We have hired a home care aide employed by a private company. Their minimum number of hours is 4. I've been told that most home care employees want eight hours a day which we cannot afford. Does anyone have a home care aide who will work 4 hours? If so what are examples of 4 hour schedules you use meaning 9-1 or 10-2, etc.? Thanks for any feedback.
Morning aide works 9-1 (breakfast, lunch and reminds about morning meds) and then assists mom in getting ready for her nap.
Evening aide works 5-9 and reminds about meds and gets mom dinner and ready for bed.
These hours have worked well.
Mom is 85, has moderate dementia, poor mobility but is able to transfer alone to bed, chair and toilet.
She lives in a senior
community in her independent living apartment.
10am-1:00pm on Mon, Tues, Thurs and Friday. But we are flexible should the caregiver need a work day off she then works on Wednesday to make up her hours. Works out great.
I was told by a very nice lady who owns an agency - there's so many people wanting aides/CNA's etc that they can "write their own ticket" about the hours they choose to work and how far they wish to drive.
There is a difference however - hands on care vs homemaker care. The Homemakers are easier to get (although when I called to schedule a few times, never had one actually show up - so I gave up.)
But, if you want care that will actually "touch" a patient/client then it's going to be difficult and expensive. The Homemakers won't help with bathing, or diaper changes though.
Labor shortage also means workers can hold out for more hours and a simpler schedule (which makes managing their own family life less stressful). Trying to cobble together enough hours for a single employee weekly to make a living from the differing needs of multiple clients becomes significantly more challenging and time-consuming for the care agency.
You will probably need to privately hire.
A year or so ago, companies were a bit more willing to have someone come on for part-time. But now, they are singing that song to me as well saying that it is the workers wanting full time. But, my speculation is that it's the companies. On the Medicaid waiver program, if you don't do adult daycare you can have up to 60 hours a month for in-home respite. Well, the company I am with now keeps saying not enough for the worker.
I requested information from a private source for private pay and was quoted for the minimum hours of 4 a week for around $500 a month. So after saying, that's probably all we can do for now, I've not heard another peep.