While we would like to think that all clients tell the truth all the time, live-in carers may find that occasionally their client tells a lie. This can be a ploy to get their own way, or something more sinister as to make the carer look bad. And while this is annoying, it is not nearly as annoying as being with a client who lies all the time.
Yes, it does and possibly more often than most people realise. The truth is sadly that family and friends simply get accustomed to hearing lies from a person and do not stop to think of the effect they may have on new, incoming carers.
People lie for different reasons and clients are no exception to this rule, namely that there is no rule.
Your client may be jealous of you as is often the case in younger clients who cannot do what they may have been able to do previously.
In instances where you take care of one client and the spouse also lives there, it may be a case of jealousy seeing you and the spouse having a joke or laugh.
Possibly one of the main reasons why a client lies all the time is because they want to get rid of a particular carer. They have at some point decided that there is only one carer for them, namely the one who has just left, and if they tell enough lies the present carer will be asked to leave so that another can return.
This is one of the most difficult things to handle because unless the family is aware of what is going on, they may not believe you when you put your case across.
It is important that if you realise that your client is telling lies about you and your treatment of them, that you document it all, talk to your agency, or family and keep a clear record of incidents that are lied about.
Keeping records will cover you and keep things fresh in your mind should you need to discuss at a later stage. Additionally, as every agency will tell you, if it is not written down, then it simply did not happen.
If the family are aware that this is the way their loved one is, lying all the time about most things then they may be on your side and willing to listen and support you.
If the family does not, or will not, accept that their loved one lies about you and all you do, then there are two things you can do, namely stay and accept things, or walk away from a situation which will not change.
Whichever path you choose, be sure to have written everything down clearly, with dates and incidents, as well as outcomes and names of anyone you have spoken to.
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