Presbyterian SeniorCare recognized
NewsPosted on Wed May 17, 2006 at 08:08:14 AM EST
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a special section today devoted to "senior lifestyles," with many good articles about the careers, agencies and services related to the needs of older people.
One article titled, Nursing home aide has empathy describes the great work being done by Barbara Bedillion, who works at Presbyterian SeniorCare.
We're really excited to have Michelene Neubert and her colleagues from Presbyterian SeniorCare presenting at our national conference in Philadelphia.
One article titled, Nursing home aide has empathy describes the great work being done by Barbara Bedillion, who works at Presbyterian SeniorCare.
Some 2.4 million Americans, however, are direct-care workers similar to Ms. Bedillion. Most of them are in the long-term care field, and it's hard to imagine many doing it with the dedication she has for the past 15 years. Five days a week, the 58-year-old mother of two grown children gets eight to 12 residents out of bed, offering sturdy support as well as a gentle voice and reassuring stroke of their hair or arm when needed.
Presbyterian SeniorCare treats its nursing home aides better than many facilities, starting their pay at $10.25 an hour and providing full health care benefits and four weeks of vacation to experienced staff members such as Ms. Bedillion. But it is still one of those high-turnover jobs deemed unattractive to many people in the labor market.
Not Ms. Bedillion, who worked five years previously as a housekeeper in the nursing home, and before that as a retail clerk.
"I pretty much knew what was required of an aide, and knew it would be hard at times," she said. "I went into it with my eyes open, and I've never been sorry I made that change."
Ms. Bedillion credits Presbyterian SeniorCare for embracing an industry concept called "culture change," trying to provide a more homelike setting and autonomy for both residents and staff. She is assigned to the same group of residents each day, learning their needs well. They have more flexibility in when to wake, what to eat and how often to shower than is common in many institutions.
It's great to see more and more positive media coverage of person-directed care.Presbyterian SeniorCare treats its nursing home aides better than many facilities, starting their pay at $10.25 an hour and providing full health care benefits and four weeks of vacation to experienced staff members such as Ms. Bedillion. But it is still one of those high-turnover jobs deemed unattractive to many people in the labor market.
Not Ms. Bedillion, who worked five years previously as a housekeeper in the nursing home, and before that as a retail clerk.
"I pretty much knew what was required of an aide, and knew it would be hard at times," she said. "I went into it with my eyes open, and I've never been sorry I made that change."
Ms. Bedillion credits Presbyterian SeniorCare for embracing an industry concept called "culture change," trying to provide a more homelike setting and autonomy for both residents and staff. She is assigned to the same group of residents each day, learning their needs well. They have more flexibility in when to wake, what to eat and how often to shower than is common in many institutions.
We're really excited to have Michelene Neubert and her colleagues from Presbyterian SeniorCare presenting at our national conference in Philadelphia.
| < Learning Circle Inclusiveness | Workforce Success > |
|
|
