Kitty has requested that I reveal a little more in detail my daily life in the nursing home. Please know that I am by no means making light of what is a sad and serious time to some, but I have found from working in this business for over 20 years, if you don't have a sense of humor, you'll go insane. There have been so many times I have gone from crying to laughing in a split second, I can't even count them any more. I have a million stories, THEY all have a story...the residents, the families, the staff. Mr. dd swears I should write a book or a sitcom. So, for Kitty and who ever gives a damn.....
August 1, 2008
I begin my day knowing I have six admissions coming. This is unusual for our little facility, because typically, we don't have six admissions in a week. The nursing department made me laugh hysterically when they asked on Thursday if I could "schedule" the admissions.
They fail to remember that I am totally at the mercy of other people's schedules....families, doctors, hospitals, other facilities. No one EVER shows up when they're supposed to.
So, I get to work and go into panic mode because one room I need is being "touched up" by the maintenance man who is darling but slow as MOLASSES. He's installing new light fixtures, is waiting for texture to dry so he can paint and has new blinds to install. I check on him every ten minutes until the administrator tells me to get the puck out and leave the poor man alone. I have another lady who is scheduled to discharge home from the other room that I need. I go down to bid her good luck and she informs me that she thinks she just might like to stay!
Mind you, I have people coming to her room at 1:00--IF they arrive on time. It's 11:00 and she ain't budging! I finally tell her why would you give up living in your own space at home to live here in half a room? She finally agrees and starts slowly making her rounds to say good-bye to everyone. 12:00 and she's out the door. Housekeeping's nowhere to be found. Administrator says he'll handle it. I go to lunch.
Come back from lunch.........
Admission #1 arrives. 63 year old man with Alzheimer's. Family's been chasing him around for months. They've been taking shifts and some of the volunteers have bailed. He's very personable and cute..but sorta strange. We quickly discover he needs a wander guard. Staff begins to glare at me. :roll:
Admissions #2 & 3 arrive. A couple. Into the room of the lady from above. I have spoken early in the week with a grandson who informs me that the family has to go to court on Thursday because Adult Protective Services has reported them and they have to prove to the court that they are being placed in a facility. I don't have a room available til Friday, so on Tuesday, a couple of sons show up to ask us if we'll provide documentation that they are in fact being admitted to us on Friday. I didn't meet the sons..they showed up "un-scheduled". So yesterday, the couple shows up with another son and his "wife". He quickly produces guardianship papers and says that he's the guardian appointed by the court. He also informs me that none of the family members speak to each other. He tells me that his father is also his grandfather and that his wife is his sister. I'm looking at him like..WTF. The assistant business office manager is mouthing behind his back..."GYPSIES! THEY ARE GYPSIES!" The little grandmother is showing me torn pictures of her and some children and speaking to me in some sort of "tongue" I've never heard. Staff is shaking their heads. And glaring.
About the time all this was happening, the administrator tells me he's putting a man on hospice who's only been with us for a few days. He has lung cancer and the family has said he doesn't--that he's only malnourished and needs vitamins. The hospital called me about this man when I was still in Florida, but we only admitted him upon my return. The hospital and doctors had pretty much washed their hands of the whole situation--and understandably so. They got pissed that we put him on hospice to make him more comfortable, and came and took him OUT! They did take him to another nursing home, but they're gonna have the same issues there....OMG..poor little man.
Admissions #4 & 5..another couple. They are from Wisconsin originally, but have been living in a NH in Arlington...across the metroplex from us. Granddaughter lives in the town where we're located. She wants them closer. She's pregnant with twins and is supposed to pick them up to come to us at noon. The little man calls at noon and says she's been in a car accident, but they're still coming. Just later. I hate that she's been in an accident, but the lights in their room are still not hung at noon.
Turns out she's in the ER just getting checked out and some friend brings them, their stuff and literally dumps them about 2:00. Lights are hung. Change of shift. Staff thinking of ways to kill me.
Admission #6. Lady from the Bronx. Daughter is hilarious and gorgeous. Lady has Alzheimer's, but is still funny and witty and LOUD. Daughter tells me that mom and dad had successful construction business in NY and her mom never wanted for anything. Filthy rich was the term she used. All was good until dad ran off with son's girlfriend. Can we say Jerry Springer? (Daughter's words..not mine). Daughter hangs out for quite some time and is already bribing us with treats from the Italian Family deli her family operates nearby. Oh dear. Staff grateful.
So there you have it--a day in the life. Six admissions, two discharges...all of them a story.
August 1, 2008
I begin my day knowing I have six admissions coming. This is unusual for our little facility, because typically, we don't have six admissions in a week. The nursing department made me laugh hysterically when they asked on Thursday if I could "schedule" the admissions.
They fail to remember that I am totally at the mercy of other people's schedules....families, doctors, hospitals, other facilities. No one EVER shows up when they're supposed to. So, I get to work and go into panic mode because one room I need is being "touched up" by the maintenance man who is darling but slow as MOLASSES. He's installing new light fixtures, is waiting for texture to dry so he can paint and has new blinds to install. I check on him every ten minutes until the administrator tells me to get the puck out and leave the poor man alone. I have another lady who is scheduled to discharge home from the other room that I need. I go down to bid her good luck and she informs me that she thinks she just might like to stay!
Mind you, I have people coming to her room at 1:00--IF they arrive on time. It's 11:00 and she ain't budging! I finally tell her why would you give up living in your own space at home to live here in half a room? She finally agrees and starts slowly making her rounds to say good-bye to everyone. 12:00 and she's out the door. Housekeeping's nowhere to be found. Administrator says he'll handle it. I go to lunch. Come back from lunch.........
Admission #1 arrives. 63 year old man with Alzheimer's. Family's been chasing him around for months. They've been taking shifts and some of the volunteers have bailed. He's very personable and cute..but sorta strange. We quickly discover he needs a wander guard. Staff begins to glare at me. :roll:
Admissions #2 & 3 arrive. A couple. Into the room of the lady from above. I have spoken early in the week with a grandson who informs me that the family has to go to court on Thursday because Adult Protective Services has reported them and they have to prove to the court that they are being placed in a facility. I don't have a room available til Friday, so on Tuesday, a couple of sons show up to ask us if we'll provide documentation that they are in fact being admitted to us on Friday. I didn't meet the sons..they showed up "un-scheduled".
So yesterday, the couple shows up with another son and his "wife". He quickly produces guardianship papers and says that he's the guardian appointed by the court. He also informs me that none of the family members speak to each other. He tells me that his father is also his grandfather and that his wife is his sister. I'm looking at him like..WTF. The assistant business office manager is mouthing behind his back..."GYPSIES! THEY ARE GYPSIES!" The little grandmother is showing me torn pictures of her and some children and speaking to me in some sort of "tongue" I've never heard. Staff is shaking their heads. And glaring. About the time all this was happening, the administrator tells me he's putting a man on hospice who's only been with us for a few days. He has lung cancer and the family has said he doesn't--that he's only malnourished and needs vitamins. The hospital called me about this man when I was still in Florida, but we only admitted him upon my return. The hospital and doctors had pretty much washed their hands of the whole situation--and understandably so. They got pissed that we put him on hospice to make him more comfortable, and came and took him OUT! They did take him to another nursing home, but they're gonna have the same issues there....OMG..poor little man.
Admissions #4 & 5..another couple. They are from Wisconsin originally, but have been living in a NH in Arlington...across the metroplex from us. Granddaughter lives in the town where we're located. She wants them closer. She's pregnant with twins and is supposed to pick them up to come to us at noon. The little man calls at noon and says she's been in a car accident, but they're still coming. Just later. I hate that she's been in an accident, but the lights in their room are still not hung at noon.
Turns out she's in the ER just getting checked out and some friend brings them, their stuff and literally dumps them about 2:00. Lights are hung. Change of shift. Staff thinking of ways to kill me. Admission #6. Lady from the Bronx. Daughter is hilarious and gorgeous. Lady has Alzheimer's, but is still funny and witty and LOUD. Daughter tells me that mom and dad had successful construction business in NY and her mom never wanted for anything. Filthy rich was the term she used. All was good until dad ran off with son's girlfriend.
Can we say Jerry Springer? (Daughter's words..not mine). Daughter hangs out for quite some time and is already bribing us with treats from the Italian Family deli her family operates nearby. Oh dear. Staff grateful. So there you have it--a day in the life. Six admissions, two discharges...all of them a story.
You are a hero.
