So today was my last day at my current job in long term care. I am moving away to another city in a few days. Yes I have complained about this job on several occasions, the work load is too much, some of my co-workers **** me off etc.
However today, my last day at this facility I realized how much I will miss it. I always knew I cared a lot for my residents but today it really hit me how much I will miss them. Several of them had tears in their eyes as I hugged the goodbye. One 97 year old lady rang her call bell after I left and the care aide went in and she was crying and telling her how much she would miss me and that she wished she could give me a present. She told the care aide to tell me that she wasn't feeling well and needed to see me. When I came in she had lined up 6 of her little carved wooden ducks and told me she really wanted to give me a gift and that she wanted me to pick one of the ducks. I know we shouldn't take gifts from residents but she was so insistent and I know it would have hurt her if I hadn't. I will always remember her whenever I look at my little wooden duck :)
Then I have my 85 year old man who sits and watches movies every night. I am huge movie fan and I always make the time every night no matter how busy I am to sit and chat with him about the movie he is watching for a few mins. My heat broke tonight as he hugged and kissed me with tears in his eyes as he told me how much he would miss me .. I told him I would never forget him and I won't....
This went on with different Residents all night. They have all touched me in one way or another and I feel great satisfaction that I have touched some of them too :) Makes me feel like my job really does matter. Just breaks my heart to leave them all.
