The Elderly Are Devalued

To be blunt, the frail elderly population tends to be devalued in American society. Since 78 million Baby Boomers are aging and will be added to the ranks of the elderly population during the coming decades, I sincerely hope that their expectations and experiences will contribute to placing a more positive spin on aging in America. Something must be done. Specialties Geriatric Article

You are reading page 3 of The Elderly Are Devalued

msfini

1 Post

This is my first post here.

I am new to the profession and this is a career change for me in my early 40's. I decided to start with care giving and I went to CNA school and I am now waiting to test in Nevada. I am currently a pre-nursing student and working in LTC. I am so happy I did this. So far, it has been a wonderful experience. I am learning basic hands on skills but most importantly how to communicate and interact on so many levels from working daily with residents, co-workers, and family members.

I look forward to going to work every day and making a difference in our resident's quality of life, if only for that moment that I am with them. I have found it important to put blinders on with regards to negative attitudes and "drama" situations that are beyond my control and there many of them. Being new at my job, I have already learned to stand my ground, ask questions if I don't know, document everything, and follow protocol, and oh my gosh never gossip or reveal anything personal (no need to fuel the simple minded)!

For me, if I can get someone out of bed, dressed and excited to shower, eat in the dining room, take a walk or play bingo it is a day well spent. To me, this is fundamental hands-on care that provides dignity and self esteem to the elderly. Regardless of who is doing it or the reasons why, it is a growing necessity in society and can offer many rewards.

I think the things that I am learning now will always benefit me as I progress in my path to becoming a well rounded an RN.

Specializes in Allergy/Immunology.

I'm a double whammy in terms of perception. I want to "only be" an LPN & I want to work LTC. When I get asked why or can I handle that, I ask them to think about if it were their family member in there (as mine was) & who they want caring for their family member. Someone who truly respects the elderly or someone who they think shouldn't "waste their time getting a LPN license, and being stuck in LTC" or me?

MedChica

562 Posts

Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.

I totally agree and you can add those suffering from mental illness to the list of Most Thrown Away And Devalued Members of Society.

I will begin my nursing program in January 2013 and the reason I want to be a nurse in LTC! Things change, so I am trying to keep an open mind but your hit a lot of great points in your article.

Thanks for sharing,

from a wanna bee!

Jammin' RN

50 Posts

Specializes in Orthopedics.

While I agree with the article, I think a lot of new grads steer away from LTC because they are taught to. NS really pushes the get your year or two on a med-surg unit thing.

Well it is a society that values productivity or the hope of future productivity. Once you aren't able to contribute in the form of money , then forget it, just like the unemployed, mentally ill, etc. I never want to work LTC and it has nothing to do with it not being the glorious ER/ICU /LD. More because I know what the reality there is! Short staffing, overworked staff, etc. I don't know how those nurses do it. When we get a nursing home pt, yelling and screaming and sundowning, I think " how can they handle 20-40 of these patients?". I think that is why most do not want to work there. All the cultures that " highly " value their elderly, are cultures were the elderly do not last that long, and there aren't as many of them, right? Maybe aside from Japan and South Korea...( not sure haven't looked up statistics on life expectancy in those two but I assume it is higher than the rest of Asia and more comparable with Western Europe (not eastern).

JZ_RN

590 Posts

Specializes in Oncology.

It wasn't the elderly that were my problem with LTC nursing, I loved those people.

It was the management and lack of staffing, supplies, and anything we needed to care for them.

PMFB-RN, RN

5,351 Posts

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

For starters, I have observed that LTC is sometimes viewed as the specialty of last resort for newly graduated nurses who cannot seem to secure employment anywhere else.

*** Exactly as it should be IMO. I just hate to hear when a new grad is unable to find employment in acute care and must seek work in LTC. Not cause I devalue the elderly, but cause I value the grads. LTC nurses usually work alone. The grad misses the chance to spend her first year or two learning the ropes from her more experienced co-workers. She also misses the chance to rapidly gain experience dealing with conditions and situations she will face throughout her career.

I would rather see the grad move on the LTC after spending 2-3 years working in a supportive acute care envirment.

RH-CC2011

37 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg.

The elederly may be devalued, but we all-too-often see the elderly with chronic conditions as having "done it to themselves." Other at-risk populations like children and special needs are viewed as "innocents."

(In the Hospital) I see all sorts of seniors in renal failure, chirrosis from a lifetime of drinking; diabetics who eat like crap and ususally have sugars @200 that wonder why thier leg wound won't heal; 40-pack-year smokers w/ COPD that can't get to a bedside commode w/o desatting; stroke victims that quit taking BP meds years ago because it fixed them. I could go on and on, but I'm sure I'm also guilty of not taking care of myself too.

I would be much more afraid of the patient ratios in LTC than I would be the "stigma" of becoming labeled a LTC nurse.

allnurses Guide

Nurse SMS, MSN, RN

6,843 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I will not consider working LTC but it has nothing to do with undervaluing the elderly and everything to do with how much care they need and how the corporate, profit driven nature of nursing homes leads to being understaffed. I don't think I could stand the stress.

IowaKaren

180 Posts

Specializes in Assisted Living nursing, LTC/SNF nursing.

Another barrier to the "they are just old" mentality is when the ER doc's, on-call doc, and even their own Doctor has that mantra and it takes biting bullets to get them to listen to you over the phone. DNR does not mean do not treat and I just hate to use the famous quote "but the family wants them to go the ER," and after repeating that 3 or 4 times when they aren't giving me a viable order for someone that does have some quality of life left, they will finally give me the order to transfer. Our ER kits don't have everything we need in them and suffering is just not an option while I am in charge. I wish there was an easy answer to keep facilities staffed better and I do think if reimbursement better, it may not go to increasing staff. It may just line the owners pockets more. Not every place is like that but I would bet more than most are.

Specializes in Allergy/Immunology.
For starters, I have observed that LTC is sometimes viewed as the specialty of last resort for newly graduated nurses who cannot seem to secure employment anywhere else.*** Exactly as it should be IMO. I just hate to hear when a new grad is unable to find employment in acute care and must seek work in LTC. Not cause I devalue the elderly, but cause I value the grads. LTC nurses usually work alone. The grad misses the chance to spend her first year or two learning the ropes from her more experienced co-workers. She also misses the chance to rapidly gain experience dealing with conditions and situations she will face throughout her career. I would rather see the grad move on the LTC after spending 2-3 years working in a supportive acute care envirment.
Great points! Thank you, I'll keep that in my mind :)