Follow
Share

Past few days I’ve been having issues with my HHA. She’s been taking random pictures in my house for her friend to see, it has nothing to do with agency. Yesterday she thought it was appropriate to put me on cam with her friend who’s a man without my permission or knowledge until I looked up and saw him looking at me. I’ve reported her to office they're not doing much but just said they won’t send her back here. What’s something I can do?

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Find Care & Housing
File a written complaint. No one should be taking photos of a home they are working in! YIKES!
Helpful Answer (14)
Report

Yes, make that complaint in writing. Send it to them certified mail. The HHA needs serious reprimanding.

The agency should be doing basic training... like starting with “professional” behavior. No talk, text, live chat while on the job. No pictures of clients or their homes and other possessions, etc.
Helpful Answer (8)
Report

Could they be casing your home? For theft? I'd put it in writing too!
Helpful Answer (8)
Report
Stephanie4181 May 2019
Good point, I didn't think about that. Scary
(3)
Report
Did you say anything to her the first time you saw her taking pictures?
Helpful Answer (3)
Report
gdaughter May 2019
It's very awkward to reprimand or complain when you have a need and are potentially disabled or frail in some way...
(2)
Report
Thank you for your advice. Tomorrow my last day with this agency but I will still write a formal complaint and probably send to state as well.
Helpful Answer (10)
Report
gdaughter May 2019
In our state, IF the aide is an STNA, via the State Nursing Board, there is a registry of those who really are STNA's. Related, there is also sadly an abuse registry, but it appears to only cover nursing homes. Hopefully agencies and consumers double check that before making any hiring decisions. I looked in the past couple weeks and there an unbelievable 2K names on it.... By the date above, you are already done...
(3)
Report
I would check out if the state is involved in overseeing them. If so, send a copy of the letter to them too. At the least, this is an invasion of privacy. At the worst, she could be casing your house. The agency has tobtake this seriously. This is very inappropriate and unprofessional.

Glad ur changing agencies.
Helpful Answer (7)
Report

I would feel like it is my duty to report this agency. There are a lot of elderly out there with no one.
Helpful Answer (9)
Report
gdaughter May 2019
And this is why I constantly advocate for better protections. My own personal experience mentioned above has led me to plan on pursuing action with our senator to get legislation going so that older adults without family or other advocates/friends will be as safe as possible...requiring that all in-home caregivers MUST have and SHOW a criminal background and BMV report. While everyone may have a ticket or two, a history of many or a DUI demonstrates the person's character and intelligence to me.
(4)
Report
Dismissed, and potentially fired. Reflects an agency not training adequately; this is a breach of confidentiality/privacy. Damn these phones! I have to add that in a very few cases I have had people I supervise do so but only close ups of a problem...clutter, debris, excessive dirt...it did not reveal any identifying info or the client, but still, as helpful as it may have been from my perspective, I made it clear this was not acceptable, required the pictures to be deleted immediately, and let the people know in the future that 1. Their word/description was adequate and 2. I was available to make a visit to observe firsthand.
This really irks me because you and your space have been invaded and you have no idea of the aides intentions. We are so vulnerable, those who need outside help. I was especially distressed recently because I learned private companies not involved with medicare/medicaid do NOT have to do a criminal background check. They CAN, but they are not required. We had the owner of a private company out with the anticipated aide. Owner did a check when I inquired and created (I suspect) a story for the info she found OR the aide was conning her...about charges in re to trashing an apt the aide shared with a sibling. Supposedly the aide took the rap for her sibling. Uh huh. Such a good sister! But only BY CHANCE did I discover this aide had about 10 court appearances for driving violations...and she was going to potentially drive my mother! The owner didn't even mention one word about this when I sent her an email, and she felt absolutely fine that the aide would drive my mother!
As for what you can do...I think 1. I would be investigating and attempting to find another agency and 2. At the same time I think I'd check with the local police on the non emergency number or via an email to convey your concerns about your privacy and being at risk...i.e. was she taking pictures of the environment, valuables to potentially rob you? And I would also contact the long term care ombudsman's office. There is such a need for HHA's that she is liable to be hired elsewhere.
And I will conclude with this little hyperawareness episode: In the process of looking for another agency they sent out a marketing person (1st error from my perspective). In the course of discussion she mentions that sometimes they have aides without cars who may be dropped off by a family member or someone. I point out the breach of confidentiality. She was clueless. I said well, you have a 3rd uninvolved party now exposed to our home address and knowledge of someone inside who is frail or impaired. Her comeback? That LOTS of people had access to information!
BTW, you want not only to assure that the images of you and your home are deleted, but also that they have not already been posted to social media.
Good luck...I hope you'll write back to update!
Helpful Answer (5)
Report
jacobsonbob May 2019
Maybe a takeaway here is that one should consider only the agencies that are involved with Medicare and Medicaid (even if neither program will apply to the person needing care) just to be certain that at least some level of scrutiny during hiring the aides has been done.
(0)
Report
See 1 more reply
Consult a lawyer - NOW! Even if you dismiss her, which I would do - the agency has certain responsibilities as well. Whatever photos, videos, etc. have been taken need to be destroyed. (This is a bit radical but in this day & age . . . whose to know whether or not she's in league with people who break in to houses & still things. Or identify theft or credit card fraud.)

Sorry, but that sort of behavior is unprofessional & totally uncalled for.

TALK TO A LAWYER!
Helpful Answer (5)
Report

Make a written complaint to the Agency and ask that they file a DPH report on the aide.  Ask for a copy and recommend that they contact any other clients that this aide works with to inquire if this is happening in other homes.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Sugarb914, I don't see anything in your post or replies about what the HHA said about this when you asked her what she was doing. Or what she thought she was doing. Or what the &%^$$ing h311 she thought she was doing.

I mean, she was right there and you were right there and it was going on right there, yes? So... what did you say and what did she say?
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
Isthisrealyreal May 2019
I believe she answered that question, it is awkward to complain or reprimand when you are in need of assistance and vulnerable.

I believe that the OP is young with paralysis. So I am sure it is not easy to confront a stranger in your home.

My concern is that the agency didn't seem upset at all with the aides behavior and would only say they wouldn't send her again.
(1)
Report
She is probably bored.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

The OP posted earlier that she dropped the agency.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
Isthisrealyreal May 2019
Yes, but their reaction is very concerning. This lady is not special in that the behavior was reserved for her. They are treating others like this and possibly people that can't help themselves.

OP, you are a special lady, just not with that knothead agency.
(1)
Report
This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter