Quick question about Assisted Living

I just finished my CNA training and am scheduled to take the state test on Monday. I did clinicals yesterday as well as today. I thought it was horrible because we were at this really gross nursing home. It smelled of feces and none of the residents spoke English, so nobody could communicate effectively with them. (yes, I did talk to them during my clinicals.) I was constantly changing diapers. All of the residents were totally incontinent and out of it--they seemed so depressed. It was like caring for dead people. This is NOT the career I want. I am going for Physician's Assistant, and being a CNA is good for my application. I want to be able to TALK to at least some of my residents...at that nursing home I felt like I was violating them..
I've heard that assisted living places are nicer than nursing homes to work at. Is this true? I really want to know if I'm going to be constantly changing diapers at an assisted living facility. I have an interview tomorrow at a Sunrise branch and have heard some bad things.

I also shattered my elbow in a car accident and all of this lifting has made my arm terribly sore. I don't know what to do!!

Thanks. Last edit by lauraashley on Jun 23, '10
Who says you can't talk to them while you provide care?... just because they're "out of it" or don't speak english doesn't necessarily mean you can't communicate with them at least a little bit.

Quote from fuzzywuzzyWho says you can't talk to them while you provide care?... just because they're "out of it" or don't speak english doesn't necessarily mean you can't communicate with them at least a little bit.

There has to be other nursing homes in your area though. If you don't care about the money you make, yes, assisted living facilities are nicer and the people do more for themselves. BUT... you will only make a little over minimum wage at an ALF. Nursing homes pay more. I have been a CNA for 17 years and that just sounded like a disaster! If it affected you like that, then my suggestion to you is to talk to your instructor about the place. I know when I went through CNA school (17 years ago) we had a choice of where we wanted to go. Don't give up just yet though. Just push through it. Sometimes we have to do "the dirty work" to get where we want to be. Just take some ibuprofen for the shoulder to get you though. Trust me... 17 years of lifting, my back is shot! Good luck!

Assisted Living facilities are not what they are cracked up to be. Some have memory care units with residents who require a skilled level of nursing care & they don't always get that care. Assisted Livings are not heavily regulated like long term facilities are so they "get by" with more. And please remember this, anyone of us could have something happen to us (illness, car accident, etc) which could place us in a long term facility & have us dependent on others to provide every need for us, including "changing diapers". If this place you were at was that bad then by all means tell your instructor about it as there are places out there that need restructuring! But there are some very good facilities out there that need compassionate caregivers!Thanks, Jerenemarie

Quote from student4lyfThere has to be other nursing homes in your area though. If you don't care about the money you make, yes, assisted living facilities are nicer and the people do more for themselves. BUT... you will only make a little over minimum wage at an ALF. Nursing homes pay more. I have been a CNA for 17 years and that just sounded like a disaster! If it affected you like that, then my suggestion to you is to talk to your instructor about the place. I know when I went through CNA school (17 years ago) we had a choice of where we wanted to go. Don't give up just yet though. Just push through it. Sometimes we have to do "the dirty work" to get where we want to be. Just take some ibuprofen for the shoulder to get you though. Trust me... 17 years of lifting, my back is shot! Good luck!

you might consider hospice or home care if you are seeking out more one on one care..

Good CNA staff are the backbone of all health care facilities, they do not get the respect & recognition they deserve! There are bad doctors, nurses & CNA staff everywhere, the problem is that they get the attention (via the media, etc) for doing a poor job vs the good staff who are excellent in their work, know what I mean?!? Jerenemarie

Quote from lauraashleyThere are. I know that this nursing home is very low income. The residents at the one I went to for clinicals were so dejected..only a few had family members that cared and most were so far out of it that no one could bring them back. I almost reported the place though. They do NOT do things properly at all. I asked the CNA in charge of me how to do male peri-care because we never learned that. She quickly showed me a half ass job that did NOT involve cleaning the correct areas. Also, a resident was wet and while she did change her brief, she didn't change the wet pad the poor lady was sitting on. The nurses were all talking about the residents in front of them (ex. "i hate cleaning his poop" or "he is terrible to work with", etc) Excuse me but just because someone is old and doesn't speak your language does not give you a right to talk crap about them in front of them. That's just complete disrespect. After residents eat, aren't they supposed to sit up in bed for a bit? At this place they just laid them down in bed right away. Thanks! I'm done with clinicals now--it just really opened my eyes at the horrible care some people receive because some nurses are too lazy to do their job.

student4lyf_lpn you truly are a precious human being! i give you a standing ovation