Over worked till you drop

[paulinek]

Thanks, Pauline. I love my job, and I'm now in a position where I can monitor staff and keep a watch over the residents. But I think the biggest motivating factor is that I am also getting on in age, and the care I saw dished out is not the sort of care I would like to be the recipient of. It's the old adage, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I am a very laid back, easy going person, but do the wrong thing by our residents and I can be ferocious. They have a RIGHT to be well cared for, they PAY for it, and after a life well lived, they DESERVE it. The oldies ROCK, I love them.

Exactly Snappo!! Your post made me cry. I am so upset and angry today that I just don't know where to turn next. I will post it in guardians or something. I just don't know how we change the system. I feel the same way. I would rather jump off a cliff than end up in a nursing home and endure the horrendous care I've seen my mother go through.

[florence]

Hi just joined today and find this forum very interesting and informing. But sadly we hear too often the bad side of aged care I have worked in many different nursing settings for the last 40 years and mainly aged care over thelast 20 yrs. I also worked at many different aged care settings and have witnessed things that I never should of. Complaints are often ignored or you are told you are too idealistic. Being called idealistic because I question why residents basic rights cant be met is offensive and a cop out.

I have taken up a new poisitonthat involves a combination of clinical and managment duties. It is both challenging and rewarding. Challencing because there are some problems staff that I have inherited that I cant do much with due to union support regardless of these staff not fulfilling there duties. It is rewarding when I am on the floor doing what I do best making a difference to the residents life.
I am disillusioned as we have some excellent carers but the few trouble makers make it difficult, they go against the grain, against decisions that dont suit them and then say how experienced they are. They have no idea how to reassure relatives or how to professional with the so called difficult relatives (the same realtives that come in daily and help with care, feed their loved one, always thankful and are not that well themselves)

I dont know how long I will last in the managment side as I just dont think it is worth the stress and would rather go back on the floor only with less money
My only expections are for the staff to show respect for residents and family and provide care that up to standard Is that too much? Unfortuantely for some YESflorence

Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 9:16 am

[Snappo]

Hi Florence, Welcome aboard. All you say is so true. There are some staff who simply shouldn't be in aged care. I reiterate, they are there for the pay packet because they can't get work elsewhere. Having said that, there are also some absolutely brilliant staff who CARE, and are definitely not there for the pay packet!! When it becomes mandatory for all staff to be trained and qualified, maybe then we will have a chance, but until then, aged care is in deep doodoo.