I am a caregiver for my mother (who is bedridden), with 3 aides coming in to help. I am wondering about the proper gift to give the aides for the holidays. One of the aides is from hospice and comes for 6 hrs a week. Another aide is from an agency and comes overnight 3 times a week for 12 hrs each time. The only thing these 2 aides are asked to do is to help my mother to the bathroom when needed. (So they watch TV, read, or sleep when she doesn't need them.) I privately pay 1 other aide $ 15 an hr. She usually comes in between 15-20 hrs a week and is very flexible with her time. She sometimes prepares a simple meal for my mother. I don't ask any of them to help bathe my mother, to clean or do laundry. I do all of that. I'm not sure what would be an appropriate gift. I have read that I should give what is equivalent to 1 week's pay. I don't want to seem cheap, but that seems like alot for what they do, (Plus, I don't know what 2 of the aides are paid.) If anyone has any suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated.
I am a caregiver for my mother (who is bedridden), with 3 aides coming in to help. I am wondering about the proper gift to give the aides for the holidays. One of the aides is from hospice and comes for 6 hrs a week. Another aide is from an agency and comes overnight 3 times a week for 12 hrs each time. The only thing these 2 aides are asked to do is to help my mother to the bathroom when needed. (So they watch TV, read, or sleep when she doesn't need them.) I privately pay 1 other aide $ 15 an hr. She usually comes in between 15-20 hrs a week and is very flexible with her time. She sometimes prepares a simple meal for my mother. I don't ask any of them to help bathe my mother, to clean or do laundry. I do all of that. I'm not sure what would be an appropriate gift. I have read that I should give what is equivalent to 1 week's pay. I don't want to seem cheap, but that seems like alot for what they do, (Plus, I don't know what 2 of the aides are paid.) If anyone has any suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated.
Howdy there....
Hmmmmm, I am sort of in the same position. I have two aides for my parents. 24/7. I pay them through an agency. They take care of my mom who has alzhemier's (last stages) and my dad who is blind. I can't afford to give them a weeks salary each. So I am going to give them $100 each from my parents and some hand lotion from me. I hope that is okay. I know they get a bonus from the agency and I know I appreciate all they do, but I just can't afford more at this time. So I think getting back to it's the thought that counts is the way I am going...
WIshing you a great holiday season, but most of all good health!
Howdy there....
Hmmmmm, I am sort of in the same position. I have two aides for my parents. 24/7. I pay them through an agency. They take care of my mom who has alzhemier's (last stages) and my dad who is blind. I can't afford to give them a weeks salary each. So I am going to give them $100 each from my parents and some hand lotion from me. I hope that is okay. I know they get a bonus from the agency and I know I appreciate all they do, but I just can't afford more at this time. So I think getting back to it's the thought that counts is the way I am going...
WIshing you a great holiday season, but most of all good health!
Thanks, Linda. I appreciate your imput. I think you have a good idea. Hope you have a nice holiday, too. Best of everything.
Thanks, Linda. I appreciate your imput. I think you have a good idea. Hope you have a nice holiday, too. Best of everything.
If financially, such a gift is not within your means, I know that a simple thank you card with maybe a local coffee shop gift card inside is very nice, or tickets to a movie. Something fun and light that says you appreciate their time and that you hope their personal time is also of value that getting a coffee or going to a see a film is a good use of it.
If financially, such a gift is not within your means, I know that a simple thank you card with maybe a local coffee shop gift card inside is very nice, or tickets to a movie. Something fun and light that says you appreciate their time and that you hope their personal time is also of value that getting a coffee or going to a see a film is a good use of it.
And, yet another variation on this question: I know SOP is to give the equivalent of one week's pay, but how do you do that when most of the aides who've been working with your family member have only been working with them for a few weeks? You can't pro-rate it; you'd wind up giving the poor people something like 20 buck apiece. Are you supposed to give a full week's pay anyway? Or something in between? Or just pick a random amount? Help! Though, I have to say, at the moment, I'm liking Linda's thought: to give them an arbitrary amount "from" my grandma, and to get them each something nice and personalized to their taste to say "Thank you" from me and my mom. So, thanks, Linda!
And, yet another variation on this question: I know SOP is to give the equivalent of one week's pay, but how do you do that when most of the aides who've been working with your family member have only been working with them for a few weeks? You can't pro-rate it; you'd wind up giving the poor people something like 20 buck apiece. Are you supposed to give a full week's pay anyway? Or something in between? Or just pick a random amount? Help! Though, I have to say, at the moment, I'm liking Linda's thought: to give them an arbitrary amount "from" my grandma, and to get them each something nice and personalized to their taste to say "Thank you" from me and my mom. So, thanks, Linda!
Here's a recent blog post by Paula that gives suggestions for this very thing!
Here's a recent blog post by Paula that gives suggestions for this very thing!