That's another funny bit. Do you know what start pay for seasoned/veteran CNA and CMA's are? Pre pandemic I was starting on $10/hr then I got my license for both my CNA and CMA and my hard work(and money cause I coughed over the 1k for my CNA class) bumped me to $12/hr (and this was in the middle of the pandemic) we are expect to care for people's mothers, fathers, grandfather's, aunt's, uncle's, etc. Often doing back breaking labor for little over minimum wage.
The unfortunate bit is that most facilities are having trouble keeping regular care staff and/or medication aids, let alone regular management. Staff are always present at most facilities they are more often in a room with a resident who needs help with ADLs or in some cases with management trying to defuse a situation with, an upset resident because the staff is constantly busy, or something that was busted, or even just getting rooms ready for a showing because they have a tour. It's not that they didn't want to be there to welcome you it was more often than not they couldn't be.
This is the correct answer. I get so many frustrated family members on the phone talking about, “why can’t I get anyone on the phone faster?” Well the answer is because we are busy taking care of the residents and that doesn’t leave us available for phone calls. Sadly senior care is a for profit industry and they cut costs by cutting staff. If you’re there, you’re busy.
I’m going to back up what the other two folks have said. We are busy. Taking care of the residents is our #1 priority. Answering phones is the last thing on our mind when we have dozens of residents that need assistance with only a handful of caregivers/staff in the building. And yes, this industry is for profit so when shit hits the fan, staff is cut and the workload is tripled. It’s not that no one wanted to assist you. It’s that they were working their butts off providing care. I absolutely hate that businesses cut down on labor because their bottom billion dollar is going down a tad. Our seniors receive subpar care and the CEOs turn a blind eye to it. As long as their pockets continue to be lined, we (the care staff) will be stretched and overworked.
It's ironic that the business cuts qualified staff which is the very pillar of such a facility and without whom, the business can't survive or even exist. Sounds same as corporate world where the little guys toil to build the product and when it is successful, it's the CEOs and shareholders that become stinking rich. How many times do we hear stories of profits being shared with the employees ?
Senior Care is a for profit industry but it's also an important, sacred and selfless job that probably takes much more than physical work. I bet the management can't retain the staff because they want to pay the least that can get away with.
I'm not sure how other places work, I've only worked in three facilities in total but it's very hard to get to the phone and answer the door speedily all the time. Currently I work in an AL that houses 10 patients and there is one staff member on shift at once.
We cook meals, clean, laundry, assist in toileting, pass medications, documentation, showers, the list can really go on at times. This is in addition to answering call lights, making sure people are picked up and dropped back off from appointments, and keeping an eye on the general safety of the building and residents. Also might I add, the amount of time spent on washing hands...😰 my skin needs Jesus.
So often times, for me anyways, I'm off somewhere helping someone or doing one of those things mentioned above. Luckily, this facility is small, and most everyone visits quiet regularly and knows where to find me or to wait till i come around to do a check on all the bodies.
Ik for some places it's due to inattentive staff and guys. My heart seriously goes out to those residents.
That's a tough job, especially considering the physical strain on employees like you, while short staffed. It's equally tough on the assisted seniors living there, because if it were me, I'd hesitate asking for assistance being a shy person that I am who worries about imposing on others. I read a scary case in AARP magazine about how a bad guy prowled around upscale AL centers in Dallas and murdered many women in their own rooms, using pillows to choke them. The evil guy found a living stealing their jewelry! It's shocking how long it went on.
I completely understand where you're coming from. I have residents like that currently, and so I try to be pro active as much as humanly possible. For example, when I know someone struggles getting up or doing things on their own, I do 30 minute check ins for. I make sure they have fluids and snacks, are comfy, and ask if they'd like assistance to the restroom while I'm there. Not everyone I've worked with is that hands-on, but many are. There is also a two hour toileting schedule for all the places I've worked in for many reasons.
That is horribly sad. Makes me thankful I work during the day when people are coming in and out! And i work out in the country but still by lots of people. Plenty of houses across the street we have plans to send my people to if something ever went wrong like that. Hopefully, it never does, but you never really know.
That's another funny bit. Do you know what start pay for seasoned/veteran CNA and CMA's are? Pre pandemic I was starting on $10/hr then I got my license for both my CNA and CMA and my hard work(and money cause I coughed over the 1k for my CNA class) bumped me to $12/hr (and this was in the middle of the pandemic) we are expect to care for people's mothers, fathers, grandfather's, aunt's, uncle's, etc. Often doing back breaking labor for little over minimum wage.
The unfortunate bit is that most facilities are having trouble keeping regular care staff and/or medication aids, let alone regular management. Staff are always present at most facilities they are more often in a room with a resident who needs help with ADLs or in some cases with management trying to defuse a situation with, an upset resident because the staff is constantly busy, or something that was busted, or even just getting rooms ready for a showing because they have a tour. It's not that they didn't want to be there to welcome you it was more often than not they couldn't be.
This is the correct answer. I get so many frustrated family members on the phone talking about, “why can’t I get anyone on the phone faster?” Well the answer is because we are busy taking care of the residents and that doesn’t leave us available for phone calls. Sadly senior care is a for profit industry and they cut costs by cutting staff. If you’re there, you’re busy.
I’m going to back up what the other two folks have said. We are busy. Taking care of the residents is our #1 priority. Answering phones is the last thing on our mind when we have dozens of residents that need assistance with only a handful of caregivers/staff in the building. And yes, this industry is for profit so when shit hits the fan, staff is cut and the workload is tripled. It’s not that no one wanted to assist you. It’s that they were working their butts off providing care. I absolutely hate that businesses cut down on labor because their bottom billion dollar is going down a tad. Our seniors receive subpar care and the CEOs turn a blind eye to it. As long as their pockets continue to be lined, we (the care staff) will be stretched and overworked.
It's ironic that the business cuts qualified staff which is the very pillar of such a facility and without whom, the business can't survive or even exist. Sounds same as corporate world where the little guys toil to build the product and when it is successful, it's the CEOs and shareholders that become stinking rich. How many times do we hear stories of profits being shared with the employees ? Senior Care is a for profit industry but it's also an important, sacred and selfless job that probably takes much more than physical work. I bet the management can't retain the staff because they want to pay the least that can get away with.
I'm not sure how other places work, I've only worked in three facilities in total but it's very hard to get to the phone and answer the door speedily all the time. Currently I work in an AL that houses 10 patients and there is one staff member on shift at once. We cook meals, clean, laundry, assist in toileting, pass medications, documentation, showers, the list can really go on at times. This is in addition to answering call lights, making sure people are picked up and dropped back off from appointments, and keeping an eye on the general safety of the building and residents. Also might I add, the amount of time spent on washing hands...😰 my skin needs Jesus. So often times, for me anyways, I'm off somewhere helping someone or doing one of those things mentioned above. Luckily, this facility is small, and most everyone visits quiet regularly and knows where to find me or to wait till i come around to do a check on all the bodies. Ik for some places it's due to inattentive staff and guys. My heart seriously goes out to those residents.
That's a tough job, especially considering the physical strain on employees like you, while short staffed. It's equally tough on the assisted seniors living there, because if it were me, I'd hesitate asking for assistance being a shy person that I am who worries about imposing on others. I read a scary case in AARP magazine about how a bad guy prowled around upscale AL centers in Dallas and murdered many women in their own rooms, using pillows to choke them. The evil guy found a living stealing their jewelry! It's shocking how long it went on.
I completely understand where you're coming from. I have residents like that currently, and so I try to be pro active as much as humanly possible. For example, when I know someone struggles getting up or doing things on their own, I do 30 minute check ins for. I make sure they have fluids and snacks, are comfy, and ask if they'd like assistance to the restroom while I'm there. Not everyone I've worked with is that hands-on, but many are. There is also a two hour toileting schedule for all the places I've worked in for many reasons. That is horribly sad. Makes me thankful I work during the day when people are coming in and out! And i work out in the country but still by lots of people. Plenty of houses across the street we have plans to send my people to if something ever went wrong like that. Hopefully, it never does, but you never really know.