We got a new aide this week for Tues. and Thurs. mornings. We had to let one of our former morning aides go. She just couldn't do the job right. She was a very nice lady who we both liked a lot, but her job must have been way at the bottom of her list of priorities, because her mind was definitely elsewhere when she was at work; plus she was often chatting on her cell phone(against company regulations) instead of working. She used to chat on the phone while giving Donna a bed bath. Can you imagine!? She would hold the phone with one hand while washing Donna with the other. I was shocked when the new aide asked my permission before answering a call on her cell phone..."it's about my ride home. Is it O.K. if I pick it up?" she said. The other aide never once asked permission to answer her cell phone and chat away for as long as she wanted. Can you imagine someone doing this on any other job. She'd be out the door in a minute. But since there is no supervisor and they are alone on the job with the client, some of the aides think that they can get away with anything. She used to wash Donna with a soapy wash cloth and then just dry her off with a towel, not even bothering to rinse her off. I wonder if she washes her own face that way...I bet not. Anyway, the new aide is very nice, AND very competent. She changes the rinse water for washing Donna twice without Donna even asking her! She does twice the job that the old one did, and she's only been with us two days! There are some great people doing a very important and necessary job for very little pay. If the rich would only pay a bit more taxes, instead of getting tax cuts, the government could afford to pay these home health care workers a living wage instead of the $9 or $10 per hour they now get. Its a disgrace that they have to work for such ridiculously low wages, if you ask me!