Mom is receiving PT at home after a stay in the hospital and rehab. She told me she hired the PT to clean her house. Ethical?

Midwest raises good points.

So PT is an assistant. This makes sense - PTA also does shifts for home care, cleaning, maybe personal care too. (I have the relevant certificates to do those if I chose).

While I am 'chatty' I only discuss personal info, family, finances etc with trusted friends - certainly not with every new work contact.

Maybe your Mom got this chatty new assistant & is a little lonely so enjoys her tales?

But maybe the assistanct could take advantage, either financial or emotional, with or without meaning too.

It can happen that if someone is lonely, they can start to rely too much on their care workers for all their social & emotional contact. A one-sided friendship can grow. When the staff members move on (as young & eager people do) it can leave their client without their 'friend'. A big loss.

I would start to research Assisted Living options too. Could hopefully offer your Mom more two-sided friendships with folk her own age.

Thanks for the clarification Alice. It certainly shows poor judgment on the part of the PTA and I would not be comfortable having her continue, probably in either capacity. You’re right, it’s time to seriously make plans for assisted living.

Thank you for the suggestions. The PT visits are by a PT asst. My Mom is telling me all about this woman, her problems with her teenage daughter and ex-husband , trying to buy a house etc. It seems a lot for someone who just comes to do therapy twice a week. Mom needs social interaction which she could have in assisted living. At Rehab, she would only talk to staff. Mom has a home health aide through another agency but tries to limit her coming to dr appts and grocery shopping to keep cost down. I live out of state and was there for a visit.

I’ve known a lot of therapists that take side gigs, but usually as a PRN or part time therapist. This could be a PT assistant, but please check with them before taking any action. Agencies typically don’t want their employees working privately for clients, but it sometimes happens, usually after the client is discharged.

I'd question whether your Mom has her facts straight. PTs get paid enough that they don't need side gigs. I wouldn't notify the agency and inadvertently cause trouble for someone. I would attempt to talk to the PT privately myself first.

I think the bigger problem is she needs to be in assisted living.
If the house is getting cleaned who cares who she pays to do it , unless you find out it’s a ridiculous fee and Mom is being taken advantage of.

I would confirm with the Physical Therapist that she is taking money from your mom to do housecleaning.