Hello everyone. I have been working with a client who uses a walker for a month and every time I go there, she makes me clean everything and makes me clean the bathroom every day and when I finish my task it's always one thing after another. I thought caregivers were responsible of light housekeeping. She even makes rude comments about the caregivers that there are some that are useless, and she also says that the clients must take advantage when caregivers are there. Even though I do a lot of cleaning, I must be there listening to her bad comments. Every time I clean the client's house, she just keeps an eye on me and that makes me feel uncomfortable. I also have another client who lives with her daughter and her daughter wants to tell me what to do. I understood that I must do what my client wants me to do. I'm confused, I don't know whether to leave those two clients or is all this normal? I feel lost. Please give me an honest answer. Thank you!
I would leave lickety split and report her expectations to your supervisor! Or are you self employed?
Quit no matter what your situation is. You can do better than staying in this job! I hired caregivers for my mom. I never expected them to do any major cleaning.
Wishing you all the best.
As a CNA you should be primarily doing hands on care. Like dressing and bathing. You cannot dispense meds, unless ur certified, only remind client to take them. Depending on your shift, get them meals. Light houskeeping means pretty much just cleaning up. Running the sweeper, dusting, maybe wipe down the bathroom. But scrubbing floors and cleaning the whole house is not your responsibility. They hire a cleaning lady for that. Laundry and stripping the clients bed u can do. Lets say the daughter wants u to do the family laundry. Your only contracted to care for the client.
If you are going to do this work privately, then have a contract of your duties. Have client sign showing they understanding what your duties are. You do not clean the daughters house. Your only responsible to care for the client. If she soils her clothing or her bedding, of course you get her cleaned up, dressed and wash the soiled items. If daughter is there all the time, you may get clients meals but not the daughters. The evening meal should be done by the daughter.
If you are going to dovthis job, then u need to be assertive. "No sorry, that is not part of my duties." Learn to shut out negative comments.
Here is an aide who posted just recently about a similar client. Read my response.
https://www.agingcare.com/questions/how-do-you-deal-with-an-alcoholic-when-doing-the-caregiving-486366.htm
https://collierhomecare.com/blog/what-tasks-are-considered-light-housekeeping-when-do-you-need-to-hire-a-cleaning-service/
This is best done when you are first hired. You will explain what "light housekeeping" consists of. You will agree. This is also best done in writing and signed by you both. A good sitdown at the table to discuss things in detail.
You also have a right to ask your client not to peer over your shoulder. Tell him/her that you will call them when you finish a task so they can oversee your work.
If you cannot come to a conclusion that works for you both, you are correct: you will have to resign.
Now if you work for an agency this is all much easier. You will go to your immediate supervisor and tell them that you are currently being expected consistently to do jobs that don't fall under any definition of light housekeeping.
I wish you luck. You will have to strongly and gently speak up for yourself.