Staff members, even when there is a good ratio of staff and residents, can get overwhelmed with their jobs. If you are a care worker communicate with your coworkers and employer any concerns you might have with your job. Also encourage other care workers that work along side of you. It’s not a one man show. Communication doesn’t just mean complaints or demands. Comunicate with your coworkers when there is a shift change. When you come in to work ask if there are any new duties (i.e. Mr. Williams doctor prescribed him some new medication that he needs to be reminded of before he goes to bed, or Ms. Johnson had a fall and needs her dinner brought to her room). When leaving your shift make sure you don’t leave a job half done and make the next shift aware of any changes. Always look into someone’s eyes when he/she is speaking and repeat back what has been communicated so that it is understood. If we would communicate, work together and everyone do their part there would be a lower turn over in care staff.

 If a fellow care worker calls in sick do not become angry and wonder if he/she is faking but at the same time voice to your employer that you can’t always “pick up the slack”. There should be a call-in care worker for such cases. There is no reason that you should have to continue to work double shifts. There may be emergency cases that you will have to work a double shift. On the other hand if you are sick you should give as much notice as possible to your employer. Do not come to work as a care attendant/CNA sick. You cannot be caring for the elderly that have low immune systems when you are contageous.

Be honest and encouraging to your co-workers.

“his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.” 

 -I Corinthians 3:13

It’s easy for anyone to forget to take medication. Those with dementia need to be especially careful. Skipping medication can have searious consequences. One way to remember is to have a weekly pill box organizer. This helps prevent from accidentally taking the wrong pill or too many pills. There are some pill box organizers that have timers that buzz when it is time for medication. Putting a reminder posty note on the mirror or refrigerator is another suggestion. Marking down when was the last medication time on a pad of paper or calendar helps prevent overdose. If forgetting to take medication is a persistant problem have a trusted person be responsible to remind you each time or despense the medicine to you.