19/09/2016
Sooner or later in your vocation as a live in carer you will be sent to either a client who needs to carers or to a couple who needs to have two carers looking after them.
This situation can either be good or nasty depending on a few very simple strategies.
You and the other carer must be frank and open with each other. She may have been there a while and therefore you will be the new carer so she will have a good idea of routines and what is expected of both.
Set aside some time when you first meet to talk about who is supposed to care for which person if this is a couple. Normally one carer will be allocated one person although you will help each other when needed, perhaps with bed bathing and dressing. If there is night work to be done then it is usually taken in turns. This also goes for cooking. A double carer position can be very rewarding as you will actually have another person to talk to. Often the downside of caring is that it can be a very lonely time.
It is important that you and the other carer pull together for the good of the client. It is easy to get into a situation where two carers will try to compete for a client's attention. Remember that the end result should be a happy, safe client so both carers should avoid getting into competition with each other and the client or the family. If there really is a personality problem between the two carers then the agency should be contacted. More than likely they will replace one so be aware that it might be you they replace! Better to try to work out things in an amicable fashion while you are together.
If there is only one client with two carers then often one will do the nights and the other the days. Remember that when the other carer is asleep to be considerate and you will find that she will do the same for you. Two carers during the day will invariably mean that there is a lot of hoisting and rolling to do. You should be aware of where the other carer is during all manoeuvres.
Two carer positions can be extremely rewarding and you will find that you can often build a lasting friendship with the other carer. They can just as easily turn sour if you are not working together as a team for the benefit of the client. This is a good time to put aside any selfish thoughts about which carer is better than the other. It is a time to talk and discuss things and keep an open mind. Try not to 'gang up' on each other or family. Remember that you are now working as a team and the age old cliché still applies... 'There is no I in team'.
