The respite that I have is not respite

[GreenPebbles]

I work as a carer for a family. The family are gone away and I am scheduled to be live in for the week.

There's a lady that comes to help and it's to provide me with a break.

She came at 2pm and she just f*cked off into the utility room to work on laundry.

Laundry is not an issue as far as I am concerned. That will get done when it gets done and there's not a huge backlog of it either.

So she's working in the utility room and the break that I am supposed to be having, well I am not getting it. Because the person still needs caring for.

So every day is different. I don't know if this person will even sleep through the night. This is supposed to be a break for me in case I do t get to see a bed until fuck o clock time.

She's been in the utility room since 2pm. That's 35 mins. There's no way there's 35 minutes of work in there. Unless if she's ironing towels and that's ridiculous.

Where's my fucking break? I'm working until I get fucking sick.

Will I go in there and just tell her to come out?

She didn't come yesterday.

Go in and tell her to take over from you now and you go and have a breather.

You should tell her what you need, if she doesn't listen and carries on doing jobs that don't give you your intended breaks then escalate. Are you employed through an agency/company or directly by the family?

Perhaps speak to her. Ask her to come out of the laundry room and explain what you'd like her to do.

Go and tell her you're going for a walk for a break and bugger off to a coffee shop for an hour or longer

You need to give her clear instructions.
Then you need to either leave the premises or go to your room and close the door so you are unable during your break.

Tell her she needs to take over and let you have a break now or you'll report her to management.

Of course you talk to her, she’s not a mind reader, and she may be thinking she’s being helpful. Just tell her you are now on a break and leave the house…

What's in your contract regardless breaks?

Just tell her she’s in charge and you’re off out or going to be asleep upstairs now. Show her any care info, introduce her to the person in your charge and write a list of everything she needs to do. You will need to be direct and directive.

I used to have a respite carer who refused to be left alone in the house with the patient.

That meant I couldn't go out for a walk or to the shops while she was there.

It was pointless.

When she arrives, can you not go outside/shops/go to your room and shut the door? How long is she supposed to come for?

Exactly - hi - I'm off out see you