“We’d probably take it occasionally, but would look for another job if it became routine.” If you can’t avoid stressing out your PCAs, get some help.
Mind Your Manners. Treat your PCA as you want them to treat you. Provide clear and direct instructions to avoid mistakes, hurt feelings or frustrations. “Please” and “Thank you” go a long way. Be assertive but avoid certain behaviors, such as aggressiveness (“Why can’t you get anything done on time?”); passiveness (“It’d be nice if it got done some time”); and passive/aggressiveness (“Well, somebody isn’t going to get paid if they don’t hurry”). When a PCA mistakes a positive attitude for passiveness and begins to take advantage, lay down clear and concise ground rules to gain the upper hand. If you find any PCA to have an unsavory agenda, give them notice and act on termination, if needed.
Establish Respect: A Two-Way Street. DeGraff says it’s essential to earn and establish mutual respect. By respecting a PCAs rights and showing that you genuinely care about them, you will get respect back. Stick to a routine, give them constant respect for their rights and allow them the right to refuse to do something that is against their values or morals.
Two are Better Than One. If you need several hours of service every day, it is wise to have an alternative PCA to help you with your routine. Having more than one PCA allows you to have backup in the event of sickness, vacation time, resignation, or if a PCA is taking too much control or taking advantage of your good nature. DeGraff says having two or more aides helps in the new-hire process. One can train another and avoid job burnout.
Let Them Know You Appreciate Them. And the most important tip for keeping PCAs happy? Express routine appreciation. Says DeGraff, “Aides deserve two types of pay—monetary and appreciation. The Red Cross has thousands of volunteers who show fierce loyalty after receiving routine appreciation.” Express appreciation only when you mean it and be sure it is clearly delivered and understood—and keep eye contact. Tell your PCA what you appreciate and why, and vary how often you express appreciation.
Follow these 10 tips and you will have PCAs who not only enjoy working for you but who will also take on any task you ask of them.
Below are DeGraff’s 8 hiring and screening tips:
Recruit from local campus papers, if possible. DeGraff advertises for people to call and leave a voicemail to earn $8.50 to $10 an hour while learning about Disability. Applicants do not need a medical background. You will train them. Screen recorded messages and eliminate those that are questionable. You can eliminate about half the callers by their message or because they forgot to leave a phone number. During your initial callback, outline a comprehensive list of routine and needs. One-third will screen themselves out. Set up an interview for applicants so they can watch a routine with your current PCA. You’ll screen out another one-third when they don’t show up. For those who attend training, explain the entire routine and discuss working guidelines and shifts. Allow for a Q&A session, and explain that your current aide will escort them out the door to answer any more questions they may have. Ask them to call the next day if they want to be considered for the job. If they don’t call, they’ve screened themselves out. For those who do call, consider their attitude and body language during the routine training. Did they watch eagerly and ask questions, or stand with their arms crossed away from the group? Stress that you are looking for a long-term employee, or give them a time limit. Schedule them for an actual shift and have another PCA train them until they are comfortable on their own.
From the Internet—ed. MODIFY YOUR LAUNDRY ROOM FOR ACCESS By Rosemarie Rosetti, Ph.D
It was months after my spinal cord injury before I did my first load of laundry. The reason why? I couldn’t get into my laundry room! Even though my laundry room is on the first floor, located off the attached garage, it is still a tight squeeze to navigate my manual wheelchair into the room. When I first got home from the hospital, my husband Mark had to remove the laundry room door to give me enough room to squeeze in. There are still black marks across the front of the washer and dryer, where my wheelchair footrest scraped up against them.
