Missingyou

I only work a few hours a week in home care. The agency I work for does NOT require staff going into a home to wear any mask. I do wear a mask the entire time. I also work in a nursing home that was devastated by covid early on. .....and no, my current facility does not have a policy about working a second job anywhere but, they once did. ...in fact, they are encouraging it now within their own "family" of nursing homes within the state because of a severe shortage of RN & CNA`s.

If it worked, then it was the perfect thing to say. If you told them them truth, it probably would have agitated them. Other things that have worked: °it's snowing out & the roads are bad, we're all staying here tonight. ( I say this even in Summer!) ° I get off work in 30 minutes, I'll give you a ride home, maybe u can wait here( their room) I'll come get you when it's time to leave. (Provide snack or task such as folding towels or baby clothes). °it's really cold outside, you will need a coat if your going out, your coat is back this way.

It is generally difficult to communicate with residents of a nursing home because of the reasons why they are there, dementia, etc. It will just take time and experience to learn how to better communicate with them. As far as making small talk ( if you have that time....) start with asking simple questions about their life. You will find that those with dementia generally remember, respond to questions about their earlier years.such as how did you meet your spouse, where did you grow up, etc. Just go with whatever they say. Some may say something like they have to get up & ready for work tomorrow. Rather than reminding them they are retired, ask them where they work, do they enjoy it, etc....just go with it. For those who cannot communicate, singing often helps calm them. Sing songs they are likely familiar with, happy birthday, row row row your boat, or even a traditional Holiday song (even if you're no where near that holiday). Talk about the weather, what they're having for dinner. When I first started, I wore bright informs with chapters like snoopy, Mickey mouse, cats, etc and that would often start the conversation. Bottom line, ask questions about them. Get them talking so you don't have to.

I work in long term care. The latest challenge our facility is facing is staff taking advantage of systems put in place to protect our residents & staff. While it can't really be proven, it appears that some staff are calling in to report potential exposure to covid. They are then put on leave for 10 days no further questions asked.. There is no disciplinary action. Problem is, there are more than a handful staff who have reported potential exposure 4 & 5 times now. They all have tested negative at our mandatory testing which happens 2x' s a week. Apparently, it's a good way to get a vacation which, at our facility is always denied due to staffing shortages. Do you see this problem where you work? Would you do it to get time off after working chronic overtime with no time off in sight?

Hmmm, at our LTC we get mandatory tested 2x a week. If miss even one test (regardless of reason) we get suspended, as in disciplinary action, until we have a test that returns negative. Each test not taken is considered as if it were a call out & 8 call outs in a year means termination. We lost 32 residents in 5 weeks this past Spring. Several staff were hospitalized, many more were out sick. One staff lost her husband shortly after having covid19 herself. If someone just sniffles they are put in quarantine for 14 days.

We were hit hard In the Spring. Of 120 residents, we lost 32 to covid & 66 tested positive, most with symptoms bad enough to land them in the hospital. At that time we closed off all units with plastic so wandering residents ( or staff ) couldn't easily enter the units. Each unit had its own breakdown & staff bathroom. Kitchen/laundry staff not allowed on units. We hand to receive/ deliver such items to fire exit doors for pick up. I agree with above, no matter how careful you are, you will get covid. Nursing homes just don't have access to proper protection like hospitals do. There is not one single staff in that building who have been there since the beginning that hasn't tested positive at sometime. If I knew then what I know now, I would have left the nursing home back in March when our 1st resident tested positive & worked in either home care or hospital. The only reason I stay now is because I've had covid & the majority of staff & residents have had it. We have been completely "covid free" for more than 6 weeks.

Last week we were told the vaccine would be mandatory in our nursing home for all staff. Today, we were told it is NOT going to be mandatory AND they are offering $50 to anyone who gets the vaccine NOW while we have first stabs at it.

Some logic I've heard in our nursing home is: if every resident is required to get the vaccine, why force every staff to get it. If the facility's plan is to protect the residents and all the residents are vaccinated...........mission accomplished without staff being vaccinated.

At our long term car facility we already told It WILL be mandatory unless we provide a doctor's note, same as with the flu vaccine. So far, I don't know of any employee willing to take it. Including upper management. Many have said they will quit & go to lesser paid nursing facilities that won't require it.

In April, when I had covid, my employer contacted me to tell me they were filing workers comp on my behalf to ensure the claim would be approved. Fast forward to today: we are on our own if we test positive. So far, the 4 staff who tested positive without ANY symptoms and kept off work x2 weeks. They have either had to use PTO time or went unpaid...unable to get workers comp or unemployment ( can't get thru the system that is overwhelmed).

Uh, if I refuse to take covid patients until they provide me with a "proper" mask they would insist the reused KN95 IS within Guidelines. If I refused, they escort me off the premises & I'm without a job..... I work in a nursing home with seniors who have dementia & covid....not in a hospital on a covid floor....apparently there is a difference.

This facility IS following "acceptable" guidelines.....acceptable to whom, I don't know...

LTC we cannot force any resident to wear one if they refuse. Even when they are out socializing in the hall which, they do all the time since we can't force them to stay in their rooms. ...and when they wander into the covid unit down the hall they are sent back to their own unit...since the hall doors are only closed off, not sealed, because that's a hazard should there be a fire. Covid positive residents are kept in their rooms mostly because they are too sick to get out of bed... It's a mess in LTC.

Been there, done that this past Spring as a CNA at a long term facility. It won't get any better. And be prepared.....you will surely get covid yourself & likely bring it to your family. Hate to be a "Debbie downer" but, it's the honest truth, as I said, been there, done that. If I knew then what I know now, I would have quit at the 1at sign of covid entering our facility. If enough staff quit, they'd be forced to send residents to a hospital where there is better PPE and precautions in place to protect everyone.

It seems things are very different in a nursing home than in a hospital setting. We wear the same non fit tested KN 95 mask x 5 shifts regardless of which type of unit, covid positive or otherwise. Only just recently we have been required to wear face shields as well but, most don't actually wear them & no one enforces it! We also now have the option of wearing a new daily surgical mask on non positive unit but, again, I often see both CNAs & RNs with masks pulled under the nose in patient rooms! We have a "clean unit", a "holding" unit for new admits, and a set of rooms for positive people. There are no pressurized rooms & doors are usually left open with PPE gowns hanging on the outside of doors...masks are not changed between patients on any unit, ever. I had covid this past Spring along with everyone in my household despite the frantic efforts to not get it or pass it on. I'm convinced I will get it again if I continue to work in LTC. ( 1staff & 2 residents are currently on their 2nd bout of covid). All staff & all residents were being tested weekly since May. We are now tested 2x a week because there is a new surge of staff & residents testing positive. ..... I wonder why.? (.....sarcasm).