Poll of the Day > Just started my first day working as a caretaker!

(+) Yeah! (+)

And oh man, I don't know if I have the capacity to handle this. I thought living in a developing country for a year had fortified my mentality to handle anything, but changing old people's diapers and washing them is a whole different ballpark. I've got a lot of respect for people who do this for a living (I'm only doing it temporary).

Mask up. Stay safe...

---

hah. you get used to it.

though, to note, if you're ever in a situation where your managing bedsores, and that smell is just too much, dab some hand sanitizer below your nose, or vicks vaporub.

oh, and don't get santyl on your skin. despite the manufacturer saying it wont do anything and will only effect dead tissue, it's a lie and it will eat your skin.

---

Caretakers look after grounds over here. Carers wipe old peoples arses. Still it's nice that you don't mind getting down and dirty.

---

helIy posted...

hah. you get used to it.

though, to note, if you're ever in a situation where your managing bedsores, and that smell is just too much, dab some hand sanitizer below your nose, or vicks vaporub.

or tea tree oil

---

helIy posted...

if you're ever in a situation where your managing bedsores, and that smell is just too much

oh man, mad respect to anyone doing that shit

---

DirtBasedSoap posted...

oh man, mad respect to anyone doing that shit

Right??? My good friend takes care of her mom and I can't imagine having to do it for people not in your family.

---

I did home care and worked as a CNA for five years, its a very tough job but very rewarding. You end up meeting some incredible people that have a lot of life experience to share.

---

DirtBasedSoap posted...

oh man, mad respect to anyone doing that shit

it's not too bad, though it's the smell that really bothers most people i've seen

it doesn't really bother me tbh

---

Mad respect, tbh. You should be getting paid more, ok?

---

helIy posted...

hah. you get used to it.

though, to note, if you're ever in a situation where your managing bedsores, and that smell is just too much, dab some hand sanitizer below your nose, or vicks vaporub.

oh, and don't get santyl on your skin. despite the manufacturer saying it wont do anything and will only effect dead tissue, it's a lie and it will eat your skin.

Thank you!! I am sure that this info is going to come in handy and I definitely appreciate it.

helIy posted...

it's not too bad, though it's the smell that really bothers most people i've seen

it doesn't really bother me tbh

I can handle gross smells no problem. What I didn't realize is how this would trigger my depression. Seeing people in such a helpless state and in an "undignified" (word of one of the residents) position has confirmed for me that I would personally rather kill myself than reach this point.

Aculo posted...

Mad respect, tbh. You should be getting paid more, ok?

Because of the extra COVID unemployment cash I am actually taking a significant cut in revenue by taking this job. But I'd rather be doing something than continue sitting at home. The time off was nice though. I was supposed to start a job in Japan in September, but COVID postponed that, so I'm doing this until Japan is accepting people from the U.S. (could be over a year for the program I'm doing).

wwinterj25 posted...

Caretakers look after grounds over here. Carers wipe old peoples arses. Still it's nice that you don't mind getting down and dirty.

Apparently the proper term is "caregiver" not "caretaker" so I was mistaken in the topic title!

most people I know say caretaker

---

Grounds is a landscaper

---

SpeeDLeemon posted...

Grounds is a landscaper

Landscapers do building work over here such as driveways, patios, walls etc.
Caretakers take care of normally large buildings. At my school growing up we had a caretaker for example and I actually went to school with his daughter. Care workers are just called that or Carers for short. We also have a system where children are taken into "care" by social services at times.

---

It is difficult. I have taken care of my mom for 7 years who is in the last stage of Alzheimer's. Where I live Covid is running rampant through our nursing homes.

---