The watcher's perspective

In my over 21 years in nursing homes I have been an observer. Sometimes, I ended up seeing something that I least expected. At times I got stuck outside or inside and was forced to watch what was going on until I could get the chance to get back in.

The one thing that does bother me is that, since I need to be fed, I sometimes have to wait.

Here at facility #3, they have a cozy dining room that's nicer than some homes have. But, they have a population of mostly older, frail residents and many need assistance to eat.

When I first came, I watched how dayshift worked. It seemed like the residents who needed fed were being fed promptly. But, I also realized therapists, management, and even the administrator fed residents during the week. I wondered what happened on the weekends when there is always less staff.

It didn't take long for me to find out what happens. Maybe because I'm new, younger, and able to sit up longer than then the other long-term care residents, it is necessary for me to wait until they're fed before I get to be fed.

On Thursday, my lunch tray was sitting on a table, still covered. The administrator, who finished feeding a resident, took my tray to the kitchen and had it warmed. I appreciated the fact that, even though I was late, my food was warm.

Today we were shortstaffed. They're trying to hire aides to work – just on the weekends. That way they hope they're less likely to call off. But, a nursing student who was scheduled to work as an aide, Friday, Saturday, and today, called off. Since the younger aide didn't do a wonderful job yesterday, an older aides talked with her. I think she gave her the straight story of what is expected when she works here. She told others she felt put upon, and the call off followed.

I headed down to lunch with the other residents. I sat with my roommate at a table with another female resident.

Everybody at my table could feed themselves, and their trays came quickly. They started eating and I watched. I was told I would be fed after the other residents who needed assistance to eat.

Usually it's hard for me to sit and watch other residents eat. But today, I was okay with it. It was not my favorite meal and it wasn't making me hungry at all.

I think I may have waited 30 to 45 minutes for my lunch to be fed to me.

Unfortunately, in nursing homes at times it is necessary to wait for things.