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I can't believe how many people don't seem to know how poorly nursing home workers are treated.
I once worked the midnight shift in a nursing home. In 1970, nursing staff were not covered under the minimum wage law, and were also not covered under the act that governs overtime.
At a time when minimum wage was 1.60, I was paid 1.10. I also worked 6 days on, 2 off, no overtime. A couple of my coworkers were *high school* kids who went straight from work to class. When they slept or did homework, I have no clue.
This nursing home was divided into wings, with the patients segregated into how their care was paid for. Because I was strong and fast, I was assigned to the "welfare" wing. (On the "private" - patients with insurance - wing, one aide covered 13 patients.) With one other person, I took care of about 44 patients. The first thing we did when we got to work was do all the laundry, since the nursing home only kept on hand enough linens for the bed count. Then we did the charts *for the entire night* since law required every patient be checked on every two hours. Then we got the laundry out of the dryers, loaded it on carts, and checked every patient, changing the ones who needed it. Then we did laundry again. Then we did rounds again.
This was the newest and best nursing home within 50 miles any direction.
Yes, nursing home care is better now. But the basic economics haven't changed. It's still a minimum wage job. It's a hard job because so many patients are confused and disoriented, especially at night. I was hit more than once by a patient, and I was hardly the only one. Some aides were absolutely wonderful, some were just plain mean. Most of us were just trying to get through our 8 hours doing the best we could. And we were all tired and most of us were broke.
But there's money in the nursing home business - just not for those that do most of the work.
I can't believe how many people don't seem to know how poorly nursing home workers are treated.
I once worked the midnight shift in a nursing home. In 1970, nursing staff were not covered under the minimum wage law, and were also not covered under the act that governs overtime.
At a time when minimum wage was 1.60, I was paid 1.10. I also worked 6 days on, 2 off, no overtime. A couple of my coworkers were *high school* kids who went straight from work to class. When they slept or did homework, I have no clue.
This nursing home was divided into wings, with the patients segregated into how their care was paid for. Because I was strong and fast, I was assigned to the "welfare" wing. (On the "private" - patients with insurance - wing, one aide covered 13 patients.) With one other person, I took care of about 44 patients. The first thing we did when we got to work was do all the laundry, since the nursing home only kept on hand enough linens for the bed count. Then we did the charts *for the entire night* since law required every patient be checked on every two hours. Then we got the laundry out of the dryers, loaded it on carts, and checked every patient, changing the ones who needed it. Then we did laundry again. Then we did rounds again.
This was the newest and best nursing home within 50 miles any direction.
Yes, nursing home care is better now. But the basic economics haven't changed. It's still a minimum wage job. It's a hard job because so many patients are confused and disoriented, especially at night. I was hit more than once by a patient, and I was hardly the only one. Some aides were absolutely wonderful, some were just plain mean. Most of us were just trying to get through our 8 hours doing the best we could. And we were all tired and most of us were broke.
But there's money in the nursing home business - just not for those that do most of the work.
Our laundry is done by inmates in prison. Put 'em to work.
With big washing machines. Then they sort everything and ship it out.
While visiting Leclerc and Archambault prisons in Quebec I observed a state of the art inmate operated computerized laundry service. These institutions have private contracts with hospitals and nursing homes. At the Collins Bay facility in Ontario, offenders are tearing down and completely rebuilding city buses. The work is outstanding, the products first-rate.
With big washing machines. Then they sort everything and ship it out.
While visiting Leclerc and Archambault prisons in Quebec I observed a state of the art inmate operated computerized laundry service. These institutions have private contracts with hospitals and nursing homes. At the Collins Bay facility in Ontario, offenders are tearing down and completely rebuilding city buses. The work is outstanding, the products first-rate.
I can't believe how many people don't seem to know how poorly nursing home workers are treated.
I once worked the midnight shift in a nursing home. In 1970, nursing staff were not covered under the minimum wage law, and were also not covered under the act that governs overtime.
At a time when minimum wage was 1.60, I was paid 1.10. I also worked 6 days on, 2 off, no overtime. A couple of my coworkers were *high school* kids who went straight from work to class. When they slept or did homework, I have no clue.
This nursing home was divided into wings, with the patients segregated into how their care was paid for. Because I was strong and fast, I was assigned to the "welfare" wing. (On the "private" - patients with insurance - wing, one aide covered 13 patients.) With one other person, I took care of about 44 patients. The first thing we did when we got to work was do all the laundry, since the nursing home only kept on hand enough linens for the bed count. Then we did the charts *for the entire night* since law required every patient be checked on every two hours. Then we got the laundry out of the dryers, loaded it on carts, and checked every patient, changing the ones who needed it. Then we did laundry again. Then we did rounds again.
This was the newest and best nursing home within 50 miles any direction.
Yes, nursing home care is better now. But the basic economics haven't changed. It's still a minimum wage job. It's a hard job because so many patients are confused and disoriented, especially at night. I was hit more than once by a patient, and I was hardly the only one. Some aides were absolutely wonderful, some were just plain mean. Most of us were just trying to get through our 8 hours doing the best we could. And we were all tired and most of us were broke.
But there's money in the nursing home business - just not for those that do most of the work.
Ugh. What a nightmare.
Just think, those nursing homes were heaven compared to the holes we used to put the developmentally disabled in back in the 70s.
Google "Willowbrook". It was a state-run "school" for DD folks on Staten Island. There's a pretty good documentary about it. Just horrid conditions.
For how "advanced" we are the way we treat our most powerless fellow human beings is enough to make you sick.
Just think, those nursing homes were heaven compared to the holes we used to put the developmentally disabled in back in the 70s.
Google "Willowbrook". It was a state-run "school" for DD folks on Staten Island. There's a pretty good documentary about it. Just horrid conditions.
For how "advanced" we are the way we treat our most powerless fellow human beings is enough to make you sick.
Working in group homes with DD folks is what I did.
Intuitions in Michigan were bad too.
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