I have been working in skilled nursing facilities (nursing homes) for almost 15 years. I have seen, and dealt with, everything you could possibly think of. I have consistently been there for my residents, day in and day out. My residents love me, and I love them.
When covid struck, it was absolutely devastating. In a matter of weeks, I watched people that I had formed strong relationships with drop, one after another. I even lost a couple co-workers.
My facility just happened to make the news because of the amount of deaths. This news story dealt a SIGNIFICANT blow to the moral of all the workers in the facility and almost HALF of our nurses and CNA's walked out as they were embarrassed.
You know who didn't walk out? Who stayed and performed job duties that they had no business performing, however because of the state of emergency and the staffing shortage went ahead and performed these duties anyway..... That would be the facilities ancillary staff. The dietary workers, laundry, housekeeping, central supply, and my personal position, Maintenance. As all our nurses and aids walked out, WE we're the ones tasked with sitting and feeding the residents who could not feed themselves. We were the ones delivering food trays and water. We were the ones answering call lights. We were doing everything we could do to help our residents through covid. I, personally, worked nearly 5 months straight, with only taking 2 days off through the entire time. There were MANY of us that did similar things. We still did it as our remaining nurses and aids recieved 6 dollar raises, with a hefty portion of that coming straight from the government. We didn't see that money, as we weren't (and still aren't) considered direct care staff.
I am NOT trying to bash on nurses and CNA's. Bless the ones who stayed. They were being tasked with taking care of triple the amount that they had previously been used to. They deserved every cent of these raises, plus some. I am simply stating a fact here. However, I take issue with the fact that us non "direct care" workers, were and still are not showed a single bit of appreciation.
People who just decided they didn't want to work anymore, were shown more appreciation then us. They got to collect unemployment that equalled out to well over many of myself, and my coworkers, wages. They recieved this...... For nothing. WE worked through it all. Regularly interacting with the residents who were positive. Regularly having to perform job duties in the covid units, and covid positive residents rooms. We had to go home and basically be a leper from our families, as no one knew just how bad or infectious this all was.
My daily ritual was to undress in the garage, bag my work clothes, run STRAIGHT to the washing machine, start washing, then run straight to the shower. Yes, I had to undress in the garage in very cold weather (I live in Michigan). I didn't want to put my family in any risk, so I did what I had to. Speaking of families.... How about getting yelled at because I wasn't recieving the pay that other healthcare workers were recieving, and I refused to quit for another job. This was the start of a slippery slope that led to divorce (I didn't need to be married to anyone that lacks empathy to that extent anyway). My wife didn't like that I would say that "Right now. There is NO WAY I'm leaving my residents and coworkers when they need my help the most.". She was always quick to point out that even though I was putting myself (and by proxy, her) at just as high of a risk then the "direct care" staff, I reaped none of the appreciation, pay, or perks of the "direct care" staff.
At the time, it didn't bother me as much. I just wanted to do what I could to get through all of this. Well.... My life slowly started falling apart. I mentioned the divorce. Well, that also came with losing my house. Then, because of the current housing situation, trying to find an affordable (for my pay) apartment, was next to impossible. I ended up living in my car in the parking lot of work for 2 weeks before I finally lucked into an insanely overpriced tiny apartment. Then my car broke down, and I had to figure out how to pay for a new one. Just one thing piled on top of another and my life spiralled. Throughout all of this, I'm still watching EVERYONE, including the unemployed, bring home much more money then myself.
Throughout, I just told myself that I'm doing the right thing. That I am making a legitimate difference. That I am helping to save lives.
Well, now that things are starting to normalize a bit. I've had time to reflect. I'll tell you what..... I'm pissed off. I have been right in the thick of things during covid just as much, if not more, then 90% of the direct care staff (which, once again, those who stuck it out deserve all of the appreciation, plus some).
Where is my raise from the federal government?
Where is my plaque?
Where is Mary's appreciation? She gave her LIFE to help the residents, but she was just a laundry worker.
How about a slice of that sweet, sweet unemployment money..... Where's that?
How about a friggin candy bar?
I don't care what it is, but dammit.... It wasn't only nurses that put their, and their families at risk (my mom, dad, and sister are ALL considered high risk with autoimmune disorders, I couldn't even hug them during one of the toughest moments in my life)
There is a whole lot more staff in these facilities that, without them, the entire machine stops working.
So how about some appreciation for your healthcare facility ancillary staff. The whole covid situation would have been MUCH MUCH MUCH worse without them.
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