When I am old
Whenever I wanted something as a little girl- my mother used to tell me...
“I’ll buy this for you, only if you take care of me when I am old.”
Well.. if that didn't ingrain some sense of responsibility in me- I don't know what did!
I remember being little and watching Rescue 911... I wanted to know outcomes, the real stories and how it all worked.
I started my first caregiving job working with developmentally disabled adults. I was 18 and needed health insurance.
I had no support from my family so I had to put myself through school. THANKFULLY there was financial aid, sharing a tiny room with a bunk bed and great roommates, and various people to guide me a long the way.
Developmentally disabled wasn't exactly for me. After 8 months I decided to "EARN WHILE YOU LEARN". I was able to get my certified nurses assistant (CNA) license while working in a nursing home. HOLY COW is that eye opening.
I've worked with many people in my life. I started working at age 14. But let me just tell you that Filipino's are the hardest working people I have ever met. Yes I'm stereotyping- but SERIOUSLY. I was looked down upon until I was capable of bathing, dressing and transporting 6 adults with dementia to breakfast in 2 hours! Occasionally I would try and get away with not bathing one of them and THEY would just know and give me the stare down.
My first day in the nursing home I was looked at in the eyes by a women named Mary and she said "I HATE YOU. I HOPE YOU DIE!"
WELL let's just say the tears started flowing and I was thinking WTF did I just commit myself to?
Thankfully I was quickly informed and learned the terrors and sadness of dementia early on. I understood why people end up there, I understood the heartache of families who came to visit even when their loved one didn't recognize them. The human brain, human feces, the reason my mother wanted insurance that she would be taken care of......
