<![CDATA[Insight]]> <![CDATA[Insight]]> /Portals/2/logos/__TFMF_fdsa4k55mbzd0x55gesj3lqk_b8025da3-920b-4442-9a74-a81c9ea63d87_0___Selected.jpg en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Sat, 25 May 2013 07:02:06 GMT 15 <![CDATA[Nursing home workers feel cornucopia of emotions]]> By Aaron Molina, Furr High School

Aaron Molina
Donnia Sonnier consults with Nurse Vanessa Nevills.

The biggest challenge Donna Sonnier faces each day is knowing one day the friendly face she smiled with today might be dead tomorrow. Sonnier has been in the nursing home business for more than 15 years. She has worked at Silver Springs Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for one year. Working at a nursing home facility can emotionally wear you down, Sonnier said. “It’s like you makes friends with the residents one day and the next day, they can die,” she said. “It emotionally wears you down. I’ve told people, if you ever stop feeling the emotions, you need to find another job.” In spite of those tough times, Sonnier said there are also pleasing memories. At any given moment, a resident does something to make them laugh, she said. Sonnier said she’s witnessed families hesitant about leaving their loved ones in the hands of virtual strangers. “Families should be careful, making sure to look around,” Sonnier advised. “Pull back the sheets. Look where you’re placing your loved ones. And also remember an older building doesn’t always mean you’ll get bad car and pretty buildings don’t always mean you’re going to get the best care.” Gaile White, who works at Jacinto City Healthcare Center , said she loves being around the elderly. On any given day, residents might be playing chess, watching television or talking to each other and reliving their own special memories, White said. “I like the residents in the nursing home,” said White who has worked there for more than 20 years. “You have to be special to work at a nursing home. You have to care about people in order to be here.” Like Sonnier, White said she too loves the special relationship she forms with the residents; however, doesn’t look forward to the day the resident is no longer on this earth. “You come in and say you’re not going to make friends or you’re not going to get attached and then you do. Then they become family to you,” White said. “When you lose them, it hurts – just like your own grandma or mother passed on. “That’s why I said you have to care about people in order to be here,” she added. ]]> Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:31:35 GMT