Sexual harrassment where you least expect it

[Samurai_Writer]

I'm a home health caregiver. For the last 6 weeks, I have been working on Sundays, taking care of a 50 year old man with muscular dystrophy. During that time, he's made inappropriate comments, and touched me inappropriately as well. Also, he's made racist and sexist comments that really bothered me.

My agency was great when I told them what was going on. They took me off that assignment and found more work for me right away. I filled out an incident report and they assured me that they would not be sending female caregivers over there any more.

I'm fairly new at caregiving, and was really shocked that this could happen to a caregiver by a patient. You always hear about elderly abuse and patient abuse, but not the other way around. After doing some research, I've learned it's a common problem with female caregivers who care for male patients.

I was lucky in that my agency was so supportive and that I had the presence of mind to get out of the situation early. However, it still really pisses me off that even elderly or disabled men think it's their right to harrass women.

[ThomCat]

1. Bigots and sexist bastards get old and ill too.

I feel very sorry for any woman who might ever have to be a home health caregiver for my father, for example.

[bleedingheart]

2. When I volunteered in a hospital...many years ago...

an elderly man groped me while I was helping feed him...he thought he was just so funny..
I was only a kid around 15 when he did that and it really freaked me out...

[Warpy]

3. Welcome to the wonderful world of health care

One of the dirtiest secrets of the health care workplace is the level of abuse and sometimes assault that employees are supposed to take from patients who are elderly, disoriented, or just plain mean.

You were absolutely right to fill out an incident report and refuse this patient. You are not there to be an emotional punching bag, you are there to do your job to keep his sorry ass alive.

Some harassers can be put into their places, but that takes time and practice.

A hide like a rhino doesn't hurt, either.