My Greatest Takeaways From Working In A Nursing Home

I worked as a receptionist in a Nursing Home for a little over two years. In the beginning I was so unsure of how to act around the residents. I didn’t know if I should talk to them when they wanted to talk (which could be often) or ignore them and get on with my work. I didn’t know if I should hug them if they needed a hug and I certainly didn’t know what to do when a resident wanted to escape or was convinced there was someone conspiring against them.

I quickly learned to greet every resident with a big smile and a warm energy. I listened as often as I could, walked with them, helped wheel them to where they wanted to go and talked one or two into having a hot drink in the dining area instead of escaping.

While it was an incredibly rewarding experience it could also be incredibly hard. It wasn’t uncommon to see the heathiest of person deteriorate in a couple of days and pass away. It was hard to see people who had tried their hardest to take care of their parents at home but finally had to put their parents into care. It was hard to see a person become consumed with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Although at times I found working at the Nursing Home stressful, I would not take back my experience for the world and so I want to share with you my greatest takeaways…

A smile and eye contact is universal language.

The home I worked at had predominately Greek and Italian residents. Some residents spoke little English and some spoke no language at all (simply a language they made up). But no matter what they spoke all they needed was to be heard. A smile, some eye contact and a nod of recognition was often enough to not only create a bond with a resident but to help them feel at ease. From this I have learned to treat everyone this way and I tend to create bonds quickly with people just by offering a smile and giving some eye contact.

Life can be lived beautifully when the future is taken away.

Imagine living a life where you are no longer striving to become the head of a company or to buy a home or save for a holiday. That is how the residents live and they are so grateful for the simple pleasures in life. A family member coming to visit, a good book, a trip to the ocean or a glass of wine is enough to leave a resident beaming for the rest of the day. Seeing this always encouraged me to be grateful not only for the freedom I have to go where I want and see who I want, but for the small things I have in my life.

Death doesn’t have to be feared.

As someone who used to be terrified of death I cannot believe I am saying this statement, but sometimes death is a gift. I have seen residents in constant pain who deteriorate ever so slowly. I have seen patients lose their mind and are in a constant state of confusion and anxiety. Sometimes when someone passes away it is of course sad but it can also be a relief and a blessing for the family members. It always leaves a hole when someone you have grown to love passes away but life always goes on. I was always struck by how much the residents accepted that death may be around the corner and did not fear it. It seems to me like a more peaceful way to live.

What you focus on the most in life stays with you.

I have seen residents who have lost everything of who they once were except the one thing they focused on the most in their life. The house proud continues to clean and the police officer continues to keep an eye on everything. This has taught me to decide what I want to focus on the most in my life to carry through until the end.

It is a privilege to work in aged care.

I have met many people who are too afraid to even step foot in a Nursing Home. I get it, they can sometimes smell bad and can remind people of “the end”. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Residents are just humans after all. They are filled with wicked senses of humour, infinite wisdom and I have learned that it is truly a privilege to be with humans towards the end of their lives.

So those are my greatest takeaways from working in a nursing home, I would love to hear from you in the comments below.

Until next time, stay committed to your wellness.

Shalee xo