It's just too much sometimes!

Work has been crazy lately. Everything seems to revolve around this "pandemic", and there's so much unnecessary panic and freaking out about it. I'm greeted each day with "And have YOU gotten the vaccination yet?" and looked upon with shock and horror when I say I'm not getting it. When I say "you know, it's JUST a flu", I'm told my skepticism will kill me. People have forgotten that we're "supposed" to be vaccinated not because we'll apparently die, but because there is fear that all the city workers (health care workers, doctors, firemen, etc) will be sick at the same time. I have to laugh when I remember authority figures predicting 90,000 people dead by mid-October. We're passed that and it's gotten, what, maybe 150 people?
On Thursday some residents were discussing with me the media hype surrounding H1N1, and we talked about the vaccination. When they asked if I would get the shot, I said no, and one man said 'WHAT?! Would you rather be sick for a short time or DEAD for a really LONG TIME??" I was secretly pleased at the looks everyone else gave him. Dear World Health Organization, it isn't working. Most people aren't buying this pandemic thing. Give it up.

Some of our folks are in the hospital with H1N1 so far, many more are falling ill each day with it and staying in the facility (all of them alive and recovering nicely, by the way), there's a GI outbreak on the top floor, and other residents are being bombarded with colds and regular flu. It's all being brought in by children and grandchildren who don't understand the signs that read STAY AWAY IF YOU'RE SICK. I know they mean well, just have to bring Grandma her sherry, need to say bye to dad before I leave on vacation - but they don't understand the complications we deal with after they spread all the germs around. On behalf of all health care workers, please please please don't visit a hospital, nursing home, or other care facility if you're not well. You wash your hands and think it's okay, but you're still endangering the lives of so many people.

We also received a new resident who has just about every disease known to man, from STI's to superbugs to everything else. I won't list them all but it's plain scary to be in the same room as her. The very air she breathes is contagious, literally. She isn't allowed to use the phones, our staff aren't allowed to touch her, she has her own personal nurse with her 24/7, she has to wear gloves, a gown, and a mask at all times (we're lucky if the mask part is enforced most days)....and she ISN'T restricted from recreation programs! I don't understand. On the one hand, I know all about the importance of quality of life and happiness, and I learn more about it each day...but on the other hand, I have 249 other residents there, some of them over 100 years old, who have severely compromised immune systems and health problems, not to mention the couple hundred staff in there each day. Why should their lives be put at risk because one person made some really stupid decisions and expects no consequences? This Really. Really. Bothers. Me.

Having said all that, we're having a special evening on Monday. One of the residents I care for passed away during the summer under some special circumstances, and to thank us for looking after him his family is hosting a dance in his name for all the other residents. It will feature a live band playing his favourite music, a chef cooking his favourite foods for everyone to enjoy, and of course the dance. He loved the dances. He loved music. People still really miss him. He lived there for 30-something years, ever since the building opened.
Another lady who has also been there since it opened has missed him terribly, and she was looking forward to the dance with all her heart. One week ago she died.
Sometimes, this is the saddest job ever.

Here's to hoping for a better week coming up!