by Erin Medovich

Created on: July 10, 2009

Your parents took care of you for most of your life here on Earth. Let's face it-they are still caring for you and taking care of your emotional needs if you are lucky to have wonderful parents. This is one of the many reasons why you should keep your parents out of nursing homes.

As a Certified Nurse Aide, I have been caring for the elderly now for about 3 years on and off, between having my first child and moving to another state. I have seen it all, from home health to working in a nursing home setting, and even hospitals. Most of the elderly I have cared for need to be in a better environment.

Nursing homes can be extremely scary for the elderly. After all, why would someone want a roommate after being at home all those year caring for their own families? They are lonely and frightened most of the time during their residency in a nursing home.

There are a lot of elderly folks being put into these nursing homes and then their families don't come to visit them often enough. Who would want to be stuck in a place where aides and nurses come in out of your room as they please, you are told when you are getting washed up for the day/evening, and meals are planned when and where they want you to be. Not to mention how scary it can be to be in a room with someone you don't know very well.

Their roommate can have medical problems as serious as Dementia, Alzheimer's, and acting out is a major problem with some residents. Some residents become frustrated with their caregivers and act out, maybe even hitting or spitting at their aide. Caring for this type of resident is difficult enough, but imagine it from your parent's point of view. How would you feel if someone threw a plate in the dining room for breakfast and it went crashing to the floor? You would probably feel scared, but imagine this taking place as an elderly person, with no one there to comfort you, but a caring aide who is not your family.

Most elderly folks are on medications that need to be regulated by a nurse, who goes around with a cart several times per shift handing out pills like candy. Sometimes, your parents as residents aren't going to be able to have the care you could give them if they were home with you. The government has programs now where you can keep your parents home with you in your own home. They will pay you a small amount to be with them in order to keep them out of nursing homes. Home health is wonderful if you cannot be there during the day or night if they need someone as well.

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