AroseN

I have been working at an assisted living facility for the past 11 months. I have watched many pass. I've watched people die quickly and I've watched the process last days. How do you say goodbye. What do you say to someone who is having their last days? I cry every time I have tried to. I am so worried that my crying distresses them. What do you say when saying goodbye, does saying goodbye give you closure. These deaths have taken a toll on my mental health, to the point that I have been losing weight. I don't want to pull away emotionally from my residents, and I'm not sure I could, but I am worried that I'm going to burn out. I realize these questions are a bit scattered, but if you could give me any insight it would be greatly appreciated.

Don't get discouraged if the first few days don't go as smoothly as you would've liked. It takes a bit to develop a rhythm as to what residents needs are and who to see to first. Expect this rhythm to get disrupted. Don't be afraid to ask your co-workers questions as it shows you care about the residents. I am also new but I have worked for almost two months.

Bringing people down to supper, helping one resident eat, feeding two other residents. 2 hour toileting schedule. Blood sugar checks before supper. Bringing residents back to rooms and making sure they are comfortable (turning on the tv, putting on music, putting a blanket over them etc.) Individual care will be varied. Taking tedhose off and washing said tedhose is common, putting lotions on. Prep H. Learn when your residents go to bed and know how many blankets they like, Pull back sheets make sure there is a pad on the bed. Some residents have unique care like having a commode set out near their bed. Help get them into their bedclothes. Check to see whose vitals need to be done. Don't be afraid to ask questions, it takes awhile to know each residents needs and rhythm. Things will come up that will change responsibilities, such as falls or being short staffed. Also at my facility we have shower aides that come in, so I check to see who is getting showers and check with that aide since most will get the resident that they shower ready for bed. I think that covers most of it. Hope it helps some.

I work in assisted living and I am expected to do vitals on second shift on any resident who has fallen is sick or new/readmit. Usually around the time I am doing the vitals family is visiting. When I am asked by the family why am I taking vitals of their family member is it a violation of HIPAA to tell them that it is because they fell. I have never worked in health care before and my first instinct is that they deserve to know. However if they weren't already informed it puts me in an awkward situation.

I recently started work in assisted living. Only one person has passed since I have started working there and it wasn't hard on me as she wasn't someone I had worked with much and I was very aware that it was the end of her pain. But one of the residents I started work with was recently put onto hospice care. The other person that I work with who is on hospice is very obviously in pain so I don't fear her passing. But this resident is hard for me to look at and realize she may pass soon, because though she has some pain she is still up and moving and for the most part independent. I am really worried that I will react badly when she passes. I know I can't get distracted while I am at work. How do I prepare myself for her passing? How do you keep working when you hear the news of someone passing?