Is LTC really this bad?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Hopefully the moderators won't mind, since I did post this article on the California board ...

But I was also wondering what you LTC folks thought about this ...

Two-thirds of the staff in 1,400 California nursing homes quit in 2002. Yikes!

Is LTC really this bad?

http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/medical/story/9518819p-10442632c.html

:uhoh21:

There are a few people who are dedicated to visiting their family members consistently and trying to see they have what they need. The vast majority of them (nursing home pt's) are there because they can no longer make it alone and no one wants the burden of having to look after them.

And you know what? No one should have to bear the burden of caring for them, either. But don't come in getting in my face because your mother happens to have a wet diaper when you happen to make in in to see her.

Get real.

I wonder if this poster has ever tried looking after an elderly person with complex needs at home with few resources?

I'd like to see the choice of putting someone in a home as a choice rather than sign of weakness or failure or a consequence of actions.

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A few months ago, the entire nursing department were forced to watch a video called "give them the pickle" which had been developped by some business guru about customer service. Basically it was about appeasing people to prevent trouble in the future. I mean come on. Is this really what our energies should be put towards? Placating family members? Aren't we supposed to be taking care of people. How the heck are we supposed to be doing that while strategizing for "customer satisfaction". Aparently quality care isn't enough. They want service with a smile and extra condiments.

Oh yes, our entire hospital went thru that one! It became our little mantra.

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this is sad, I know what you are talking about. I couldn't leave geriatrics so I went from 80h paydays to 64.............and it helped. I love geriatrics and will never leave.

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when a family member makes remarks to a nurse that is doing her best there is no other way to take it but personal....esp. when you give your all to your work

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exactly take them home...............if they are not being taken care of properly than what kind of a person are you to walk out that door and leave them with us.

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I wonder if this poster has ever tried looking after an elderly person with complex needs at home with few resources?

I'd like to see the choice of putting someone in a home as a choice rather than sign of weakness or failure or a consequence of actions.

Actually, yes this poster DOES take care of an elderly reletive at home with limited funds and complex needs.Dont be so quick to pass judgement , I say.
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Specializes in rehab, geriatric.

I work for North East Health in an ltc nursing home & I love my job. Some days are better than others of course but I pray that I can make a difference in the Quality of life for the residents. I'm the singing nurse, but the staff tell me not to leave my job. The residents need stimulation Quiet, laughter , snacks and I try to give them what they need. No, LTC is not bad. It just needs the right attitude.

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I work for North East Health in an ltc nursing home & I love my job. Some days are better than others of course but I pray that I can make a difference in the Quality of life for the residents. I'm the singing nurse, but the staff tell me not to leave my job. The residents need stimulation Quiet, laughter , snacks and I try to give them what they need. No, LTC is not bad. It just needs the right attitude.
I am happy for you that you have found a LTC facility that sounds SO NICE. BUT, I think you are doing a disservice to other LTC workers that are voicing LEGITAMITE concerns here on this LTC forum. I think the patients and nurses in LTC deserve to be heard and not have their concerns chalked up to not having ''the right attitude".There are MANY MANY LTCs across this country that allow the staff to give only marginal care, due to short staffing and other issues.You sound like a wonderful caring person, BUT a Pollyanna attitude is not going to help solve the very REAL problems in LTC.:rolleyes:
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Specializes in Long-term care.
Hopefully the moderators won't mind, since I did post this article on the California board ...

But I was also wondering what you LTC folks thought about this ...

Two-thirds of the staff in 1,400 California nursing homes quit in 2002. Yikes!

Is LTC really this bad?

http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/medical/story/9518819p-10442632c.html

:uhoh21:

Yes, it really is. Constantly short-staffed, a lot of attitude problems are probably because of the stress caused from the patient/caregiver ratio....and you can pretty much count on being s*it on by family members and administration.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
The vast majority of them (nursing home pt's) are there because they can no longer make it alone and no one wants the burden of having to look after them.
I know this might cause me to sound overly straightforward or insensitive, but I happen to agree with much of what Motorcycle Mama stated.

There are plenty of family members who deeply love their elderly relatives who reside in nursing homes. However, I have noticed that the most whiney family members visit once or twice weekly for a few minutes with the resident, then proceed to complain about petty issues (Kleenex, etc.). Some family members only visit once or twice per year, yet the face sheet information shows that they live only a few miles away from the facility. Most of my elderly residents receive very infrequent visits, and some have received absolutely no visits since they were admitted several years ago.

I have concluded that some of the elderly nursing home residents are truly unwanted by their families. Other elderly residents are very much loved by their family members, but the families simply do not want to expend the time and energy to care for their loved one. For instance, several of my patients walk steadily without any imbalance, are fully alert with no dementia, and suffer from health problems that are not life-threatening such as pernicious anemia and arthritis. Their daily medications include a multivitamin, a daily Tylenol, and a once-monthly injection of vitamin B12. There's no reason why these types of patients couldn't be cared for at home.

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Specializes in rehab, geriatric.

:uhoh21: :( :crying2: :sniff: :uhoh3: :nono: :bluecry1: :innerconf :selfbonk: :banghead: :smackingf :sniff: :crying2:

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Specializes in rehab, geriatric.

:uhoh21: :( so sorry if I hurt anyone with my last post . I guess I have a hard time expressing myself properly. guess it has to do with being bi-lingual . :crying2: :sniff: :uhoh3: :nono: :bluecry1: :innerconf :selfbonk: :banghead: :smackingf :sniff: :crying2:

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