assisted living caregiver

caregiver

nursing assistant

registered nurse case manager

registered nurse

Prairie Senior Cottages

The best part of working here is that staff can dress casual, and are allowed to eat pretty much whatever they want. Staff do not punch out for meal breaks, rather, they take working breaks. This means they are involved with, and sit with the residents during meals, so they can assist as needed.

When this facility was opened in 2013, the intent, as told by management, during orientation, was that staff would be providing "specialized" care to residents,while providing an array of activities for dementia related illnesses. That may have been true in the beginning, but as resident's age, and the disease progresses, staffing to resident ratios does not increase. Activities basically cease to exist. Management tells family members during the intake process that their loved one will receive better care at these facilities, compared to a skilled nursing, and/or regular assisted living facility, when in reality, this is not the case. Many residents would be better served in a skilled nursing facility.

While the staff are very caring and patient with the residents, they are unable to provide the necessary care, for the simple reason that the demands become overwhelming. These are typically 20 bed facilities, and 4 staff are on duty during waking hours, 2 during overnight shift. This is on a "good day", which differs from the many frequent days when it is not fully staffed. Two staff members are on each side of the facility, with one staff member passing meds on each side. Each side is assigned certain chores, such as cooking, serving the meal, assisting with feeding, dishes, and cleaning up, laundry, bedding changes, room cleans, toileting, showers, etc. Staff works together in order to accomplish these assignments. The problem is, that staff becomes overwhelmed in meeting all the needs of the residents, while attempting to fulfill all the duties that they are assigned. This doesn't take into account all the resident behaviors that pop up frequently, and need to be dealt with as they occur. These alone can be very time consuming.

Staff members are on the go from the time they punch in, until the time their shift is over, barely having time to go to the bathroom. 

So much time is spent on total assist/2 assist residents, that there is no one watching the floor. This is where resident injuries or falls mostly occur, which only adds to the stress on staff. The resident has to be assessed/taken care of immediately after a fall is discovered. Staff is then questioned about why a fall occurred and made to feel like they are responsible in some way.

It is the norm to be short staffed and management expects staff members to cover empty hours. Staff may work as many as 16 hour days, or work 2 different shifts in one day. There is a high turnover rate, which amounts to a lot of time spent on training new employees.

Management tends to be indifferent to staff's concerns or complaints. They are even more disrespectful, to family members who inquire about the level of care their loved one is receiving. Management is not very involved with neither the residents or staff members.

- I would assist residents with daily living needs from laundry to bathing. Answering any questions they had. Cooking their meals for them. Answering phone calls. Giving their medications.
- I learned a lot about who I am and who I want to become. I learned life lessons every day at work and how to have the patience to deal with those life lessons.
- Management is great, always felt I could come to them with any thing I needed with no fears.
- I got along with my co-workers, was able to communicate with them in a efficient manner. Was runner up for a five star award (customer service award) voted on by my peers and management.
- Working with patients who suffer from memory loss can become very repetitive and try your patience.
- I love the fact that when I go to work I am making a difference in someone's life whether or not they realize it.

Typical work day would be coming in, getting report, catching up on laundry, dishes, cooking and cleaning. Helping residents with ADL's. Meal preparation, Medication administration, What to do in case of an emergency. CPR. How to handle sticky situations. The best part is taking care of residents. They are so sweet and kind.  Our workplace culture is good. we have different kinds of people employees there. The hardest thing about this place is that they are all stuck in there ways, when a problem comes up, instead of figuring out a good perminate fix for it, the management just decides to put a band aid over it.  The staff is overworked.  They get yelled at for being in over time but then asking staff to pick up even more shifts just to get mad when staff said no b of being over worked and already having to many hours

A typical day consists of cleaning up from previous shift, charting for everyone else doing rounds and finding everyone needs a change. You will be guilt tripped into picking up shifts and be treated passive aggressively if you don’t. Managers will talk smack about employees to other employees. Cooks are kind and helpful. No break area provided. Frequently run out of proper gloves and paper towels and toilet paper and specific food for some residents. They have a incentive program they are supposed to use for thank you or picking up shifts and going out of your way but never do. When you show up and actually work like you care about the residents and the house you will be exploited and expected to do it all for everyone else until you’re burnt out. 

Very stressful environment to work in , no 24 hour nurse is available , always low on staff and residents do not get the proper cares they deserve , management is the worst , and they do not care about their employees or residents , they only care for u to make it to work,  no matter what is going on in  your personal life , they will burn you out until you want to run away from that place because of the horrible way they manage the place , and how some of the residents do not get the cares they deserve ,  it's really heartbreaking and sad . 

I enjoy working at Prairie Senior Cottages because of the openness to new ideas and the supportive company culture.  Everyday I go to work I feel that I am making a difference in the lives of the families we serve.  

The positive approach to caring for our residents living with Alzheimer's disease is a unique philosophy.  We look at what gifts the person still has rather than what the disease has taken away and build a personal care plan for each person.  Building relationships with residents and family members is very rewarding.   We are all interconnected and I feel great being a part of a wonderful team of caring people.

This company is gratifying to work for.  They not only care about their residents but the cafe about their staff as well.  I’ve never seen an organization do so much for deserving employees.  If there is an employee struggling, rather it be with work, or just everyday life, they will help you where they can in order for you to succeed.  There is compassion, trust, respect and loyalty.  The benefits are good and the pay is within range of the current market.  I’ve worked at many other facilities.  This one tops them as far as I am concerned.  

What is the best part of working at the company?
I Have NOTHING Bad/Terrible about Prairie Senior Cottage! They are doing the best that they can due to being short staffed! The residents receive good care on memory care! The Staff go beyond the call of duty!

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Under staffed but residents get taken care of regardless 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Tension at times but cheerful energy 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
The New Owner is doing the best that he can under the circumstances of previous owners! Things are now getting better if people give them the time to work out the issues

The Cottages provided great communication from when I first put my application in, to getting hired and completing my onboarding. If I had any questions along the way I knew who to contact and their response time was fast.  The overall culture at the Cottages is warm and welcoming with great structure.  The management team has exceptional leadership skills and compassionate support team's at each cottage.  I have had home and work life balance since being employed at the cottages.  Being apart of this team has been an amazing experience thus far. 

While the company an my personal direct supervisors were fantastic. The laid back “family atmosphere” of the house I worked at led co-workers to be unhelpful or uncaring in helping each other. Leading to un-reported incidents, and witnessing staff being verbally aggressive towards the clients with little to no repercussions, and fear of reporting said behavior because of “longevity” with the company. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Assisted living caregiver 130 salaries reported	$19.53 per hour
Caregiver 1 salary reported	$23.25 per hour
Nursing assistant 23 salaries reported	$16.48 per hour
Registered nurse case manager 36 salaries reported	$85,042 per year
Registered nurse 12 salaries reported	$86,458 per year

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