My husband and I have just hired in-home care providers for my in laws, through a local agency. The owner has told us that we are not to have any direct contact with the care providers. Is this normal? How do we find out what is going on and how our parents are responding to it?
Really?
I find that very odd. I can only assume they are hiring people incapable of communicating?
I can certainly understand that they cannot be interrupted continually as they prepare lunch, do cleaning, laundry and pickup. But a simple occasional call not being answered seems a bit odd to me.
Do understand that often the same caregivers are not coming to the home at all times. The care is arranged and scheduled around client needs and caregiver scheduling.
Have you looked into several agencies and they are all this way?
Have you asked for their reasoning?
What do they tell you; we are just a bunch of caregivers so we would be guessing but they clearly must have a reason and I can't imagine why they wouldn't discuss that with you if you ask them.
What is their feeling about you having camera and sound system installed? This would give you access to "looking in " on your loved one, and it would be there whether or not they are.
I would be concerned about this. We recently heard about a caregiver that simply "leaves for 2 1/2 hours". Another caregiver complained of it. So this would be of concern to me.