home help and christmas presents

Old_Git

an elderly relative has home helps 3 times a day .

AM call ,make breakfast put on washing give tablets do shopping wash dishes ,make bed .

Lunch call ,heat meal in microwave ,hang up washing .

Night time give two tablets
Two people each call .
She is now thinking she would need to buy them something for christmas .
these are agency staff and not the same people every day ,but the same people do call regulary .
So how should she get around the Christmas present problem .

Errata

Homecare workers, whether agency or council, are not allowed to accept gifts from clients.

grunnie

My Mum is in a very sheltered home and has 2 carers 4 times a day 7 days a week.( the council provide these) At Christmas I give each a present( collect bargains throughtout the year- this year they are getting the bodyshop bag with bits which was £7.50) I have about 23 to give to this year. I think of it as a little thank you for all they do for my mum that I am not able to do. I also give the ones who come in on Christmas day itself an extra wee present - usually something to take home to their children eg sweets or choc. This year they are getting snowman soup on Xmas day and gold pots at New Years day.

grunnie

Errata wrote: »

Homecare workers, whether agency or council, are not allowed to accept gifts from clients.

They are not allowed to accept money but have always been allowed to accept small gifts. But maybe it is different in different regions.

Irony

Large diaries from Pound shop .

Old_Git

Irony wrote: »

Large diaries from Pound shop .

good idea ,then I can fill in all the days they need to put the washing on

Stardust

I give a large box / tin of sweets to my nans carers to share out between themselves at the office.

Poundland do some nice xmasy candles, maybe this and some sweets wrapped up nicely. Make 6 so she can give them out as the carers leave.

JOANNESAPHINE

Tin of chocolates, box of biscuits to share or small inexpensive smellies sets. I used to get gifts like that and it meant a lot to have a thank you at Christmas, made me feel appreciated although never expected anything.

biltibby

hi i manage home care staff, and they aren't allowed to take gifts, neither do they expect them. the fact that they are helping clients remain in their own homes because of the help they are giving the clients is enough reward in itself come chirstmas.. Some clients do buy gifts for staff when they realy cant afford to do so, but will do because they feel that they are expected to.

no one should feel obliged to do this.

margaretclare

Old_Git wrote: »

an elderly relative has home helps 3 times a day .

AM call ,make breakfast put on washing give tablets do shopping wash dishes ,make bed .

Lunch call ,heat meal in microwave ,hang up washing .

Night time give two tablets
Two people each call .

She is now thinking she would need to buy them something for christmas .

These are agency staff and not the same people every day ,but the same people do call regularly .
So how should she get around the Christmas present problem .

She can't make her own breakfast, take two tablets by herself - how is she thinking she can buy anything at all? Presumably she can't go shopping?

How should she get around the 'Christmas present problem'? Forget all about it. There isn't a problem.

Errata

Following on from Biltibby's post. Good home care companies forbid their staff to accept gifts from clients. Breaking this rule can lead to instant dismissal. The OP can help their elderly relative by asking the company if they have a rule about staff accepting gifts - at any time of the year - from clents, and if there is a limit.