Assisted living & caregiving
January 8, 2019
By MARYANN SILVA
The Mirror reporter
Maryann Lenea is a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Caregiver. She has been a caregiver for 14 years but has been a CNA for only 10. Lenea loves her job and wouldn’t change it. Lenea works at a facility in Plover that provides care to elderly that need the care. Here’s what Lenea had to say.
What is assisted living?
Assisted living is known as congregate housing, residential care, adult congregate care, boarding home, or domiciliary care are suitable for individuals who need very little daily care. In terms of medical needs, little care might be considered assistance with medication or intermittent skilled nursing care.
What is a caregiver?
They are individuals that provide assistance to the disabled and elderly with day-to-day. A caregiver may also help a client to eat, dress or bathe. Some caregivers are employed as live-in companions, with room and board provided by the patient in addition to a regular paycheck. A caregiver that is not providing medical services needs no formal training, licensing or certification.
What is a CNA?
A CNA is a certified nursing assistant.
At the job you work now, who are the people?
The people I take care of are mostly elderly. At the other house, they take care of the elderly with dementia.
If you had to describe one major thing that primarily a caregiver does, what is it?
One major thing that we primarily do is just make sure everyone is comfortable and provide whatever that individual needs.
What have you learned over the years being a caregiver?
Over the years I’ve learned that there can be good days and there can be bad days. It can be difficult to do sometimes but I love doing it. You learn that everyone has a different personality and as you work you get to know them and what kinds of needs they have.
Do you enjoy your job?
I love my job. I’ve always said if you just work for money then your life will be difficult. I work at a great place and love all the people I help take care of. I always say they’re like my second family.
Do you believe that the care the facility is providing is very useful for those who need it?
Yes, I do believe that because people there are very appreciative of the work we do. Their family, especially, is always appreciative of the care we provide.
Do you think assisted living places need more caregivers?
Yes! We always need help. We need a lot of help in order to provide the care that they need. I’m getting up there in age and a lot of the people I work with are getting up there in age so we need the younger generation to step in. Eventually, we are going to be the people who need assistance. I hope kids realize that the generation now like myself…are someday going to need to be assisted in living. We need hard workers and dedicated workers for now and generations to come.
Soren Luther • Jan 11, 2019 at 11:10 AM
Caregiving definitely can spread kindness and love through actions and through helping others. It is good to know that people do things to help other people. Keep up the great work and good job on your article!
Lauren Huebner • Jan 11, 2019 at 11:00 AM
I feel this is something people take for granted, that when they get older they will just be helped. But you need experienced professionals who can help first.
Bryant VanRossem • Jan 11, 2019 at 10:37 AM
This was a great article. It was very interesting to hear the views of the workers. Good job!
Madison Rindahl • Jan 10, 2019 at 3:39 PM
Great article. What Lenea does is amazing we need dedicated workers like her out there in the world. It was important to read about the difference between a caregiver and a CNA. There was great background information. Those people work long and hard hours and I am happy we have people like that!
Justice Chukwuemeka • Jan 10, 2019 at 11:03 AM
Might the assisted living that Lenea works be ‘Maple Ridge?’ because my brother and my mama work there and hopefully I will work there too. It’s great that we have CNA’s otherwise life might be difficult for the elderly. Thank you for this information.
Hlee • Jan 9, 2019 at 11:27 AM
The article had a lot of good questions and really great answers. I really enjoyed learning about what a CRN does and what assisted living and caregiving is. Nicely done and well written.
Rachel Placeway • Jan 9, 2019 at 11:02 AM
The questions you asked were great to help people understand what goes on in assisted living place and what a caregiver does. Your introduction was the perfect length to give a little background on who you were interviewing.
Willow Kluck • Jan 9, 2019 at 10:53 AM
Great article! The picture at the end is amazing. You asked many good questions and had great answers for all of them.