It is great to have a break every day and go for a walk when the weather is good. However, good weather does not happen every single day, and sometimes you may simply want to read a book in the peace of your own room.
It can be very irritating and annoying when you have attended to your client’s every wish for the entire day, hoping and planning for some peace and quiet, only to find that your client calls you because they know you are around.
Now, you may think that this never happens but if you speak to any other live-in carer you will find out that if a client knows you are in the house and not out on a walk, there is a huge possibility they will assume that you are still available to attend to them.
You may even find them calling you from the wheelchair at the bottom of the stairs! Yes, this does happen!
Well, there is the tactful and diplomatic way which is always the first option and sometimes may even work.
Once you have been called more than twice (it will be a habit after this) it is time to have a discussion with your client, or family.
You should explain that you may not want to go out every single day. Occasionally you will need to stay in your room and catch up on your own emails, read a book or simply relax.
Your two hours break belongs to you and you alone, and unless there is a real emergency, it should be respected.
The second way is when tact and diplomacy have not worked and you find that you are still frequently called to come down as your client wants to know where you are, what you are doing and why you can’t sit with them.
The list of questions will go on if this happens because a needy client will use every excuse to bring you down to them when you are out of the room.
If you have had no joy with the tactful approach it may be the time to try a more direct approach.
Breaks which are unable to be taken can and should be charged. Set your own fee and set it quite high, because you are giving up your free time. Inform your client and/or family that should your break be interrupted again you will be charging by the hour or part thereof.
If your client poo-poo’s the idea of you charging then this is the time to keep a record of which days and times you were called from your break. At the end of the week, when you send your invoice, you should itemise the calls and charges.
If you are with an agency, you should let them know your plan and send them the amount that you are claiming, to add to your invoice.
Once most clients/families find that they have an extra amount added to your weekly invoice simply because mom wanted to know where you were, you will very likely find that they have an in-depth discussion about the issue, and it ceases.
If it does not cease, and if you can cope with being called – and being paid for it – then consider whether it is worth it to go with the flow, take the extra money for your lack of breaks and read your book while your client snoozes.
Tags:
© 2025 EJOBBOARD LTD. All Rights Reserved.