While most live-in-carers head off to their placements with a good idea of what they will find when they arrive, you may one day be asked to go to a client as the very first live-in carer.
Where on earth do you start?
If your agency has sent you then you will most likely have a folder containing as much information as they can give you. Most agencies may go to the client and do a one-on-one assessment to see exactly what sort of care is needed.
If this is the case, you will either find piles of paperwork on your arrival or it will be delivered to you soon afterwards.
Hopefully, this will give you a good place to start and apart from working out who eats what and who likes certain tv programs, you may get along with as few hitches as possible.
Things can and possibly will be completely different if there is no agency involved and you have been hired privately.
Start with the basics
Get a notebook. Every day you will find something that you have either forgotten or have just thought about. You will have so much on your mind that you will forget things, so making a quick note to remind you will just keep things a little more under control.
Get your forms in order
You will need forms, either made up yourself or from online sources, to record things such as medication which is needed, medication which is refused and why, household money and how it is spent, expenses form if the family ask for this...and the list will go on.
You should also invest in a daily diary of some kind. This may be a large notebook or similar where you can record the events of the day. You will need a big one as you may have plenty to record in the first few weeks while you are finding your feet with your new client.
Keep the contacts together
Assemble a list of important phone numbers – doctor, district nurse, chaplain, immediate family or next of kin, favorite friend, gardener, cleaning lady, and the neighbor they have known for years.
Make sure that you also have all your clients details like date of birth, religion, allergies, DNR form (if applicable) and any other information which is relevant to your client.
Do a kitchen inventory
Head for the kitchen and check all the foods in the fridge and cupboards. Chuck out those packets of dried peas that date back to 2012! In fact, throw all out-of-date stuff out (you should clear this with the family first, perhaps they would like to do this).
Check out pots, pans and casserole dishes. If you can, invest in a decent potato peeler as you will most likely find one that was produced forty years ago and is only suitable to be thrown out! Also check out chopping boards and decent knives.
Make a shopping list
Be sure to include cleaning items and detergent. Check in the cupboard under the kitchen sink and get rid of things that have no labels.
Spend some time with your client and find out what they absolutely love and would gladly eat every day, what they think is ‘okay,’ and what they absolutely hate and will refuse to eat.
Final thoughts
You will not be able to do everything all in one go so keep that notebook close by and jot down things as you think of them.
It may seem that you have taken on too much at first but with patience and organization you will soon have things running smoothly!
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