly care costs. MIL had a part time nurse @ £200 for 20hrs pw.

[Dee Sa]

we were told we could employ our own carers and they would give us a grant towards the cost, obviously you are better off than us, but this never happened as hubby died the same day.
I have worked as a manager in a care home and when agency staff arrived 20 mins late but obviously expected to be paid for it I used to say "sweetly" why don't you sit down and grab a cup of coffee because your hours wont start for another 10 mins, I cannot sign your time sheet for time you were not here.
You have to be firm from the beginning otherwise the word gets round you are too soft. Same in hospital hubby overheard them say "he is a really nice guy but beware of his wife don't mess with her !"
Everything rests on you now Jeza don't stand any nonsense. get straight on to their boss in the morning.