[cyndi hop]

My question is I am to start working for a lady who is in her 80's she has a big home a dog and a cat no one lives there but her if I choose to work I will be paid by IHSS this lady has a long hallway you need to picture this in your mind while I tell you this she has food in TV dinner trayes bowls of food lined up in a row along the walkway in her hall she has a stuffed bear animal that she calls her dead sister that she feeds food to she also has bowls of food in that room she has food in her washroom all this food has been cooked and it's all molded food there is dog poop in the bathtub there is a lot of flies swarming around and eating the food that she has in trays I counted all the nasty food she has line up an I counted about 15, dog poop in the drawers and on dining table it's more but it would take to long I really want to hlp this lady but I wnt to know doesn't this home need to be cleaned and sanitized before a person start working there isn't it against the law to start any work in unsanitary conditions as this should a cleaning service come and clean this lady own's this building she has tenants her nephew get's her money but not doing right by his aunt he should pay for cleaning service all that food poop flies and whatever else is in there needs to be gone before I do anything please give me advice I want to hlp but not under these conditions

[Alty]

This woman has a disorder. If you demand that a cleaning service come in, you may well do her more harm than good. Yes, it is unsanitary, and no one should have to live in those conditions. But to her, it's the norm. She needs psychiatric help to deal with whatever issues are causing her to keep her home in this state. If you simply remove all the waste the house will be in the same state within days.

The bottom line is this. If you can't accept the home in the state it's in, and there's no reason you should, then don't accept the job. But, you cannot demand that changes be made, or that her nephew forces his Aunt to keep her home clean. In the end, this is up to her, and until she gets the help she needs, mentally, nothing will change. If you can accept that, then accept the job. If you can't, then you will need to decline.

[FirstChair]

I believe other agencies should be involved or at least informed, such as adult protective services and a social worker for the elderly. She should have a guardian appointed by the court and not a nephew or other extended family member. Does she have an attorney, accountant, book keeper, you say she has tenants and owns the building she's in... That nephew should be helping her out, instead of helping himself out. How many times have I heard and seen issues like this through the years, too many! She's in her eighties, probably too old and weak to be living a healthy life style in a healthy environment. Too bad she doesn't have at least one caring son or daughter. Has IHSS been there to see the conditions? They should pay you double to deal with all that. What is your job description anyway? Cooking... cleaning... personal care... pet care? You seem like a compassionate person. I think I would be wearing gloves and a mask. Good Luck~