Everyone's Opinion Newsletter

While searching over the internet I came upon this site that was referred to me several months ago by a wise and dear friend. I had misplaced it and as fate would have it, I stumbled onto it tonight and I have something to say.

Valley View Home is the Blair County Nursing Home, and I would like to have the opportunity to speak with the Commissioners to ask the many questions that I have.

An unknown author writes, "I will devote myself to the welfare of my patients, my community, and my family." I am writing this letter because I am a Registered Nurse (RN) who became devoted to the residents I had the privilege of taking care of. Also, I want to make the community aware in hopes of becoming more involved in caring for our loved ones, and lastly because I am devoted to my family of fellow nurses that I have met along my short yet satisfying career.

Long term care; or to care for our elderly is not a "job" that just anyone should work in, not everyone is "cut out" for the difficult yet rewarding aspects of this profession. It is a specialty, that only caring, qualified, and dedicated individuals should be involved in. This is not only limited to the staff that performs "hands-on" care on a daily basis, this dedication and specialized staff should extend into all aspects of running the facility, and it must include the management in these facilities where our loved ones reside.

The multitude of changes that have occurred and continue to occur at Valley View Home have not been made to benefit the ones that it should, the residents! Why?

In a nursing home setting, or any medical facility the people that suffer the most are not the employees, are certainly not the management, they are the ones who need us the most, our residents. So many lose sight of that, often, the source of the distorted vision are unqualified individuals making ridiculous and hasty decisions. The neglect and misrepresentation of these defenseless residents is a fundamental mistake that unfortunately happens too often. As a self employed person, I am well aware of the importance of income, and making the budget work, but the problem is that in many circumstances, overlooked is the basic importance and right of care.

You can not run a nursing home like a factory, primarily we work with people, not machinery. I believe that so too often management sees only what they want, resulting in many undesirable effects, two of the most debilitating are residents suffering and disgruntled employees. Think about this, for the most part eighty-five to ninety percent of the residents time is spent with Care Providers, Nursing Assistants, LPNs or RNs, whatever the case may be. If management refuses to acknowledge such things like an abuse allegation or certain results of an "investigation," there sits a resident who becomes scared, alone and afraid to talk to anyone. They are not to be discredited, and contrary to some people, most of these residents know when they are not taken seriously. Ignoring someone's thoughts or words can lead to the resident becoming withdrawn, leading to isolation, which leads to a lifeless and painful conclusion.

Far to often the dedicated, knowledgeable, caring staff members are overlooked or made targets of. I never quite understood why the good ones finish last and the bad ones are always at the head of the pack. Making the mistake of discrediting these priceless employees leads to not only to lower and lower job satisfaction, but ultimately it will lead to mistakes that affect the residents!

Yes, they are suffering right now because of the incapability of others to make the right and justifiable decisions. It should be a top priority to figure out where our weaknesses are and fix them, now before it becomes to late. One light of hope for these residents is that they have caregivers that are there for them, and not the "paycheck" and they tough it out because they care, however these people are being tested and pushed beyond their thresholds more than they had ever imagined. Frustration and anger will result from this and together they do not make a stable or desirable working environment; it creates turmoil.

Take an active roll in your loved ones care. If you are unhappy or unsure of something, pursue your concerns and do not stop until you get a resolution that you are satisfied with. Thank You to all who are caring for someone, young or old. Thanks to all those who make a difference and hold on to your convictions! Do not let someone change you. We need you!

Jennifer

Duncansville, PA

What do you think?