Who’s really to blame – the carer or the client?

In an ideal world, the live-in carer arrives at a placement, and all goes well. The carer gets on with the client and the client is happy for the carer to return regularly.

Unfortunately, this is not an ideal world, and things may not always work out well at a placement.

There are several reasons why the placement may not work, and unfortunately the live-in carer often seems to be where the blame is placed, whether this is true or not.

Is it always the fault of the carer when things do not work out? Absolutely not, and no carer should be made to feel like the fault is entirely theirs.

As the saying goes ‘it takes two to tango’ and there are always two sides to an argument. However, since the client/family/next of kin are the ones who pay the carer, often that will be where the blame is placed.

Too many night calls

Some agencies will agree to the carer being paid for night calls over twice a night, while other agencies will bring in a night carer so that the day carer can sleep.

Either way, it is a stressful situation until it is resolved, with the carer being constantly tired and possibly unable to work as well as they should. This leads to a certain amount of irritability with things that would not normally affect issues.

Increased workload

Before a placement the carer should receive a brief of the duties required. Arriving there to find that things have been added and there is far more to be done than anticipated makes for an unpleasant and frustrating placement.

An increased workload can also lead to a certain amount of resentment which will ultimately affect the relationship between carer and client.

Clash of personalities

This may be possibly the most important reason why things do not work out at a placement. Some people simply do not get along. There may be nothing wrong with either party, but they fail to get along.

Because the nature of live-in care is spending long periods of time in each other’s company, it stands to reason that the better two people get along, the better the time will pass.

When there are feelings of dislike, clashes of ideas, different outlooks on life and strong opinions, there may never be a peaceful atmosphere.

Final thoughts

While it is a nice thought that every placement will be ideal, it is also likely that at some time you will meet someone and not get along, no matter how nice both people are.

Many older clients are extremely set in their ways and having strangers live in their homes can sometimes bring out the worst in them. This does not mean that the fault is all the carer’s, it means that both people may never enjoy each other’s company.

Sometimes it is easier to lay the blame on the carer because they will eventually leave the placement. This leaves the carer feeling guilty about not coping with the placement.

While the carer may be asked to leave the placement early if this happens, it is important to remember that both sides may - and possibly are - at fault, and while remaining at a placement where there is a clash of personalities may not be the best thing.

Sometimes walking away and starting over may be better for the carer’s self-image and confidence.

 

Tags:

1

Go Back to Previous Page

Live in care jobs