Care-Initiatives

I worked for almost a month (3 weeks of training- but only 4 days was actual kitchen work) as a cook at the Centerville, IA facility.  While I was honest with them that I had never been a cook at a nursing home, I did have previous experience as a cook in an intentional community, cooking for over 70 people. Generally when I cooked there, I did have a helper or two. When residency at the facility decreased by two or three people, upper management decided that a cook should be able to make dinner for about 50 people, plus the next day's desert, in four hours. There was one helper provided, but that person was in charge of preparing/pouring drinks and some dish duties. The cook's job also includes serving lunch to residents, busing and washing the tables after lunch, preparing afternoon and evening snacks, making and serving coffee to residents, plus washing and putting away all dirty dishes, pots and pans, etc. Dinner consisted of preparing room trays, making two different main meals (plus a few specialized meals depending on individual diets), plus pureeing, or chopping food as needed for individuals with limited chewing ability. After dinner putting away leftover food, busing the tables, washing the dirty dishes and pots again, mopping the floor, bringing used linens to the laundry room, and then taking out the trash as well. While the coworkers were very nice, and certain of the managers were very nice, the amount of work expected was too much for one person. The part of the job I had been most concerned about was interacting with the residents - which actually turned out to be the best part of all.  Really what those people need more of is love and attention, just someone to take some time to talk with them, maybe hold their hand a while, so they can still feel connected. But I don't recommend working there; too little pay, too little time, too much work.

A typical day involved: 
 Maintain accurate patient records, enter new patient information, fax doctors, work with pharmacies, order and record all medication changes.  Prepare agenda for weekly Interdisciplinary Meeting and make sure all signatures required were received, and patient information updated and passed on to the required people and copies filed accurately.   Copy and maintain current information for the nurses Patient Care Plans. Weekly reports, employee payroll and Accounts Payable patient information. Check eligibility for patients, keep admit packets available with changing required forms, forms up to date, policy books current. We covered 7 counties, so changing schedules was a constant, keeping on call schedule updated order medical equipment (wheel chairs, bed mattresses, etc.). Other varies jobs required of an Office Coordinator, petty cash, mail, order supplies, etc. 
  Most important things I learned is that that it all requires TEAM WORK. The other is that it is all about the end of life wishes of the patient.  It's about what the patient wants. The team works with the family to help them understand that while addressing the family members issues as well.
  Hardest part of the job was transferring to a new computer system, still in the process when I left.  
  I loved the people I worked with! We all worked hard, but in such a caring environment. It was so enlightening to learn how they would deal with different situations.   
  The hardest part, always, was the family or persons having difficulty putting their loved one in Hospice.  Being kind, patient and empathetic became very easy the more I learned.  Worked with Wonderful people.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The staff who were there for the residents.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
It's like walking into the building every day knowing you're already set up to fail. The physical environment itself is in disrepair, broken equipment, and things not being fixed create frustration and risks.  Then there is leadership. An Administrator who lacks competence and drives staff off creates instability that touches everything. When more than a dozen employees leave, you're left with short staffing, inexperienced replacements (if any), and a constant cycle of chaos. There is no continuity of care, no teamwork, and no trust in decision-making. So, it becomes survival mode instead of a functional care environment.  The lack of proper training makes it worse. You are expected to perform at a high level, often with vulnerable residents, without the tools or guidance to do so safely.  There are unsafe and unethical practices, like scheduling minors to operate lifts and witnessing situations that could seriously injure residents. That crosses from stressful to alarming.  Speak up and risk retaliation or stay silent and carry the moral weight. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It's like working in an environment where you can't provide the level of care you know is right due to staffing, leadership, or resources. Toxic work environment. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Chronic short-staffing, unsafe work environment, delays in care, increased adverse events, and inability to consistently meet resident needs in a timely and appropriate manner.

I was not a friend to management. I tried to be professional.  I was ignored or treated badly.  The ceiling above the Resident's eating area fell down.  Management had employees clean up the debris, and put it in regular trash containers, without having it tested. I once had to work there all night all by myself, and on call, and other management would not answer their phone.  They never said they were sorry, nor did they compensate me for being the only employee there overnight, with very needy and many psych Residents.
Shortly after the ceiling fell down, I started getting sick, more often, than I ever did in my life. I always had a Doctors excuse. Just before I quit, I got very ill, with symptoms, I never had in my life. I could not open my eyes, as it was too painful, the white of my eyes, were dark red.and they seeped, constantly. I was congested to my lungs. and 
bronchus had laryngitis and was running a temperature, of 102.4
I called in in the morning, and the DON answered the phone. I told her my, symptoms, and that I was going to see a Doctor when I could have my roommate take me to the Doctor, as I could not keep my eyes open long enough to drive. I was told by, the DON "You either find your own replacement or you have to come in." I was shocked and very angry. I told her I quit then, and hung up the phone. I worked very hard and long hours for that company and never once got a thank you.  Please thoroughly, check out this company, before you apply.

What is the best part of working at the company?
I loved the residents that I worked with and their families. I made some exceptionally strong bonds with a few staff members there and still reach out from time to time. The DON did not work with me and should have been my biggest alliance. The others on the management team were okay. I did not feel supported at this building. The HR and Regional Director at that time did not fully investigate concerns brought forward regarding me as the Administrator and I was let go. I was told I was a good Administrator but not the right fit for the building. They were correct because I did not fit with the DON or Care Initiatives in general and I am fine with that. I do wish them and all Nursing Facilities the best as the work provided by nursing homes is so important!

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Working anywhere as an Administrator is stressful. You wear many hats and have to switch in a moments notice. One second you could be crying with a family and staff over the loss of a loved one and the next have to hold someone accountable for their actions, then need to talk to a family about an unpaid bill the list goes on and on. Plus as the Administrator there are a lot of times where you have to fill the void when managers quit on roles you are not properly trained such as BOM or Social Services.

The nursing home is no longer a home for these old folks. This company is all about making the money. I work for this company a long time and at first it was going well. Then they come in with their suite on trying to change things around thinking that it's making it better , but they don't realize that they make it worse, why not ask us veteran staff what we think about these changes or at least let the resident that were born and rise in these town there opinion. They come in change the rules and added those stupid head set to document what we do with the resident. I understand we have to document what we do but not at the prize of these resident time.I can't relaxed with my resident every time I have the headset on. We lost a lot of good staff because of it, but when we complain about it nothing is done or they send someone to show us how to use the head set again .
' What a joke I say".  I have nothing against the facility I grow there learning a lot and the staff are amazing every one of them. The facility doesn't have anything to do with what upper management do . We all have to follow rules no matter what position you are in, and sometime we have to understand that staff or the management can get crabby at time do to the fact that they have to follow the rules. Its a stress full job.You got to like what you do to understand.

Loved my in-house coworkers but nursing department is chronically understaffed leading to a host of unrelenting issues with resident families, cares and state. 
Regional support is mean and condescending. They can’t keep an Administrator or BOM (Business Office Manager) or BOM (Benefits and Payroll Manager) or a DON (Director of Nursing). CONSTANT turn-over. The work environment is toxic with regional staff and the work load is unreasonable for the hours provided. Goals are constantly shifting. It’s a ceaseless dumpster fire of not knowing what you’re walking into each day. 
I learned a lot there because I was willing to jump in anywhere they needed help. I enjoyed being helpful where my coworkers and residents needed it. 
There isn’t much culture there. Everyone is just trying to survive their shift. If you kept a positive view on things it was fun but burnout creeps up quickly. 
The most enjoyable part of the position was the residents and the coworkers who had integrity. You need to have a kind personality to work with the geriatric population and those who had that disposition made the chaotic and challenging work day bearable. 

Gave up a stable job for job as hospice caseworker. Told in one week that "it just wasn't going to work out". No training, with a very complex computer system. Director antagonistic and harassing employees on a regular basis. Had to plead with her to give me a chance, as I have a family with children to provide for. I was good enough for her when the census was high, but otherwise was repeatedly attacked by her. Corporate office indifferent, with no concern for employees who told vice president that director harassed them.He didn't care. Worst place I have ever worked, bar none. Set up for you to fail, no training, antagonistic director who is as unprofessional as they come.  It is sad, as the staff are excellent. I had been a nurse for 15 years, charge nurse of ICU, worked in many different settings, but the director said just not "a good fit". Do not work here unless you like being harassed and bullied. High turnover rate indicates poor management. Had health problems due to stress of working there. Director acts friendly at first, then turns into antagonistic bully. Don't make the same mistake I made. No job is worth the abuse you will take there. We are professionals, and are people, and should be treated like such.

I've never worked in a place where management absolutely can not manage...they make promises that they willingly can not keep, hire nurses and make them aides and tell them that it's a nurses job to fill cna hours...put new nurses on a cart as a nurse and put ones that have been there a long time as a cna. They won't advertise that they need CNAS. They treat loyal employees that have been there for years like they are replaceable. The management tells confidential things about one employee to other employees. Cnas and nurses are expected to work unexpected double shifts no matter if they can or not, children to pick up or not...the turn over is grand and the punishment you will receive while working there is absolutely not worth the wages!!! DON and ADON are suppose to be team leaders but can't even come out to feed residents when THEY haven't scheduled enough people but expect employees to work double shifts and several days straight. Until they're gone, this place is mismanaged and a joke.

I enjoyed working at Care Initiatives…. While I was there. After 6 months of employment, I applied and interviewed a few times for a higher up position. After not hearing anything for almost two weeks, I was finally told they weren’t hiring for the position any longer, as they didn’t have room in their budget. You’d think they would have this figured out before wasting my time interviewing me multiple times. 

A month later, I was laid off. I was pulled from the middle of a meeting around 10:30am and given a piece of paper telling me that THAT DAY was my LAST DAY as an employee there. Gone. Done-zo. The letter said it was again, due to financial constraints. I guess they weren’t lying about not having the budget to hire new employees. 

The job itself wasn’t bad, but management was a bit unorganized and training was a mess. You’re just a number to this company. Not a valued individual. 

They also cut another position for a girl who had only been with the company for 6 weeks. What a waste of her time. They definitely are struggling financially, so be aware that a lay-off is possible. 

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