Including the social worker, some nurses, aids and director of nursing. Many have been reported by many families and some of them turn them against you.They get by with it. You cannot ask questions. Help! They plot and when you go to a supervisor that you know would get things done they become more mad. Things are missing from the rooms and they use personal belongings as if it's theirs. It's a mess. When it comes to the care planning meeting they get upset that you have to report things over and over because they keep doing the same things and you fill out a concern form and they try to use it against you.2 people are to use a lift and you catch them only with one person,beds and chairs smells at times. they become angry if they have to use a lift to put others in bed or their chair. They stand around and gossip about the families and the residents as if it's a joke. It seems as if the administrator doesn't care. What else can the different families do. They even hate to change the residents. Sometimes they have sat in their feces for hours and it turns your stomach. But at the same time they don't want the family to say a word. Turn over is terrible. It's as though they hate you without a cause. Many families are there at the NH mostly all day and every day because we love our love ones.
I chose to work with the older population after I thought I never would want to. I found the work hard, but very gratifying. I loved my patients, I cried everytime one of them died. I loved listening to their stories and I cherished everyone, even those who could not communicate with me. I found the people I worked with to be very caring and capable and overworked. Yes, there were "bad apples" infrequently, but they did not last. This population of people (the nursing home residents) are there because they need care their families can not provide for a variety of reasons, but generally these people are very ill with numerous medical issues. They require a lot of care. Yes, the wages can be low, but that is because of the value we as a society place on the elderly. If nursing homes paid their workers what they deserved and staffed the facilities the way we would all like them to be staffed, only the very wealthy would be able to afford to be there.
So, please do not make blanket statements about everyone in a profession that most would not or could not do. The saddest thing to me working in a nursing home is how many residents never have family or friends visit. That is sad.
I know I am a bit off topic, but I felt I had to reply.
Our economy has changed so that persons without training beyond high school face very limited employment opportunities. Plus they know they are doing work that few want to do.
Last question: Do you thank them for the help they provide your loved one? Do you occasionally provide intermittent rewards to those who help you loved one? Such as a gift card from a local food or drug or discount store, i.e. $5 or $10.
You need to get into the game and see if your behavior can make a difference.
The worst people that I dealt with were the administrators - they acted like everything that the patients said was due to dementia, and treated me like a criminal every time I mentioned buying new clothing, cosmetics, etc. At the funeral the last one sat and glared at me the whole time. Psychos should not be administrators!
Wow - what a sarcastic post.
It's a tough job, paid poorly and if you go in there demanding your dues it will not endear you to The people looking after your loved one believe me you want them on your side.