Expected to Go Above And Beyond...

[Unregistered]

I have been doing in home daycare for 7 years now. I'm registered land have a crew of 8 full time children. I enrolled a DCK over the Summer who does have Down Syndrome, however this DCK has the sweetest disposition, gets along amazing with the other children, and is pretty developmentally on track with the other children. I have never offered special needs care before, and the parents knew DCK wouldn't be treated any differently here, which is exactly what they wanted. The first month was great, and DCK fit in perfect. After a few weeks, the requests started. Scheduling PT, OT, SP, and SW to do home visits here weekly...then giving special diet and laxatives to ease constipation and reflux (still reflexes 20-30 times a day, and my carpet is ruined...and brought me a doctors note so I wouldn't send her home) and now they've requested I start teaching her sign language (which I don't know). I know this isn't a lot, but I'm not asked to do these things...I'm told to do them, and that's what bothers me. I adore DCK, but these things are taking a lot of time away from the other kids, and I just don't know what to do how would you handle this sensitive situation?

[Leigh]

It IS a lot to ask, and if it is affecting the care that the other children receive, then it should stop. Puking all over your carpet and expecting you to let that happen 20-30 times a day? Are the parents paying for new carpet?

I would tell the parents that the therapies can no longer happen at your home, as they are affecting the level of care that the other children receive. I'd also raise their rates to cover the cost of replacing your carpet after the child leaves your care. Otherwise, I'd term. Medical condition or not, your carpets are being destroyed, and you're not able to do your job properly when making these concessions for ONE family.

[Heidi]

The therapies I would allow if I had the space. Somewhere for the therapist and child to go that was not distracting to the group, and at a time that does not affect my precious nap time or meals.

The sign language; I would be willing to learn a few signs and teach them to ALL the children. Maybe the speech therapist can do that at the end of each session with DCG? I think it could be really fun, and a great experience for everyone in the group.

The carpet is an issue. I understand that it's a medical condition, but I think I would ask them to cover the cost of a steam cleaning. It should not cost you money to have this child there. The reality is, you are running a business to make an income; not as a charity.

I accomodate special diets as I can. I had a vegetarian family for a while. What ever meat the other kids had, their child got cheese instead. That got to be a bit sticky, though, when they started requesting that none of the other children eat meat IN FRONT of their child. Ah...no!

Can you have them pack her lunches if the diet is too far off what you serve, or can you just change every one's diet a bit? I'm not sure what the difference is; more fruits and vegetables, less white, processed foods? That would be a positive change for everyone.

[KidGrind]

The way I see it you have 3 choices:

Response #1, “I do not provide those services.”

Response #2, “The services you are requesting were not mentioned during our interviewing process nor part of the standing contract. I can offer you the specialized services you are requesting at an additional fee of $10 per day. Would you like us to revisit our contract?”

Response #3, “I have decided to lighten my work load. The last day of care I can provide care for Jane is XYZ."

[Laurel]

The way I see it you have 3 choices:

Response #1, “I do not provide those services.”

Response #2, “The services you are requesting were not mentioned during our interviewing process nor part of the standing contract. I can offer you the specialized services you are requesting at an additional fee of $10 per day. Would you like us to revisit our contract?”

Response #3, “I have decided to lighten my work load. The last day of care I can provide care for Jane is XYZ."

I would just do #3. Reason being, I wouldn't want the hassle of the disability act if, in fact, that would be an issue.

There would be no way I'd be cleaning up puke even once a day let alone multiple times a day.

This child might need a nanny who comes to their house.

Laurel

[craftymissbeth]

Puke is puke regardless of a medical condition. If spitting up is to the point where it's ruining my carpet it becomes "puke"... and I have a one "puke" and you're out rule. No exceptions. Ever.

If their child is spitting up/vomiting that much every single day then they need specialized care that I definitely would not be able to accommodate with the other children here.

I'd term, unfortunately. I can't afford to replace carpets at this point in my career.

[daycarediva]

The way I see it you have 3 choices:

Response #1, “I do not provide those services.”

Response #2, “The services you are requesting were not mentioned during our interviewing process nor part of the standing contract. I can offer you the specialized services you are requesting at an additional fee of $10 per day. Would you like us to revisit our contract?”

Response #3, “I have decided to lighten my work load. The last day of care I can provide care for Jane is XYZ."

Puke is puke regardless of a medical condition. If spitting up is to the point where it's ruining my carpet it becomes "puke"... and I have a one "puke" and you're out rule. No exceptions. Ever.

If their child is spitting up/vomiting that much every single day then they need specialized care that I definitely would not be able to accommodate with the other children here.

I'd term, unfortunately. I can't afford to replace carpets at this point in my career.

I agree on both parts.

[NeedaVaca]

I'm sorry but that is way too much to ask (or should I say tell)! 4 therapy sessions per week? Special diet, sign language and carpets ruined? It's over the top, they need to take part in the therapy sessions, it's so important for parents to be involved! I would not do most of this and I HAVE a special needs child.

It's too much for group care IMO, they need a nanny. It's not fair to the other kids in your care to have so much time dedicated to one child. It's not fair to you to have carpets ruined and be TOLD to do these things. Decide what you are and aren't willing to do and tell the parents what services you are willing to provide. The very fact that none of this was mentioned in the interview and then the special requests came just a few weeks later seems very deceitful.

[ashleyh]

It sounds to me as if things are turning into a specialized one on one care. While I understand they want their child to be treated the same unfortunately with medical conditions that is not the case...not because we want to treat children differently, but because of the needs associated. If the parents continued to ask I do see it as either 1- continue care but evolving the price to reflect it, or 2) a one on one environment or smaller group environment may be a better fit.

This sounds a little harsh in the beginning however I don't mean to come across as rude. I've cared for children with different medical conditions in the past and as much as we want for things to be the same as other children...they can't always be that way. I say this coming from a good place

[nannyde]

I would tell them you need to hire an assistant for the child and need to have flooring installed to manage the vomit. Call your licensor and ask for funding for this. Find out any community organizations that will pay. If you can't access the funding and the parents can't pay for it, you will need to term the kid. Also, ask your clients for a raise of $10 per day to cover the cost of the helper. Have them sign a statement stating you requested the raise and they can't afford it... and that if this raise is put in place they will have to remove their child.

Then you will have the documentation you need to prove that your clients can't support the care of the child.