Inside the mind of a
Home Health Professional
I have been a home health aid for 1 year now. Its a rather simple job when you think of the idea of it.
A little about my client specifically: My client is disabled, cant walk, depressed, and is fully dependent upon a care worker even though her daughter is on 3 off 4 schedule as a CNA. I am full time 8:30 to 4:30, after I leave her daughter takes over. I have heard from my client that her daughter leaves instructs her to use restroom on herself on couch, and is gone for more than 3-4 hours at a time. Patients who are not physically able to get up by them selves require 24 hour assistance. When leaving a patient, OR FAMILY MEMBER it is called ABANDONMENT! It is against the law and you can get in trouble for it. Not to mention should the unthinkable happen like home invasion or fire even flood.
Client D, as ill call her, suffered 2 brain tumors and stroke. She is incontinent, has use of her right arm and leg and none in the left hand, and practically none in her left leg. I have to change her in the morning, take her to bathroom each time she needs to go, transfer her to and from toilet, wipe and back to couch. I also prepare her meals and do her share of cleaning. She down is spirits most days and I personally try in doing anything to make her smile and keep her spirits somewhat lifted. Like everyone else we go through moods, and when you are fully dependent upon a caregiver or family member it ring out moods and words that would more than likely not be spoken otherwise. I can imagine the stress.
This job is stressful. Its not all sitting and fun and games movies on the weekend and just fun fun fun. No matter what kind of mood or day I am having combined with hers I am still loving, nice, caring, compassionate and professional. I treat her as I would want to be treated, or as I would want my mother to be treated. Your probably wondering whats the problem? Why am I sharing this? Well I take care of client d in her daughter and her husbands home. He works all day, and she is sometimes here. They keep the heat/ac on 83, keep in mind today is May 10th and its 91 outside. Were lucky if a/c is on at all. They go to work and leave back door open which means they want air off, so we sit here and are sticky from sweat. No fan, no a/c, moody elder whom is in constant need of care giving, adds up for a stressful job.
A big stresser that lies in between all of the others are the daughter of my client. I am a whopping inch taller and we have not had one fall at all. They on the other hand have falls often. The ambulance has to come because she can not pick her up. Which means a complete hospital trip. She leaves her unattended and tells her to make any and all bowel movements in her pull up. This has caused a rash on clients D and to me is unacceptable.
I dont come to work with much of anything including food. I drive over 30 mi to work 6 days a week, i do not get paid mileage, i make a few cents above minimum wage, to top it off stuck in traffic to and from work. And for the record gas is $3.97. Yes there are a few stressers for me, but i leave all of them one by one in a trail from my car to the door. And when I leave I pick them up one by one cause I cant leave my trash in their front yard, can i? Nope. Cause thats not professional.
So to everyone whom was wanting a inside point of view, there you go. A combination of my and her emotions and days of our lives all thrown together. It can be a little messy but I do genuinely care for client D.
When going into the health field you must be strong, mentally and physically. Able to contain sarcasm and anything unprofessional in any way. I recommend volunteering at a Community Home or somewhere you can get a inside view of the work and all it entails. If you chose for or against either way is your decision. I wish you all the luck!
Till next time! Chasity
