RE: [QUAD-L] Another can of worms - passions need moving

[Aaron Mann]

I've got a lot of these attendant type emails I want to respond to, so  bear with me as I catch up.   I believe that a lot of us get into the position where we feel that there is not a lot we can do about attendants not showing up or performing their job thoroughly.  We get into a mindset of being employers when most of us have no idea how to employ, manage or handle the HR side of things.  I've spent many hours discussing this dilemma with my CEO father-in-law.   He told me a few gems that I take with me when I look for new attendants.  1) Treat it like a job not a friendship.  2) Do not guilt them into working. (That will come around to bite you)  3) Have consequences and follow through with them.  4) Write up detailed lists of what you want done on a daily basis.  5) Find out what drives them to work and cater towards that.  6) Pay or compensate fairly.   Each of these can be defined individually for each of us.  It sounds like you're in the wonderful Visiting Nurses (non)care program.  Talk about a system that needs an overhaul.  I agree that you have to have them, but I'd have the attendant you have there till 9 complete a list of things each day.  You could even break it down to pay per task on the list.  I've even put dollar values next to each task for my money-driven attendants. From: Silas Shelburne [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, May 30, 2005 2:37 PM To: Lori Michaelson; Quad Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Another can of worms - passions need moving Hi Everybody, Happy Memorial Day!  I have to pay a LPN 6.50$ an hr 3 nights a week to sleep.  Lol.  She turns me and caths one time, helps start my bath then leaves for work leaving me half done till the other nurse gets here at 8. I  also pay a aid 300$ a month to help shower, he can't do nothing by his self (or won't ) so he aggravates the hell out of me till he leaves around 9. But what can I do about it, not a dam thing.  I have to have them.  Silas ----- Original Message ----- From: Lori Michaelson To: Quad Sent: Monday, May 30, 2005 12:05 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Another can of worms - passions need moving    Hi Carol,   $6.50 is still not completely out of the picture as a wage in certain states and small towns ESPECIALLY if they're given enough hours.  I had an aide in NY (age 65 but energetic as a 25 yr-old) whom we paid privately for $6.50.  She WANTED little jobs like I needed to keep busy.  She moved to N.C. and hasn't found anyone TO work for!  Geeez...... she HAS the work ethic but moved to a place where all needy people are in asst living, nursing homes, etc.   We miss her and she misses us.  But she's 71 now and last time we spoke she was diagnosed with some odd condition.   I'm really eligible for 35 visits a week (under MediCARE) but am lucky to get 10.  You're lucky to get 40 hrs!!!   I live in a big town (Tucson, AZ - million people) and aides want AT LEAST $10/hour.  I pay my one reliable aide that amount to work privately on Sundays for housework AFTER she finishes my health care that the agency pays.  She's here anyway so doesn't mind.   I had one aide a year ago who had another patient pass away.  Her patient had tons of chux so she brought them to us.  So we're set on those.   All this makes life hell.   Lori -------Original Message-------   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 05/30/05 00:34:16 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Another can of worms - passions need moving   Lori, we live in Kentucky and are going to be dropped off the waiver because Home Health doesn't have anyone qualified to do respite with John...of which we only get 31 hours every six months. If you live someplace that provides home health services better..great. We were promised chux over a month ago and have not gotten them yet. Home health is a joke. I did get John on a personal care attendant program and we are allowed 40 hrs a week at $6.50 hr. Do you know anyone who will work for that? He needs 90 hrs a week care. so we have to pay the difference. We are very lucky if people whow up at all. The work ethic is gone . Carol