The Reality of Employing Personal Assistants

Employing a personal assistant (PA) can be a nightmare or a dream. Or something inbetween! Employing personal assistants can be a rewarding experience for both the employer and the employee. If you can find the right person. A person whom you get on with and are comfortable with. The later is especially important if you need assistance with personal care.

My PA Journey

I have employed Personal Assistants (PA’s) for over 6 years now and although I am not saying it is easy it has been a much better experience than having an agency.

Qualities I Look For In A Personal Assistant

For me the most important qualities in a PA is someone who is kind, caring and willing to help me achieve. Lately, I will also add that it is important that they can listen too. 

I can teach someone what to do, how to look after me or send them on courses, however I can’t teach someone to be kind and caring.

‘Kindness and compassion costs nothing but changes the world.’

~Hannah Deakin

It Is More Than JUST A Job

It might be a job to them, but it is my life.

More than a job. It might be a job to them and then they go home and live their life, but it is my life. My reality.

Striking the Balance

It is difficult to be an employer-in charge, have authority but then need them to assist you with personal care. You want them to be a friend but you are also their boss, it is a difficult balance. I think it is totally different from being a manager in an office.

It is getting that level of understanding and respect.

I suppose like in any situation or employment you have some that go the extra mile and others that do the minimum or take advantage. Somehow as they are in your house, there is less privacy.

Similarly, PA’s using mobile phones when they are supposed to be working can sometimes be an issue, also they get distracted and accidents can happen. I can also feel guilty using mine, but I have to remind myself that I am not doing a job and getting paid and when I am working, I don’t use my phone.

A Bad Experience

I had an experience of a PA that really wasn’t working. She was making me feel a bit depressed and I was feeling anxious about her arrival before each shift as well as being very concerned for my safety. It was having a big impact on my life, and not a good one. 

Care Isn’t Just A Stop Gap

Some people see the job as a stop gap, or what they can do because of their limited qualifications rather than a career or something they want to go into because they ‘care’. Unfortunately, as the money is not great it probably doesn’t help.

Personal Assistants Are Undervalued

Carers/PA’s don’t get enough respect and money for the value and importance of their job.

The difference a good PA makes to my life is immeasurable.

A good PA helps me to ‘live’. They help me to be independent.

I have and have had some amazing PA’s who have made my life worthwhile. Enjoyable. I have PA’s who have a sense of humour and try and make things fun. Much of my day and life is repetitive, painful and hard work so this can make a big difference to my life.

My quote is: ‘Kindness and compassion costs nothing but changes the world.’ My good PA’s have helped change my world for the better.

Having a good team of PA’s can change YOUR world for the better; they know your care requirements and don’t need to be constantly trained. Whereas with agency carers you often have a different carer everyday, this can be stressful, I have written about this issue in a guest post I wrote for Scope – Personal Assistants or Agency Staff: My Journey to Independence.

Especially, when you require a lot of care from PA’s it is astounding the influence they have on your life. You just need to make sure it is a good influence.

What is your experience? Let me know.

Hannah x