An Insider’s View of Nursing Home Care (Not Mine)

I recently came across an article from someone who retired from their regular job and took a job working nights in a nursing home.

He has some interesting observations.

The author and I agree on many points. I thought I would share and comment on them so you might have another perspective.

In the beginning of the article he stresses that he does love working there. The pro is that he meets some wonderful elderly people with great stories to tell. I would add that there are wonderful caregivers as well as residents in the nursing home industry. Caregivers have a really tough job. The good ones are angels on earth.

Then he starts talking about the cons in his nursing home.

He talks about how the elderly completely trust their doctors. They come from a generation that trusts authority figures. And that means the doctors load them up with prescriptions to keep the profits coming in for everybody.

While I agree that the elderly have way too many medications, I think the reasons are a little more complicated. Many of the elderly start off at home with a few medications from their doctor.

Then they may fall or need to go to the hospital. There they have more medications prescribed.

The hospital recommends a rehab facility. More medications added.

Assisted living is the final step. The doctor at the assisted living adds a few more.

At no point is there a serious discussion about reducing medications. It’s just the way the system works.

The system, as the author says (and I agree), rewards compliance. “You have this problem, you should take this medication.” Doctors are taught not to deviate. If they do buck the system, they are at risk of losing their medical license.

The next point the author makes is that the residents have no idea that a better diet will help them become healthier.

Boy is he singing my tune on this one. However, I don’t think it is as dire as that. Although most of the residents who come to me don’t realize what a good diet can do, their families are starting to realize it.

We work with the families to make better diets happen. Then better results happen.

His last point in the article is that the elderly faithfully line up for all vaccines and boosters the doctors recommend. From flu shots to Covid vaccines.

It is not my intention to wade into this contentious issue here. I think his last point is reflective of his first point where the residents blindly trust their doctors.

However, I would like to stress that I believe everyone should have the freedom to choose whether or not they consent to any kind of medical procedure. Many elderly were pressured to take the shot during Covid.

As were many healthcare workers.

Nursing homes and assisted living are prime targets for pharmaceutical profits in lots of different forms. It’s time to lower those margins through healthy lifestyle changes.

Here is a link to the article. I thought it was encouraging to see others are thinking like I do in this industry.