The Nurse's Assistant

Elderly people are entering nursing facilities all across America each day and are usually fearful because of what they have heard about nursing homes of the past. This book has been written to share their stories and give you insight into preparing your loved ones for their stay in a nursing home. There are many considerations when choosing a place for your loved one. If you have time to plan and choose where they will stay, many issues can be decided on right from the start on their behalf. If their stay with the facility was unplanned and sudden, you should know about life in a nursing home and the general atmosphere of these new homes so your mind can be at ease. Not everything about these places is negative and depressing anymore. People go into these homes with every bit of their old personality that they had when they were younger. Many times their sense of humor is just as active as it has ever been. There are many reasons to laugh and be filled with joy during these latter years of their lives. Much activity and entertainment is provided in nursing homes to keep your loved ones busy. Many of our elderly have moved into these homes and made the best of it. They make friends and get involved in the activities. Not a day passes where they are not making us laugh or vice versa. These homes are not just about keeping some people alive while others are waiting around to die. It is about people helping people. It is about bonding. Friendships are developed that are never forgotten. It is not always about how the nursing staff can help America's elderly. It is often about how they have helped us. We cry on their shoulders at times and they help us through some of the worse times of our lives. Not only because they have been there but their wisdom far surpasses that of the younger generation. They listen to our stories as much as we listen to theirs. Many times when they pass away we suffer grief over their loss as you do but for different reasons. I hope this book will be enjoyed not only by the families of the elderly, but also the future certified nurse's aides and the elderly themselves. This book is a work of fiction based on my experience as a nurse's aide. Some of the stories are from other nurse's aides in other parts of the country. However, the administrative issues and descriptions of the job itself are accurate.