I have 8 hour shifts w/caregivers for my Mom. Mom naps a lot. My Mom has Alzheimer's (approaching middle stage). Memory issues affect her ability to prepare food. When I can't care for her (I'm the daughter), we have an agency provide caregivers in 8 hour shifts, 11am-7pm to cover meal issues. The rest of the time Mom does a few household tasks and naps a lot. Sometimes she wants help w/chores, sometimes not. She does need some help. But in an 8 hour shift, 7 days a week there is only so much cleaning a person can do. When she's awake they are active with her (we have watchful neighbors). My Mom also gets upset if they disturb her by doing things while she's asleep. I drop in unannounced a lot to check on her. We have 2-3 regular caregivers. I have found all at one time or another asleep in the same room as my Mom, while she napped. She generally sleeps soundly. Sometimes she talks about them sleeping and it bothers her. My gut reaction is anger, but I've slept while Mom napped. Should I be upset? Should I talk to them? Talk to the agency? I like the agency and caregivers. We have had consistency, no theft, no abuse, active participation to keep my Mom active. Confused, frustrated, and maybe a bit guilty. Please give me some guidance
Before you tell the agency,(which likely would fire her), I suggest you confront her and have that caregiver understand naps are unacceptable and continuing taking them result in your telling the agency. In that conversation try it as a problem solving how to not go sleep.
Try suggestions to not sleep: dietary eat protein for their meal/snack because protein promotes wakefulness and carbohydrates makes the body sleepy; coffee/caffeine is useful/ necessary to stay awake with for; a talking watch is good, especially ones that beep on each hour; an oven timer is useful for timing care such a dressing soak for half an hour; (this is a mixed message because it makes sure the patient is tended by an alert caregiver); possibly the caregiver has another job; walk around and do exercises is one way to stay awake; the use of Iphones and tablets I used to oppose, but I have rethought that for when patient is asleep I believe they are OK; I often suggest using WebMD to learn about the medical case.
To get a chart, start by collection into a folder all papers that you got from doctor's visits. Care plans can be set up by licensed persons.
If you have professionals coming to the home, ask them about making up a chart. For each page, write 'memo for the record' and the name and credential of the person writing, and the date. This makes the chart eligible to be a legal document.
Try providing cofee and some nutritious snacks of their choice.
But as DD tells me "Don't get mad Mom take action"
Expectations should be set at the beginning. And if things aren't satisfactory the first step is to talk to the aide/nurse, not to immediately call the boss.