As awful as this sounds, there are some clients who are not pleasant. In fact, some can be downright nasty to their live-in carers.
Little wonder that some clients seem to have a huge turnaround of carers, many of whom refuse to return or are sent packing early. This does not do the client any favors but there are some live-in carers who will be inclined to stay, even though the client is unpleasant to them.
In cases where the client suffers from Dementia there will often be times when they display bad tempers and aggression. This tends to come and go depending on situations through the day.
Unfortunately, there are some clients who seem to thrive on being nasty to everyone, maybe even their families, and often this can be a difficult situation to deal with.
No-one enjoys being on the receiving end of constant meanness and it is worth remembering that there are some ways to handle this type of person.
Although this is easier said than done, you need to be the bigger person in situations like this. While your client is doling out sarcasm and nasty comments, try to remain calm, breathe in slowly and resist the temptation to react as you may do normally. The minute you lose the ability to stay calm, you lose control of the situation.
Assuming your mean client does not have any mental issues and is simply nasty (yes, they do exist), you may be able to have a conversation with them and address the fact that you do not like bearing the brunt of their nastiness.
While you should never insult your client, you do have a right to point out respectfully that you do not appreciate their treatment.
Reassure them that you are simply doing your job to the best of your ability and as such prefer to work in pleasant conditions rather than in a tense and abusive atmosphere.
If your client continues to be rude and aggressive towards you, do not continue the conversation. No good will come of it at this point and most likely they will be angry. Far better to leave the room for a while to let things cool down.
If your client has calmed down and is prepared to talk to you then it is okay to bring the subject up again. You may want to discuss how things can be changed so that both of you are happier.
In your mind, make a decision about how long you are prepared to tolerate bad and nasty behavior towards you. Set yourself a time frame and be prepared to implement it should things not change for the better.
If things are constantly unpleasant you should inform your agency, or the family. You may find that family have a solution to the way you can handle things – then again, they may simply tell you that ‘mom is always like that.’ =
While this may not be the best news to receive at least you can be assured that your client is nasty to everyone and not just you!
Before you decide to part ways with your mean client, make sure you weigh things up thoroughly first.
If, for example, your client never calls during the night and you always get a good night’s sleep, but find that they are mean during the day, ask yourself if this may be a situation where you stay, rather than leave.
As every live-in carer knows, being called several times each night leaves you exhausted and unable to do your best, particularly if it happens every single night.
Sometimes the devil you know may be the best option, after all!
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