Problems with a meal delivery

debodun said:
They are all contributing factors. I just find it more stressful than I did before.
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That is definitely and totally understandable, too, Deb.

Perhaps sometime in this coming autumn, when the days become shorter, and it gets dark earlier, adding to the early winter weather, might just be the time to decide you've done more than your part, and it may be time to spend more time at home instead, or to find an indoor and less stressful volunteer opportunity.
One that benefits both the recipient(s) and yourself, as well. Or one that you could feel good about doing, without this one's level of difficulties and stresses.
Or perhaps just find a different interest that's more for yourself, at this point. You've done your share of helping others.
 

hollydolly said:
..and that's not the idea at all. You don't volunteer your services to make yourself ill
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I agree with this, totally, as well. That's not a good trade-off.

On a plus side, it is good that you (Deb) didn't respond to the call to substitute again. They need to go in some other directions, rather than asking too much of the volunteers they have at the moment.
 
Deb, you have definitely been a great volunteer through the years. I have thought about doing it but the things that have happened to you have made me decide against it. My car is 15 years old and I donā€™t want to have to replace it.
 

I didn't see this post before. I'm not sure if this is volunteer or paid. But if you call anything in, document. Date, time and who you spoke to.

Years and years ago when young, I worked for one of these senior assist places as a part time second job. Took people shopping, cleaning etc. I think for lower income. Anyway I went to this one nice woman just once. When I was done, she had a visitor and I asked her when she wanted me to come back. She said to call her in a couple of days. I did. She said she wasn't feeling well and was having someone stay with her and didn't need me. I reported it to the agency immediately by phone. Her case worker was on vacation so they gave it to another person who I spoke to.

Bottom line, that person I spoke to did nothing so they blamed me and fired me stating I never called which was a lie. They said I "abandoned" her. Again a lie. I spoke to the person I had talked to on the phone and I could tell by the way she pitched her voice that she lied back to me, but there was nothing I could do. I was the flunky they could blame.
 
Update on meal delivery - that problem client (the one with the rutted driveway) isn't eating the meals. When I walked in yesterday, there was no place to set the food tray. Her kitchen table was filled end to end with uneaten food - flies swarming around it - and the SMELL šŸ¤¢. Of course when I got back to the meal distribution center, I told the site director. She said she'd mention it to adult protective services. Well, I've been this route already. I've told them many times of the deplorable conditions in that house and on property. Nothing ever seems to get done about seeing that she eats the meals.
 
When I enter the house, I call out. She's always in bed, so out of direct sight. Sometimes she's very difficult to awaken. If she answers, I assume she's okay. That's about all I can do directly apart from reporting any unusual circumstances. There has to be somone that's responsible for her. I understand from the site supervisor that she has a son, but, "He's no help." I just wonder why she isn't in assisted care being bedridden and alone.
 
debodun said:
When I enter the house, I call out. She's always in bed, so out of direct sight. Sometimes she's very difficult to awaken. If she answers, I assume she's okay. That's about all I can do directly apart from reporting any unusual circumstances. There has to be somone that's responsible for her. I understand from the site supervisor that she has a son, but, "He's no help." I just wonder why she isn't in assisted care being bedridden and alone.
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could you just call the police and ask for a wellness check ?..they'll soon discover if she's well enough to be alone..
 
I will see what has transpired when I deliver again. The new meal site director seems to have a little more on the ball than the previous one. When I told her about the issue, she wrote something down and said she take it up with adult protective services.
 
Adult protective services is very different from child protective services because adults are free to make their own decisions and they are allowed to live in some deplorable conditions if their mind is fine.
 
When I reported it to the meal site director last week, she said she'd mention it to adult protective services. Today she told me what someone else had already told me - they can't dictate under what conditions people live. However, when I arrived today, there were 2 strange cars in the driveway. Two women were there, one looked like she had been waiting for the other and the other had just arrived because she was getting out of her car. She said they were from adult protective. I said I had reported this client numerous times and that if other drivers hadn't, I'd be surprised. She said something to the effect that maybe the other drivers just don't care.

Unfortunately, the client wasn't home - a note stuck in the door said she had a doctor's appointment. The women said they aren't allowed to enter a home if the client isn't there. Funny, that the client wouldn't be there just the day the agents arrived. If they had called to tell her they were coming, she could have left so she wouldn't have to answer any questions. I'm just speculating, though.
 
She's still on the route list and still has old meals piled up on the table. There are 2 large black garbage bags sitting on the kitchen floor which may be the old meals someone cleaned off the table, but didn't dispose. When I reported it, I get the same story - "We can't dictate the conditions people live in." Makes me wonder why we bother to do a wellness check.
 
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debodun said:
The meal center director said there's likely a reason her family wants her to stay in the house. I think it's probably financial. They may not be willing or able to afford assisted care. This woman will probably live forever, bedridden in a stinky, unsanitary house. ;)
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...and take that as a lesson Deb...:sneaky:šŸ„°
 
debodun said:
They may not be willing or able to afford assisted care. This woman will probably live forever, bedridden in a stinky, unsanitary house.
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That is so sad šŸ˜•

Let us all hope that she has some family member or friend that will step up and help her. So that,
that will not be the case.
 
There's one client that always looks out at my car and asks me if I'm alone. I say, "Yes", and she says, "Can't you get anyone to help you?" I answer, "People don't want to work even when they're getting paid, so no chance anyone's going to work for no pay."
It's become a weekly ritual for us.
 
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