For those who care for someone with Parkinson's disease
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I want/need to attend an out-of-state burial for my step-father. Air travel with my husband has become increasingly difficult with the mobility requirements, his confusion and extreme BP issues. I will be interviewing and hiring a companion/driver/meal person to be with my husband for a few hours each day while I’m away. Any pointers on interview questions, red flags to watch for, etc would be useful. I’ll be going through a professional service. |
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We had help from an agency, and they should screen them already, of course. Ask when they did the background/criminal checks of the person they want to send you, and hopefully it was recent. A few things I asked about were: 1. most important, the safety of my husband. Make sure the person you are getting has had actual experience with PD, hopefully extensive experience, and with PD at the stage your loved one is at and with the symptoms he is having. Is the helper familiar with dementia/hallucinations/delusions? Do they know how to handle those? Are they familiar with PD freezing-how to help someone through it and up off the floor if you can't get there in time, etc. 2. Are they experienced and comfortable helping your loved one eat, use the restroom (and clean if up when, not if, there's an accident), shower, dress, etc.? 3. What sorts of activities will they do with your loved one, and are those compatible with his/her abilities? Turning on the TV isn't an option! 4. Are they licensed/certified/bonded/insured? Get a copy of the relevant paperwork, just in case. If nothing else, it will show you the expiration date of the license/certification, etc. I actually looked someone up who wanted to do some work for us, and discovered their license had expired. They claimed they were not even aware! Not a good sign. 5. References, from recent clients. A glowing reference from two years ago doesn't really tell you how that helper is currently performing. 6. If you are comfortable with doing so, tell your neighbors you will be gone and a helper will be coming in. Give them your cell so that they can contact you if they notice anything they think is unusual. I would also have webcams throughout the house to check on your husband when the helper is not there, and also to make sure everything is ok when the helper is there. I got a male helper for my husband, at his request, but he didn't like him. We tried another male helper, but he didn't like him, either. I realized it wasn't the helper, but the situation, so now we use respite care. I think it is easier, and honestly, less expensive if you have to be gone more than several hours/overnight. I like the idea of my husband having an entire staff to help him and look out for him when I have to be away. If you have respite available where you are, you may want to also look into it as an option. I hope this is helpful 
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I think the Respite care would be better for your husband if you can find a place that does that. I had help coming in for my husband which was paid for by the government here in Ontario. However, it was only so many hours each day, like dressing him in the morning and night and feeding him. If I wanted more help, I had PSW's from the Alzheimer's Society come for several hours, but I paid them. I don't know if you have that option. My husband was scheduled to go in Respite for 60 days in a Long Term Facility as it became a crisis for me. He had a lot of issues which I couldn't handle. Then a permanent room became available at the same time. He was in Long Term for 8 months. Is there any organization that hire PSW's or Personal Service Workers in your area. That is where you should look. You need to tell them what your husband can and cannot do and what kind of help is needed. Are you comfortable leaving him all night? Anyway, maybe by now you have figured out something. |