My personal experience in the care our elders receive

I worked with the elderly straight out of high school and loved my job. Only problem I had was becoming to attached to the residents I cared for. In the event of their passing I struggled with my emotions and why i needed to remove myself from this position until I could better handle the circle of life. After 20 years I returned to this profession, to find little had changed for the better. Yes, they no longer tie individuals down. Now they place them in what is called a Geri chair ( a recliner that is impossible for a frail elderly person to get out of).Sure they say there have been more changes but the reality of the day to day care one receives has not changed.
One particular event has me very upset and feeling the need to tell my story..
When I reported to work as usual I found several of the residents I care for on a daily basis in a terrible state of neglect. Those that where incontinent had not been changed for the entire previous shift. This was visible be the large rings of feces I found them laying in. One resident I have is very cognitive and alert. She informed me she had not been tended to all day and had not even been assisted into her night gown until after 11:00 p.m. As I'm sure this was only done because the next shift was to arrive soon. I immediately went to the nurse of the previous shift and informed her of this. she responded by going into that residents room and told her that was untrue. I witnessed this as I was standing right there as she informed this resident that she must be mistaken and left the room. Leaving the resident very upset that her concerns had not been taken serious.
I continued with my rounds to find that same residents roommate in a large ring of feces and what appeared to be a red tint in this circle. I went back to the nurse station again asking the nurse to come look at this resident ( I have a legal responsibility to report neglect). I was then told by the nurse " Just clean her up". this response infuriated me as there was no further chain of command to take my concern to at such a late hour. Administration personnel where not in the building. Feeling my concerns where not being heard, and refusing to partake in any form of substandard care, I walked off my job very upset.
I received a call the next day, not by the administrator as I would have thought, but by the scheduling department wanting to know if I would be returning to work. I reported my concerns to this individual and was assured by her that she would speak to the director of nursing about this matter and have it resolved.
So I returned to work. To find the same resident that had been laying in a ring of feces had been sent to the hospital. This resident stayed in the hospital for 4 days. During which time I called the individual in scheduling to see if she had spoken to the director of nursing... she had not.
The resident returned to our facility and appeared very weak, this resident had been on thickened liquids when she was sent to the hospital. Some elderly can not drink thin fluids as it will make them choke. she requested from me a glass of water. I informed her I was not allowed to give her water as she has a thickened liquids sign above her bed. She informed me her doctor had changed her order and had encouraged her to drink liquids to ward of dehydration. I went to the nurse station asking the nurse if this resident was allowed to have regular water as she was too weak to be able to draw the thicker liquid through a straw. I was then told by the nurse, " If she wants to be difficult she can dehydrate and go back to the hospital." the resident put on her call light 3 more times asking for water. At each time I would return to the nurse asking if their had been a change to her chart, could you please check the chart. only to be told she can not have water. this particular nurse never checked the chart until 3 hours later at which time she told me their had been a change and this resident was allowed to have water. I immediately got water to take to the resident. the same nurse that I could not get to look at this resident before she was sent to the hospital ("just clean her up") and would not check the chart for 3 hours, did proceed to follow me down the hall to the residents room at this time. to watch as I gave the resident her water.I will always wonder what her intentions where as i will never know. Personal belief tells me she was hoping the resident would choke so she could remove the water.
Again I found this unacceptable and spoke to the director of nursing myself about these concerns. and about the aide whom had neglected these individuals in the first place. I was assured this would be taken care of.
Needless to say nothing was done to either individual and it is business as usual. Neither have been reprimanded or removed from their assignments.
The resident in question passed away a days after this incident. I was told when she initially went to the hospital it was for a intestinal bleed. I do not know this for a fact. But I do know she was not cared for properly before she went to the hospital or after her return. It makes me wonder if she wouldn't be here today had this matter been taken more serious.
I have quit my job as a nurse assistant and will not got back into this particular position. I am now going to attend college to become a register nurse where I will have control over the care my residents receive.
I find this situation very upsetting and heart breaking. It has changed me in several ways.
Please always check on your family members in a nursing facility, if the family is around daily and present demanding a certain quality of care the staff are more attentive, for fear of repercussion.
when placing a family member in the care of others please always remember not everyone is a nice person with a conscience.