I started working in a senior living place in the summer of 2012. It was my first job ever and I was anxious to see what it would be like. I was going to be on the wait staff and would serve the residents' dinner restaurant style (both independent and assisted).
Four and a half years later I would find myself not only working at one senior living place, but two. If anyone knows the struggle of serving the elderly, I sure do. Here's what it's like to work in a senior living place as told by The Vampire Diaries.
1. The residents love to shower you with compliments (some comments creepier than others).
Even when you don't believe it. I had someone tell me I had the most beautiful skin they've ever seen....
2. When you bring their food and they say they didn't order it.
Most of them have some form of dementia so it's really not their fault but you still get mad anyways.
3. When they ask you how your day has been and you can't tell them that you're starving and your feet hurt from serving them all day.
There's nothing worse than serving food when you haven't eaten in four hours.
4. When the male residents try to hit on you (or mistake you for their deceased spouse).
I had one resident try to take me out to dinner once because he thought I was his wife.
5. When the residents attempt to tell you a story from back in the day.
Some residents are very slow and you have two other tables to serve so it's hard to stand there and listen for ten minutes.
6. When you just want to reset all your tables but there's that one table of old ladies talking the night away.
It's always that one clique of ladies that love to talk about politics. Also, can you hurry up, I'm trying to get out of here by eight.
7. When a resident is super rude to you when they are usually pretty nice.
We all have bad days but damn.
8. When someone at the table asks you for a banana even though you just went and got one for someone else.
That's why you always double check before you leave.
9. When your favorite resident passes away and you're super sad about it.
They are the ones that hold a special place in your heart.
10. At the end of the day, you love your job because you get to help the elderly and one day someone will do it for you :)
Serving the elderly is tough and sometimes they get really cranky. At the end of the day, if I was 90 years old and wore diapers, I would be pretty pissed off all the time too. I still love them though and look forward to seeing their little, cute faces when I come back from school!
