Krystal A. Care Companion in Bogota, NJ 07603

Hello!
My experience includes working overnight at an assisted living home for about three months in Harrisburg, NC. I worked in two different departments while I was there. Sometimes I would work in the main building where the guests were active and mobile. These guests were very easy to assist as they just needed simple things such as:
-check-ups every couple hours in case they needed anything
-late night medication reminders or getting the medication technician to administer pain medications if requested/needed
-laundry
-light housekeeping(changing trash, washing dishes, making beds etc.)
-following emergency procedures in case of a late night emergency
-wake up call for breakfast
-providing assistance with dressing, bathing or eating for patients who were unable to do so for themselves (broken arm, patients in a wheelchair or that have had a stroke)
-providing company, reading, crossword puzzles, braiding their hair, late night snacks, mostly for the night owls who couldn't sleep :)

The other department housed patients who were bed-ridden or immobilized and who suffered from Alzheimer and Dementia. The patients were all different, some in the early stages and some in the very late stages. Since I worked overnight, most of the patients were usually asleep. I preferred this department because I felt they were more in need of my help. Caring for them was like caring for a child. The patients in the very late stages were very fragile and sometimes it was very hard to watch them as they went through their last days. Unfortunately, I lost a few patients that I had become very close with and cared about but, it was expected to happen at some point. Unlike the other departments, these patients required help with everything including but, not limited to:
-bathing, dressing, grooming
-toilet assistance/diaper changes
-feeding
-laundry/folding
-housekeeping
-walking/moving
-companion (someone to talk to)
-entertainment (reading or singing to them, praying with/for them, dressing them up for church, telling jokes, dancing)

This was my first time professionally caring for the elderly but the company gave ongoing training and classes to help us understand better how to care for these types of patients. I learned a lot in the few months I was there. I'm a very nurturing and caring person with a pleasant personality and so I tend to work best with seniors and children.