The Chronicles of a Caregiver

For Fuck Sakes We Need Gloves, Gloves Arent Optional

I post a lot about my concerns of caregiving especially elder abuse. As Ive talked about it frequently my clients family arent the best. Today Im absolutely pissed. We all know that in healthcare that gloves are required. And per company policy the family must provide gloves. I told the family that they needed gloves and when I came here there was only 5 pairs of gloves. What tasks do we need gloves for? Personal hygiene, showering, cooking, dishes, cleaning, med pass, taking out trash and approximate amout of gloves on a sunday are

- personal hygiene (change depends)
breakfast
Med pass
Breakfast
Dishes
Lunch
Dishes
Dinner
Med pass
Dishes

Now let's count how many gloves I will need today. 8 gloves! Five wont cover 8. I cant do my job properly if I dont have gloves. I cant help change depends, I cant help showering, I cant do dishes, I cant take out trash, Im very limited about my tasks today. Which is quite upsetting due to the amount of lack of poor communication by not telling the office that we dont have gloves and we cant do tasks (I always get the heat of it dispite it wasn't my fault) its so angering when I care so much about my client and when I walk in. Theres no gloves or snack food except Graham crackers, yogurt and fruit. Its just not acceptable anymore (well its always unacceptable but Im tired of reporting the family and of course my work doesn't do it anonymously) its just so saddening when I come here and cant help my client.

Its so incredibly upsetting especially when I go and tell my work that we are out of gloves and they blame the caregivers for not letting anyone know when we tell the family all the time that they are out of gloves. Its so exhausting fighting the same fight week after week. Its either theres no food or there is no gloves.

I just don't understand how hard it is to go to walgreens to pick up a box of gloves. Its not that hard. Or buy them off amazon. Theres many ways to get gloves but when we need so many pairs to do dishes, med pass, sanitizing, meals, trash, pericare, a box of 50 gloves is going to only last 3 days.

Its a constant battle and it shouldnt be.

Gloves are not optional in health care

They are mandatory