nursing assistant

registered medication aide

medical technician

personal care assistant

resident care associate

Spring Arbor Senior Living

I've been working as a Dietary Aide at Spring Arbor for a few months. 

PROS:  It offers a great chance to do work that feels meaningful. Engaging with the residents and adding value to their morning or afternoon makes it so much easier going to work each day. The routine work feels menial, but seeing them light up from those minutes of interaction is the lifeblood of the position. Management and most staff are solid here. You're not micromanaged but theres always someone willing to help if you need it. Most staff are friendly, greet you by name, and try to get to know you. Scheduling is also flexible and I've had no problem getting a requested day off when needed. 

CONS: The pay isn't particularly competitive. There are many fast food or retail places that pay the same or a little better. Some of the PCA staff can also at times feel dismissive (such as requesting things without looking you in the eye, smiling, or positively engaging with you at all). The biggest lacking in regards to the position is any real opportunity for advancement. There is no clear way for individuals, even those with higher education, to maneuver towards a leadership or management position. It feels like a hold-over position, or at least one with a few month shelf-life for those looking to build any sort of career. 

I'd highly recommend this position to any college students, individuals just getting back into the work force, or those whose biggest passion is senior care. It's a good job if you're still in school, just looking for part-time work, or want some experience working with vulnerable members of the community. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
The residents are exceptional people! The staff is very helpful and easy to get along with. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Dealing with residents who think that you are their personal RA and think that you are supposed to come right away when they ring. There are 2 RAs on the floor; one on each hall to care for an average of 20 residents. That's where the stress comes from and also having 5 to 7 showers a day, sometimes 8 ... Is totally ridiculous!! 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment is workable. There are complaints like most facilities, but nothing is out of scope. Many different cultures from staff and residents. You learn to adjust. I find it interesting 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
It's basically the same scenario everyday. You go in and expect the unexpected. Sometimes it goes by fast, sometimes it drags along. The day is whatever you make it

In the beginning, the work was light and I actually enjoyed coming into work. The problem was with management and staff. Management’s primary focus is to fill the rooms and completely disregard the level of care each individual needs. Due to this issue, along with staff being short most of the time, it brought many chaotic and stressful days. It is humanly impossible to have two aides with 20 residents to look after and not have any falls or accidents. There is also bullying in the workplace. Many staff members have an attitude and are very nasty to not only other staff, but with residents and/or family members. There is no such thing as professionalism at this facility. Given the time this place has been up and running, it is going down just as quickly as it came up. I would never recommend this place to someone whether it be staff or a family member wanting to place his or her loved one in a facility. Keep your loved one at home.

I worked the 1st shift, which was 7am-3pm. My typical day at work was to get the clients up for breakfast, take them to the dining room, and help out in the kitchen. After the patients eat, We take them back to room (optional for the patients) and continue on with our assignments. What I have learned at Spring Arbor is to be patient with the patients because the elderly can be very mean at times, but it was my job to make them feel good about themselves because most of them were very emotional. The management was very helpful whenever I needed them. My co-workers were the BEST! When I was the new CNA 1, they helped me out whenever I ask them for help. The hardest part of the job were trying to calm down the patients because I feel like, they are older than me and I just don't want to tell them what to do. I wasn't raised to talk negative to the elderly. The most enjoyable part of the job was see my patients smile. It just make my day when I see them smile and know that they are having a good day.

Although I was never employed here, I worked 2 40 hour weeks at this establishment. The staff was always incredibly kind, honest, helpful, and encouraging. I learned many things during my time here. I learned how to put aside emotions when there is a job at hand. Learning to put yourself in other people shoes almost entirely as the safety of their well being is in your hands at times. Most importantly it taught me how to give of myself, think of others, and make wise decisions. The coworkers were very helpful and they explained things clearly and did not hesitate to show me the right way when I had a question about a certain residents care plan. The hardest part of my time there was trying to get a very tall man into bed who cannot bend his legs. It was not easy and I asked for assistance, but together we got the job done the right way. Most enjoyable part of the day is refilling tea and coffee and cleaning up plates knowing most of the residents are full and happy.

This is a memory care facility working with individuals that have dementia and/or Alzheimer’s, so it may not be for everyone, patients & understanding is required when working here.

The people that work here are amazing, management is very easy to talk too and I believe they really care about the residents’ safety, health, & well-being. I really like that they implement in-services and training that educates employees about dementia and Alzheimer’s..There are no LPNs at this facility, you work directly with the RCD and responsible for more than just administering medications and assisting with direct care, you can learn a lot working here and really feel like you’re apart of the residents’ treatment/care plan, but this can also feel like a lot of paperwork, at times. 

Cons
Like most facilities, staffing can be an issue (but management will help you :) ) 

What is the best part of working at the company?
The residents are definitely the best part of working at Spring Arbor 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
A lot of the residents are not able to walk at all or very little so it's a very physically demanding job. Also too many times (like other places) short on help. The nursing supervisor isn't exactly easy to work with, doesn't take concerns seriously 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
When certain people are off the work environment is great & we get along well. There are people who should not be in this business as they are just there to collect a paycheck & just truly don't care for the elderly 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Very busy & too much tension & physically demanding

Spring Arbor is an "ok" place to work. I enjoy my job. The biggest problem I find with the company is "everybody gets out of line" at times and tries to be others boss. There's a lot of gossip and disgruntlement.

Management seems to be fair with employees and very cordial. Wages are low. There also is a high employee turnover.

I have gained quite a bit of experience with the job, learning how to cook and prepare desserts and foods at high volumes and making them taste good. The compliments I get are tremendous. That makes the job most enjoyable.

Cleaning is enjoyable also; it could be easier. Washing pots and pans every day and scrubbing floors after each meal can be quite strenuous, especially after cooking a meal to serve approximately 70 people.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Good place to work!! The other employees were kind and always tried to be helpful! The residents are amazing!

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Having to stay over, or cover the floor when staff called out, but that wasn’t to often.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Great! Company was good to the employees. And for the most part everyone got along and respected each other.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Spending time with the residents, talking with possible new residents. Taking the residents on outings, and taking care of the residents needs.

This is a beautiful facility and the residents (and even some of the staff) are amazing. But the management here is horrible. They play favorites (a lot) and don't try to hide it. I saw amazing/ wonderful workers leave because of it, some even fired for the most ridiculous reasons. And the ones that deserved to get fired, stayed because they were akissers. One of the highest turnover rates I've ever seen (and they could never understand it was their doing). They expect so much from you, but show absolutely no appreciation! We were always short staffed, expected to pick up the work because of it. 
I will never recommend this job to anyone.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Nursing assistant 64 salaries reported	$19.17 per hour
Registered medication aide 20 salaries reported	$21.78 per hour
Medical technician 26 salaries reported	$21.17 per hour
Personal care assistant 83 salaries reported	$19.96 per hour
Resident care associate 8 salaries reported	$19.58 per hour

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