Taking Care of Yourself

What Other Aides Say They do When the Going Gets Tough

1. "At lunch time, I go out to my car and listen to gospel music. That always calms me down and helps me see things differently. It gives me strength somehow."
   
2. "I tell myself that the patient can't help how he is. I remember what this person was like before he became so dependent. I know that they need me even if they don't know. On rare occasions, one of them may give a smile, a hug or a kiss. That makes it all worthwhile."
   
3. "I try to keep a certain attitude. It's like carrying certain baggage. When I come to work, I know I have a certain job to do, so I pick up that baggage (attitude). When I leave work, I can leave those problems behind and take on a different attitude. I see the problems of caring for Alzheimer's patients as part of the job. It's my job to be the best I can."
   
4. "It helps to talk to other nursing assistants. Sometimes they have an idea how to handle a particular problem. Sometimes you just have to talk to somebody who knows what you have to put up with."
   
5. "When I leave work, I leave the job here. I know it's important not to take the problems home with me. I have a family and I have a responsibility to them. I don't want them to pay for the hard day I may have had."
   
6. "I try to balance work with positive things outside of work. I have a very supportive family. I do a lot of fun things with them and with my friends. I think that helps me face some of the more difficult, sometimes, even nasty, behavior of some patients."
   
7. "The hardest part for me is dealing with families who don't understand or appreciate what you really do to care for their family member here in the nursing home. They can be pretty demanding sometimes. I think some families take it out on staff, because they are feeling guilty or frustrated. It's hard to take some of the abuse when you are doing the best job you can. I try to remind myself not to take this all personally."
   
8. "I work hard at keeping myself physically and spiritually healthy. That's the only way to do it. This is a hard job!"
   
9. "I do a good job. My faith and belief that this is important helps me on those difficult days when patients, families and sometimes even other staff all seem to be unreasonable."

Compiled by the Lincoln/Greater Nebraska Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 1999.