There are good agencies and not so good agencies!

This is a venting blog. I absolutely love my role in home care. In fact, I think that those of us who provide home care today are some of the most compassionate, caring individuals. Then, there are those who are clearly only in the business for business.

Tonight, I had the privilege of meeting one of the sweetest ladies I have ever met. Her son, now 5, still requires 24/7 nursing care and will for the rest of his life. I can handle that part, as sad as it is, some of these moms that I meet are truly the strongest women on the planet. So, having the ability to truly help these women – these families and provide them with comfort and relief, is more satisfaction than you can imagine.

As home care providers we are charged with a very critical mission: quality, ethical care that ensures the safety and well being of the client. For my team, it goes further than that – eliminate the headaches, stress and undue emotional pressures that families face when caring for a sick loved one. Now, imagine for just a moment being new to this country, learning the language AND having a child who requires round the clock nursing care. Thankfully, the Medicaid program provides this invaluable service that permits licensed agencies to send nurses into a home, thus eliminating the need for families to be without their children – having to deal with only visiting them in a home similar to a nursing home. It is a great program – but sadly abused by some agencies out there.

I am sickened, no, repulsed by the mere fact that there are agencies out there who are more concerned with the bottom dollar than the families. This mom was petrified that if she switched agencies (she is only receiving nursing care 50% of the time) that she would be harassed by the current agency manager, should she leave. In fact, on several occasions she has tried to leave and received continuous phone calls and even unannounced visits by the manager telling her to stay. She claimed that he would call her home, her cell phone and continue to beg her to stay.

What gives you the right to harass a family? The fact that your commission depends on it? Trust me, this is just ONE issue we have in home care today and it is ONE that will not be forgotten. So, to all of you out there who diligently follow my blog – to all of my competitors, those whom we support and those of you who read it merely to follow what we are doing... I will caution you. Treat your patients and their families with the respect they deserve. Home care is a service to assist them, not create more stress and headaches. If you are only in this business to make a living, find a new career. We are not checking out groceries – we are caring for people. If you are not sincere about their well being – do us all a favor and get out.