Quote:
Originally Posted by brightdoglover
There are helpers for dementia, etc. But not for RN skilled work.
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Just an idea: My line of work was sort of similar to yours. It was supportive living for clients who were departing the Mental Institutions. They departed to subsidized housing. All were diagnosed with many psychiatric disorders, most had extesive criminal histories but were also Regional Center Clients so had extra money due to the various levels of retardation. All clients had staff from 3 hrs a day+. Worst ones were very high functioning and had 24/7 staff. This was me. I settled on one client-two 18 hr shifts per week. It was actually designated a crisis center or something to that affect. They took only the worst ones.
An idea: The hospital keeps a list of names they give out to patients who need care. I was able to even include a website address with my name. I am not a caregiver, per se. I have caregiver skills for sure. After 6 months, I was very close to pulling my name off the list since most of the calls were for people out of surgery who needed true caregivers. Hands on care. A few weeks ago, I got a call for this job. I am currently at work.
Pay is $25 cash for a straight 48 hr shift. I'm paid to sleep getting about 7 hrs a night. Private bedroom w/bath. Very nice lady who has dementia but otherwise does all self care for herself. I rubbed vaseline on her back once when it was irritated (couldn't find anything else) but that's it so far.
It got old being called for jobs I was not qualified for. Even despite including the website address as I think they get in such a hurry they don't bother to look at it. Unlike this situation where she was not a patient in the hospital ready to be released so time was of the essence. My client is a wonderful 85 year old lady with a great attitude. She went off cussing once but that was when I was joking with her daughter in the car and she was not in the loop. She must be a part of everything or can get mad. It's difficult to even come on shift just having 5 min to talk to her caregiver without her constantly expecting to be with us and interrupting. I think there's a jealousy thing going on
This is a very affluent area. In this subdivision of about 6500 properties, the homes sell for an average of over 1 million dollars. One million two hundred dollars. I do very little housework since she has a housekeeper. That can be good and bad, I would like a little more of a break to be doing something else but oh well. Very little cooking since we keep going out to eat with her and he daughter to these fancy restaurants. Her daughter and I get along really well. I've only prepared breakfast and lunch so far.
I already had a job so wasn't overly enthusiastic when they phoned. Expecting more of the same having to explain I am not qualified. Yet the family already knew I was a better fit than the typical caregiver from reviewing the website. They had phoned the hospital for a list of names and saw my name contained a website address. Maybe consider putting your name in at a hospital in any affluent towns near you? I drive 1 hr to work. This is the closest town to us we can work anyhow... we live out in the boonies. It's not RN pay, however, you could get an easy client where you are paid to sleep with a long 48 hr shift. I first quoted them $30 per hr then reduced it to $25 after meeting them. This would clearly be an easy job without any negative interference from family so $30 was too expensive
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