My best friend became basically paraplegic after an accident. They have recovered enough to live in their own home with 24 hour support staff (changes/transfers/feeding, but not nursing care).
The agency staffing them doesn’t have enough people to cover their shifts, so I hired on and trained to help cover when I’m not teaching (my “real” job). Weekends are the hardest, so I’ve been working 24+ hour shifts almost every weekend.
This past weekend I was already scheduled for 24 hours, and the graveyard person prior to me called out so I picked up that shift too. We’re allowed to sleep when they sleep, but they have to be adjusted in bed every other hour.
I ended up working 36 hours straight, and within 3 hours of getting home I had a DM on slack asking if I could come back in to cover again.
My “manager” is a 20 year old who started caregiving right after getting their GED and was promoted to a position they have no capacity to manage at all. They’re required to cover any shifts that don’t get covered, aren’t allowed to turn off their phones, and are taken advantage of the in ways that explain the shitty way they treat the people on their teams… but putting up with that crap when I am just doing this so my friend can stay in their house is ruining me.
I was a caregiver throughout college and grad school, and the agencies I worked for were never so disrespectful and nitpicky.
Going from a “respected” position to the bottom of the pile has been a disturbing wake up call to me about what low wage jobs require and how much disrespect is embedded in the work culture. It’s insane and I’m losing it.
I’m considering mortgaging my home to build a Ada accessible apartment in my finished shop so that I can just take over care completely and not have to work for that agency. In what world is that an “easier” solution?!