I’m a Companion at a nursing home.
Nurses provide physical care while the Companions like me are emotional care for the residents. We used to be called “Sitters” but they recently decided to make some changes to our title to make it more accurate to what is expected in our job.
My supervisor told me part of the reason they made this decision came from watching me work. I was employee of the month for February and they said I was so exceptional in my care for the residents that I represented what they wanted from Sitters. So they chose to reflect that in our new title of Companion.
This was all news to me and I wasn’t sure what to say. I felt humbled. It’s often a very hectic job. I have to bounce back and forth between multiple residents and make sure all their basic needs are met. Then just talking with them and being there for them however else you can. It’s a very emotional job and when the dust settles and I get to watch over them while they sleep I sometimes have tears welling up in eyes because I care so much for them.
I never saw myself being a parent. I never aspired to having kids. I told myself if the women I was with ever wanted them I wouldn’t say no, but it was never a goal for me. Now with my job where I have to help feed my residents or comfort them while we just make the best lives we can here. It makes me wonder if I would’ve been a good parent.
It’s a weird thought because family isn’t something I understand. I don’t have a good one, so I’ve been on my own for as long as I can remember. Even as a kid under the same roof I avoided my family whenever possible. I do love people, sometimes life just doesn’t work out that way. Maybe this job helps me make up for it.
My supervisor told me part of the reason they made this decision came from watching me work. I was employee of the month for February and they said I was so exceptional in my care for the residents that I represented what they wanted from Sitters. So they chose to reflect that in our new title of Companion.
This was all news to me and I wasn’t sure what to say. I felt humbled. It’s often a very hectic job. I have to bounce back and forth between multiple residents and make sure all their basic needs are met. Then just talking with them and being there for them however else you can. It’s a very emotional job and when the dust settles and I get to watch over them while they sleep I sometimes have tears welling up in eyes because I care so much for them.
I never saw myself being a parent. I never aspired to having kids. I told myself if the women I was with ever wanted them I wouldn’t say no, but it was never a goal for me. Now with my job where I have to help feed my residents or comfort them while we just make the best lives we can here. It makes me wonder if I would’ve been a good parent.
It’s a weird thought because family isn’t something I understand. I don’t have a good one, so I’ve been on my own for as long as I can remember. Even as a kid under the same roof I avoided my family whenever possible. I do love people, sometimes life just doesn’t work out that way. Maybe this job helps me make up for it.
