Advice to cope in care work

[Showmethefood]

Hi all.
I’ve recently started work in a care setting and am working mainly with dementia residents. The other staff are really nice etc but they did say in my interview I would be shadowing a more experienced carer for two weeks and then if I felt comfortable then I could go on my own. I was literally left on my eight hours into my first shift 🙈. I’m slowly picking up what I need to do etc but what I find hard is seeing how awful these poor residents lives have become. I look and see a picture of a person on the wall when they were well and able minded and now they’re really underweight and screaming at you not to hurt them when you’re caring for them 😔 please give me some advice on how to cope mentally with this myself so that I can help these people the best I can. I know this isn’t an AIBU but I didn’t know where else to ask. TIA

This is very poor practice on the part of your employer. I'd raise it with them anyway.
Having said that, speaking to colleagues even a few snatches might help your confidence, as will reading family carers accounts. It's emotionally draining work, no doubt of it, don't insist of yourself that you handle it straight off. As an older people's social worker I tried to remind myself that firstly however many I saw, each to be treated as I or a loved one would want to be treated and secondly that behaviour was communication and learning what they were trying to "say" was key

Thank you @toconclude