Aides

By now, I have developed a confidence and comfort level with a number of aides here, but I still get aides that I don't know.  That happened this morning.  She seems to be a nice lady, and we got through the basic requirements.

From what I've picked up from the staff, it seems this place is again having turnover issues.  Maybe it does constantly, I don't know.  Presumably, the strategy of institutions in such circumstances is to maintain a core of staffers, and bring in others as needed.  It's not the ideal way to build an organization-- if that's in fact how it works-- but if you're filling relatively demanding yet low wage jobs, it's probably what usually happens.

We are in the midst of a national debate about healthcare.  One element in that debate should concern the role healthcare aides will play in the future, both in nursing homes and in less structured settings, like group homes or private homes.  Holding the best people will likely mean more respect, more benefits, and more money for those who accept the responsibility for the daily physical care of our loved ones.  That will be tough to achieve in these budget-cutting times, but such care must be fit into an overall healthcare policy.