AMA: Care worker in independent living complex

[WrendaleCountryDogs]

I work in an independent living complex. There are 60 1 bedroom apartments and we provide support to allow the residents to live an independent life.They are 55+. Majority of the residents have some mobility issues, early stages of dementia, parkinsons or are just "elderly". However some have learning disabilities or acquired brain injuries.They get between 1 and 4 care calls a day depending on their needs. To assist with personal care, medication, meals, light housekeeping etc. Whatever is required in their care call to enable them to manage until their next care call.There is somebody on site 24/7 for emergencies.No idea if anybody will have any questions! I think these sort of places are wonderful as not everybody can manage without help but don't need to be in care homes.

Given that we have an aging population, it’s likely we will need more of these type of places to cater for people’s needs. Seems like a good arrangement to me! Lots of people don’t have family near enough or available enough to provide this.

Am thinking of applying for a job in one of these near me. Is it very different to a care home environment? Do you have to do a lot of personal care and do you get involved with things like helping residents do shopping and keep their home’s clean and tidy?

They're called Extra Care round here, and they're a great idea although I think a lot of people still think every retirement complex or sheltered housing place works like this.

Can you handle non-injury falls?

I would never do care home.
Personal care is mostly showering and dressing. There are 3 that need assistance to use the toilet and personally, they shouldn't be in this sort of place now as they aren't really independent any more.
Some we do shopping for, or pick up bits between shops like milk and bread. We wash dishes, empty bins, mop floors if it needs doing, run vacuum round, change bedding, but that's only if we see it needs doing rather than it being a set part of the job. We also do laundry if it needs doing.

If they are able to get themselves up with our verbal instructions then yes but if they are unable to get up then we have to call out the falls team. Although if the person is light weight then sometimes we will assist them up. This is totally against the rules though so it's on a hush hush basis and the resident knows that! Falls team can take 4 hours to arrive so yeah we use our commen sense sometimes.

Do the residents meet up with each other in a communal area or visit each others apartments?
Or is it more like a block of flats where they might say hello in the corridors but thats it?

Do you think any of the residents are lonely?

They meet up all the time. There is a group of around 12 that meet for coffee morning twice a week and afternoon tea on a Sunday. There are 2 people who live down the road from us who join in too. We have a cafe on site that a lot go to.
We have a room for activities but since covid there hasn't been an activity coordinator. That isn't something us care staff are able to do as we don't have the time. We desperately need a new coordinator but there isn't the funds for it. The complex is run by a housing association but care is provided by a care company. Us care staff are employed by the care company to do care, nothing else.
However this group of 12 meet in there for crafts, bingo, gardening club etc. Everyone else is welcome too if they wanted to.

There are a couple of people who are lonely. One has dementia and forgets when family has visited. The other hasn't any family. Or what family he does have, doesn't visit much but I do believe that's because of the way he treated them when they were younger.

Do the residents own or rent their flats? And how much is each option and the service charge?

No they rent from housing association. I have absolutely no idea how much they pay though!

I used to work in Extra Care/Independent living and I loved it. You have a great job, OP. Much love and respect from me.

I found we were getting an increasing number of residents who needed nursing care but there was no space available so they were shunted to us. We did our best for them but we didn't have the time, equipment, or training to provide the care they needed. Do you find the same is happening in your area?

Also, do you ever get residents whose families never provide them with enough groceries and if so how do you deal with this? thinking of the man who I regularly stole from the staff room for

What kind of shifts do you work? Do you feel you have a good work/life balance?

My dad is elderly, but mentally and physically quite good. He could do with some extra support, ie he can’t manage a large property any more, and the complex you describe sounds ideal. It sounds as though the communal side of things is quite busy, so would he have quite a lot of social opportunities/company?

Unfortunately, yea do we do get families who don't provide enough. We have one whos family take a stuff from them.