Im a Carer AMA

[SofaSurfer20]

Dont think anyone will be interested but here we go.

Ive been a carer of the elderly for over 10 years... AMA

Care worker or unpaid family/friend cater? Big difference.

I was a carer for the elderly when young and loved it. But there were some grim moments.
One highlight was helping a lovely old chap with his toileting needs. I reached behind him to pull his clothes back up only to end up with a pile of diarrhoea in my hand. Bless him ! Luckily I am unfazed by all bodily fluids ! But I have a horror of handling false teeth.
So come on what has been your most grim experience . And what gives you the horrors ?

@gauntletthrown

Ive been a paid carer for 12 years and since 2017 I've been a carer for a close relative too.

@flapjackfairy

Oh that sounds hilarious! 😆. Well my worst was about 3 days in to my first care job and i was still shadowing someone. We turned up at this lady's house and I was just watching what was going on whilst she was washing the ladys back. Next minute all i hear is 'oh god!!' And 'oh no!!'. Turns out the lady had a massive spot on her back and it burst. All over the carer i was shadowing. She was utterly covered (luckily had all PPE on) in puss and I was going between trying not to be sick from the sight and smell of if and giggling at the sounds she was making 😆. The client thought it was hilarious and said it was instant relief! 😆.

Another was in my second care job, just turned 18 and a lovely lady in the home i was working in suddenly became very ill on my night off but they called me in and asked me to sit with her (we got on rather well) and after 5 hours of sitting with her i was desperate to pee so i said to her 'ill be back in a couple of minutes'. She asked me not to go as she was ready to leave and i (being naive) said 'youre not going anywhere'

I came back very quickly and after a few minutes it became obvious she had passed. I shouted down the hall and because i was the last to be with her before she passed i got interviewed by the police! I was very upset and had to stop the interview several times. They knew it was natural but as it was so sudden they had to make sure.

My best is recent. A gentleman was so loved by my team that 17 out of 20 of us attended his funeral. It says a lot about him as well as our team. ❤️

Oh and the funniest has to be working in a care home on night shifts. One of the elderly ladies decided she wanted to come down at 3am into the lounge whilst i cleaned so we chatted and after a while she fell asleep in one of the cozy chairs.

I had my break so sat diagonal to her. She sneezed in her sleep and her teeth shot out of her mouth and bounced off the chair opposite to her. I had to stifle laughter till i got out of the room and i was laughing so hysterically that the senior came running down the corridor to see what the hell was going on. I told her and she didnt believe me till she saw the teeth.

After that i went back in (still giggling) and picked them up, cleaned them thoroughly and placed them on her lap 😆.

Bless her ❤️

A morbid question (!) but how often do you find people dead? That must be horrible or are you used to it now?

@mcjx Not often as you may think. Only once Ive turned up and found someone had passed away.

Ive been there whilst someone is dying more times than I wish to remember and arrived after I knew someone had passed several times.

But only once actually finding someone dead.

@SofaSurfer20 being present when someone passes isn't something I could ever imagine

Hello :)

Is it true about what they say that in many cases when someone is about to pass they suddenly get better shortly before they pass?

I worked in a care home when I was around 19 and did experience this on occasion. I would get happy because I would presume said elderly person was out of the woods only for them to die the next day.

@mcjx Depends on the situation really. The majority of the time its peaceful for all involved. The room is quiet or words are spoken quietly.

One lady wanted to be read to which was sweet.

@Pinklady301 Ive seen this a few times. More often than not its a few days before passing away which hurts the family more as you see the hope return that their loved one will get better.