Where I work..

I work at as a care giver at a Alzheimer's nursing home. I honesty really enjoy my job and I am truly honored to to take care of my residents. I didn't always think like that. I went to college for finance, while working at the nursing home, I thought a nice cushy job behind a desk would be better then getting cussed at and beaten from time to time via my residents.

I graduated college with my BS in finance and got that nice cushy job at a bank behind a desk and I HATED IT! I was all alone at this job with just a computer by my side (witch is how I got into makeup, but that will be another post) and my co-workers were these self-absorbed, ass kissing, munchers, who would do and say anything just to get ahead. Their personalities would change in a heat beat when someone of "so-called" importance rolled around. I never understood that, why should we change ourselves to an utter prick when someone that is higher up than us is around? We should respect and treat everyone the same regardless of the title. I also never understood why the higher ups would tolerate it? Don't you know most of these people think you are an ass but are nice to you because they feel obligated to?

I worked at the bank for 3 years (and kept my nursing home job on a per-diam basis)..3 years of hell and I decided to go back to nursing school and back to my beloved nursing home. That was not an easy decision at all for me. While I love the nursing home, the job paid less than my back job and I have a mortgage and bills to pay, BUT it was a better schedule for school and I knew I would be happier there, so I did it.

I am happy I am back there. Being in nursing school and working in a nursing home really makes me more alert and attuned to the residents needs. I have formed  bonds with certain residents and I of course have my favorites..yeah yeah..like you don't have a favorite child..lol..

One of my favorites is declining in health..it is only a matter of time before they all do. There is no cure for Alzheimer and when you have it, you die from it. She was very dehydrated and had the flu so they sent her out to the hospital for hydration and to keep a closer eye on her. I went to visit her 3 out the 6 days she was there, I thought having a face she may recognize would help her anxiety about being in different place and TRUST me this lady gets anxious.

I mentioned this to one of my co-workers that I went to see this resident at the hospital on Sun, Mon, and Tues, I wasn't bragging it just came up in conversation because we were discussing her decline and she said "OMG all three days! You need to get a life!" WTF did she just say?? I need to get a life for showing some interest in a resident that I appreciate! I am 26 years old, I work an average of over 40 hours, attend school (not till May again), own a home, volunteer at a hospice center, maintain a beauty blog and makeup hobby AND I need to get a LIFE for visiting a resident that was at a hospital that was around the corner from the nursing home?!?! REALLY?! Is that a joke?

Why does it bother you that I went to see her? I told her, " I have a life, I don't see an issue with visiting her for 20 min a day before I go work and either should you" That annoyed me so much you have no idea! I am sorry but when you work with these residents, you see them EVERYDAY, you meet their families, and you learn their life stories. You also learn how to deal with the "new Alzheimer resident" they are not the same people that their families remember them being. So YES, sometimes, I feel a little extra something for certain residents, sometimes they are more like my family than my family because of how often I am around them. That is the realism of this job, this job is not a routine at all, everyday is different and I enjoy that.