Carers UK Forum

... walk into our homes having never met the people we care for before and assume that they know all about them and what is best for them? Agency managers drive me up the wall, they are the experts, this one having insisted that she knew best then discovered, having disbelieved me, that I was right, she left essentially telling me that I approach the OH the wrong way, that presumably is why he can do all the things now that no-one believed he would do after his stroke.

And is it really necessary to say "And who are you?" , the fact that I am still in my night clothes having hurt myself trying to manage him alone most of yesterday and first thing this morning, had to do more walking than I can manage in the hospital, as well as having been up in the night with spasm and then got up again at 4.00 am, might just suggest that I live here and am related in some way to him . Or to say "He is 85", yes I do know, I am married to him, I also know what he can and cannot do and why he is having difficulty walking, he has broken his arm, not his back or legs and he is scared of falling, encourage him and give him minimal support so that he gets his confidence back, he does know himself why he is having difficulty walking and I had already told her that I was going to get his private physio in on Monday or as soon as possible to help him get up without using his arms, which he can already do but is also scared to, and regain his confidence in walking.

Still what would I know, I am only his wife and 24/7 carer and have known him for years. I never have this problem with doctors, we discuss x-rays, scans, different treatments, etc. as equals but send in a care agency manager and suddenly I am an ignoramus, all that education, all the experience, is worthless, they are the experts.

It's that person first training course they do now.
Yes, they have moved away from "Does he take sugar in his tea?" to:
"P!ss off, I have a job to do, I have two weeks intensive training and you (whoever you are) are getting in my way!"
is it funny? No.

Parsifal

Still what would I know, I am only his wife and 24/7 carer and have known him for years. I never have this problem with doctors, we discuss x-rays, scans, different treatments, etc. as equals but send in a care agency manager and suddenly I am an ignoramus, all that education, all the experience, is worthless, they are the experts.

Haven't you told them that you're the client and they work for you regardless of who pay's for care.
Care agencies a) should train their staff better b) be respectful at all times c) cultivate good practice's]http://www.carersuk.org/images/icon_lol.gif[/img]

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsand ... DH_4083661

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And why is the equipment you have that works great for you suddenly not appropriate, wrong sort and you should have this, that and the other instead Next question being 'hasn't the ss got you this yet?' when you've already discussed their proposals with your OT and both agreed they should just get on with the job and stop moaning.

This is why I like direct payments/In Control.
I emailed my son's support worker today and said "can you come tomorrow to go sledging with Jo?" and he said: "sure, what time do you need me?"
Totally informal, no hassle: cost: £5:50p per hour.
One cheque at the end of the month: that's it really.

Apparently, entity, we need a new care plan, this is an emergency package until Monday, although we need virtually the same care as we had in place last year and which we cut back as my husband needed less input as he recovered from a UTI which really did take him off his feet until we had only help with showering which was supposed to be just supervision but ended up in him having everything done for him so we stopped it. These people do not seem to understand the psychological side of care either, the need for a sense of achievement and not a sense that one is totally incapable when there are things which one can do for oneself even if takes longer than having it done for you.

Myrtle, I got the distinct impression that I am viewed as pretty awful because I will not allow my husband to clutter our home with equipment which he does not need and may become unnecessarily dependent on, I may find that adapting to the environment works for me but he is 85, which completely ignores the fact that it has worked for him too. I did win the walking frame battle, he will not use it and will leave it in doorways, walking without it, and then I will have to shift it and because he is very tall it is a cumbersome thing and a pain, literally, to keep moving, we have been here before. I am not being obstructive, I do agree that a slip sheet would be useful because my husband does not help and suddenly weighs a tone when trying to shift him in the bed.

But the funniest and most irritating issue was the raised toilet seat, shock, horror it is the wrong height for my husband , could that be because it was provided for me not him and he would not normally use it using the normal height seat instead? They, there was the manager and another person, appeared not to believe me when I told them and went on about it being the wrong height, actually if I could get him in there I could adjust it myself, I know what to do, I told them they could raise it if they wished, I can always adjust it back when he does not need it but they did not attempt to and I have a nasty feeling that we are going to be subjected to an OT plus the enablement team was mentioned, we already pay for specialist rehab which is more than the enablement team, "And it is free", will provide and will be having additional NHS physio for the arm. They will probably report me to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Team as well for having the wrong attitude . The last is a joke. I hope .

My husband did not like them, particularly the manager, or their attitude either so at least we are in accord.

[quote]This is why I like direct payments/In Control.
I emailed my son's support worker today and said "can you come tomorrow to go sledging with Jo?" and he said]

The IB DPs do not include the personal care which for some reason is directly commissioned and does not quite work as I was told it would, I had to really push for it to be in place, hence the emergency package. I think that I may have the worst of both worlds, the need to manage the DPs but having little control over access and choice where the personal care side when we need it is concerned.

Excalibur
[quote] Totally informal, no hassle]

By taking Direct Payments you become an employer correct?, and subsequently have to follow employment rules and regulations pay national insurance taxes and provide maternity leave and holiday pay or cover and find replacement cover and how do you find cover during the regular carers time off?

The minimum wage might be alright for 16 year olds, but for the more mature carer who needs to pay rent or cover their mortgage costs pay bills, and living expenses petrol and so on -this amount of money is not good enough.

We should treat Carers and Informal carers with the same respect since, they provide a valuable service and contribute greatly to our society, like us are ranked next to fire-fighters in importance.

Care workers are badly paid and many have to take the status of self-employed so have to pay tax and insurance just like the rest of us not to mention when they also fall ill they have to have money in the bank to cover themselves and cover the cost of car break downs and so on.

The devils in the detail 'personal budgets and direct payments ‘yes do promote choice and control ' but also help to fuel a low wage economy for private companies to make profit out of the poor care worker and this government wants to remove AA & DLA to give to councils who will then employ private companies to provide care needs for its local community at the expense of the most deserving!!! Rant over.

Great post entity I can definately empathise as i was in minimum wage jobs before my husbands heart attack and subsequent disability.

The idea behind direct payments/iNdividual budgets/self directed support is excellent. For SOME people it is wonderful but for others an absolute nightmare.
My local authority seems of the opinion that to offer IBs releases them from providing, modern, professional, accountable services for people. My son doesnt have the (I hate this phrase) mental capacity to operate a direct payment so it is left to us his parents. I really dont want to be responsible for employing a team of people and managing tax, leave, sickness, health and safety, training etc etc. I simply want the service agreed in his care plan provided by Social Services.