I recently had a client of mine tell me that my agency was trying to give all of his hours to someone else. I have a good amount of hours with this person a week.
Another client of mine that I only spend a very small amount of time with, I asked to be given someone else in his place and was told that there is nobody available to fill his hours for me.
It sounds to me like my hours are being given away and there are no clients to fill my hours anymore. I think my company is going under or they just don't care about me anymore.
The only reason I still have my job is my clients like me I think.
I'm feeling really burnt out and like I'm encountering situations that are unusual or uncalled for way too often.
Is my company going under and it's time for a change?
I love my job and I feel like I'm really good at it. Elderly people seem to be the only people I get along with... so that leaves me with a line of work that I work by myself I guess.
I can't seem to find a good agency out there at all, that has what I'm looking for.
Is it time to change into a different line of work?
Thanks!
I was a caregiver for 25 years both agency-hired and private before going into business for myself. So I'm going to tell you what I think is going on with your clients.
Most agencies will rotate their caregivers so no one stays on one assignment for too long. When one person gets a lot of hours with someone it means they spend a lot of time together and get to know each other and it lessens the need for an agency go-between. Sometimes side deals happen between a caregiver and client or client family. Like private hiring and so on. So the agency's control over a situation lessens.
They're giving you the lousy assignments because you've proven you're an excellent worker.
Being an excellent worker in homecare is for the most part not rewarded. It is punished. The agency will stick you on the worst assignments that none of the others want or can handle. The care agencies I worked for used to pull this crap on me all the time.
They're pulling you off of your regular assignments for your normal clients to place you with the difficult clients no one wants.
Go private care for yourself. You'll make more money and you only answer to yourself.
I like the idea of this and I've looked into it before, my issue with it is I really want benefits and a guaranteed 40 plus hours... In particular a 401k.
Also I have too many bills so not meeting my hours needs is not an option for me.
Unfortunately I can't afford to not have a job so rocking the boat is not an option for me. I'm sure I would just get fired.
If you’re not making enough money to support yourself then something has to change.
Caregivers are in demand. Are you living in a small town? Have you thought about doing private caregiving? What do you like about working for an agency? What don’t you like?
Agencies have stipulations so don’t approach working privately with one of their clients.
I know if a temp agency hires a person they sign a contract stating that if they want to hire a temp permanently they must pay the temp agency a fee.
I hope that you find a suitable position, whether it’s caregiving, another job or going back to school to work elsewhere in the health care industry or another interest.
Some universities offer assessment tests where you can find out what you might be suitable for. If you are interested in a community college look for one where the credits will transfer to a four year university in case you want to transfer later on.
See what they have to say.
There is a lot of need for caregivers out there; I think overall you will be fine; you just need the facts from the "horse's mouth" as we say.
I wish you luck and hope you will update us after you speak to your employer.
The other option is to look for a facility that is hiring. (most are some with bonuses)
If you are a current CNA with certification you could work for a Hospice agency or work in a hospital.
LOTS of options.
If you love the work you are doing don't change the work, change who you work for.
As going into a similar job to what I'm currently doing, they don't have the schedule I'm looking for, benefits, hours or pay... Feels like I'd be putting myself in the same situation with a different company
My GF worked for a Hospital which supplied benefits and a pension.
You may want to consider going to school for LPN and later RN. My daughters Jr College had a program that worked around her work schedule. You maybe able to do alot on-line. She started as an LPN then received her RN about 15yrs ago. She is 46 and in the last few years has made 80k to 100k a year. At 24 and an LPN, she was able
to buy a home. This was while raising her son as a single Mom.
And it also looks like you have an excuse for just about every reply you've gotten on this post, so why even ask the question if you don't want to take anyone's advice.
It's my experience that people that make a lot of excuses for why things can't be done or changed, never do a darn thing about their situations other than complain, and things remain the same.
So if you're wanting your life to be better/different, quit making excuses and instead start taking some steps towards a better future.
That being said, if you're certain they are "giving your hours away" maybe they are trying to force you to quit. If so, you should attempt to find out why and not just assume the agency is "going under"... there is such demand for aids now I can't imagine how poorly run a business would have to be to fail in this field.
"I can't seem to find a good agency out there at all, that has what I'm looking for."
What is your definition of a good agency and what exactly are you looking for?
As an interim solution, you could do some seasonal driving for Amazon or one of their contractors, and make a bunch of money while you ponder your next career move. My nephew works 9am-3pm for an Amazon contractor and makes great money. The break may refresh you from your burnout. Just a thought to think outside the box if you're able.