Another thread about shoes off

[LittleMissDaydreams]

Hi everyone, just after some experiences and advice.

We currently have carers in several times each day.

They are very nice and helpful, except they don't take off their shoes.

The house was clean and hygienic, shoes have never been worn inside, only slippers, and the slippers washed regularly.

The entire house, save the kitchen is carpeted.

I tried doing some googling about this and found some discussions about a "shoes-off house" and that people in general would respect that.

However, our carers don't. We have perhaps ten different people who rotate through depending on their rotas, and they all come in with shoes on, rain or shine, mostly not even wiping feet.

Prior to them coming, we were asked to remove the carpet in one room, I'm not sure why, it was a normal, clean, short-pile, quite new carpet, but we went ahead and put a hard floor down. I don't really mind but it doesn't really make the shoes situation much better, it is still getting dirty, and I am now mopping another floor, just when I don't need extra work.

We provided blue disposable shoe covers, and they wore them for a bit, but now some have said they aren't allowed to wear them, whilst others continue to do so.

We have a baby in the house who needs to be able to play on the floor that they have walked on, and I have a health problem that has left me with a weakened immune system.

It does make me rather sad that we have spend all these years being clean and tidy, and now due to a bit of (hopefully temporary) illness, our carpets are being dirtied.

I know that there are people who don't mind shoes on in their home, and I respect that, but I hope those people understand that some people would prefer or even need shoes off.

I would have thought that shoes off (presuming you put clean socks on) or shoe covers on would promote health and healing.

The carers all seem to have similar shoes so I presume they are standard issue, and they haven't used them to go for a hike up snowdon via a mudslide, buy they nevertheless wear the shoes outside.

I expect someone will come along to cite health and safety, but it seems that that is a catch-all excuse rather like the old "because of covid". Yes they might be going into homes with dirt on the floor or whatever, but that isn't the case in our home, and if that indeed is the reason, why is it acceptable then to track the residue of that into our home.

Thank you for reading.

No, because that made them sick. The shoes didn't. We would have decades of evidence if shoes on in houses had anywhere near the impact of smoking.

That is nothing to do with the carers. Speak to the office about that.

Honestly, our company had clients like you. The manager was so accommodating and good at explaining why things are done like they are. Then when she felt she'd explained and they were still moaning she just boot them off and hand them back to wherever they came from (social services? The NHS?) saying we obviously couldn't meet their needs.

Nothing that gets said on here is going to change the fact that they refuse to do it, and you’re not going to be able to force them. I think your only options are to find different carers who are willing to remove their shoes or just accept it.

Clients like me?

Ok. I think I have taken all I need from this thread. Enough people working for the NHS have commented that they remove their shoes for me to be happy that shoe covers aren't an unusual request.

There have been studies on why it's better to take shoes off in houses, you only need to google it.

Unless your relative is rolling around on a carpet, shoes are as unlikely to affect their health as popping barefoot into their garden or, indeed, walking barefoot into their own loo. You already mentioned that carers are not servicing them with their feet and, I assume, they wash their hands which is still the most effective infection control measure.
Re mesh shoes, I am sure this is not in line with H&S policy either. But it doesn't mean carers shouldn't be wearing shoes. They should be wearing appropriate shoes still.
You are perfectly entitled to prevent carers from going in if you are concerned about germs. Caring for your relative yourself seems like an obvious solution here, doesn't it?

So why don't you ask people for good non slip brands of shoe covers and speak to the managers like people have suggested?

You are running the very real risk of the company saying they cannot meet your requirements 🤷‍♀️.

I think it's pretty clear how this is going to end for the OP 🫠

Each to their own. Carpets are a reasonable choice in a cooler country.

Get a little dippy pool of chlorine like they do at the swimming pool... have it instead of a doormat.

I work as a carer in two places - one I keep my shoes on, the other I was asked to take them off and the employer bought me (and the 4 others in the team) slippers to wear whilst there. I don’t have to do any manoeuvring and there is no risk of challenging behaviour meaning a quick escape may be necessary with this client, whereas there is challenging behaviour with the client I keep my shoes on for. Each job is very different and different companies will have different rules. I am happy taking of my shoes in the job that has no risk and is a clean environment, I absolutely wouldn’t be in the other job.

It’s part of their PPE, they need to be wearing close toed shoes incase they drop something sharp, spill something hot if preparing food/drinks etc. It is unreasonable to expect them to take their shoes off, however, the shoe covers are a perfectly reasonable compromise, and they should respect this and pop them on.

I don't think the OP wants to do anything constructive to resolve the issue, she ignored my comment above - and I have actually run a service of this type. Her attitude towards the carers is very patronising and the only way she will make progress is to talk to the manager of the service to understand why the carers have to wear shoes, what types of shoe covers would be acceptable and foster better communications with the service. The carers should really be wearing wipe clean shoes but some of them have terrible trouble with their feet due to all the standing involved and if there are trainers that are comfortable this may be the best solution.

I wonder whether they would, for example, take their shoes off for cultural reasons?

YANBU. Are these paid carers, not SS. You are paying for a service, and shoes off is required. Speak to the provider. I am sure she covers are allowed. Every workman who has ever come into my house takes their shoes off, or has covers.

Agree with this.

Low IQ is probably the answer.

Healthcare comes with health and safety regulations. If you can’t understand what MNers are saying have a quick Google.

Closed shoes are standard. A hoist/wheelchair over the toe will HURT. People need to not be hurt in their workplace.

OP has a baby and carers coming to the house. I don't agree with her, but she's clearly under enormous stress and doesn't deserve to be insulted like that.

I haven’t insulted anyone. I just agreed with her.

Uh huh, sure you have. No insult in telling someone they have a low IQ at all.

Why not look into respite care?

Book a nursing home for a while? Most larger homes have respite rooms available.

OP said she had low IQ and this is why she couldn’t understand why carers had to wear shoes.

I agreed.

She’s not worked in care. She doesn’t know.

I don’t understand how cars work (for example). It’s okay to not understand things. And I certainly wouldn’t be insulted if someone agreed that I knew nothing about cars.

No one has to know every little thing…

Yes they would. It's why people of Indian origin request Indian owned care agencies and Indian carers who understand.