In a nursing home in Cork, years and years ago, I was just a helping hand and a smiley face, my job being quite easy to be honest. I was just there to bring tea, water and biscuits in the morning, going around to all resident rooms and having for all a smile and a little story (if they were able, of course). Once a day I would just drag around a big hoover and maybe help setting up the tables. I had a nice room in the back where I could smoke and read anytime I wasn't that busy and that was quite often.
One morning I arrived at work in my usual happy mood and I noticed the medical staff, assistants and helpers whatever they're called but also the nurse were acting a little strange towards me. It was like they were pushing me to start my tea round earlier and they were looking at what I was doing a little too closely.
Some of the residents were not so active. A woman which was called Margaret
was 102 years old and I was afraid to go into her room. She was half deaf and blind but she seem to know when I was there and she always started to yell "Who's there" in a very loud voice, scarring me to death
Others were obviously sick and rarely would pay any attention to me. Others were obviously very forgetfull and I needed to introduce myself every day. But most of the residents were still active, chatty and to be honest a pleasure to talk to.
When entering a certain room where a little chatty woman was, I entered very confidently, I asked her if she wanted the "usual" and when I didn't hear anything I thought it was very odd. I came closer and I realised the woman was dead
I am not used to things like that and I almost paralised with fear. I dropped the jug of water I had in my hand and after a few secs that seemed like an eternity, I was able to back off and get out of the room. Horrified, I wanted to tell someone, until I realised the care staff was already around laughing about me and my reaction. They were strong women who probably seen things like that many times before
One of them explained that the old woman died right before I arrived at work. They wanted to make sure I get my round done before the funerar people will remove the body, just to see my reaction
I went as far away from that room and even from there I couldn't help noticing when she was removed and thrown in a black bag and carried to the car like she was some potatoes ...
I couldn't get back into the room, thank good nobody came there until I left. I was RUNNING everytime I was passing that place, thank god she was somewhere at the end of the hall so I didn't need to pass there too often.
I wasn't even sleeping well that time, I was dreaming some scarry dreams that time about body bags and such ... errr ..
One day, I heard from a nicer assistant that I shouldn't enter another room, as also there was someone that just died. And in front of her room was another room where some old lady is feeling very bad, so I should be careful.
Yes, you guess what I did. I went home and I never returned to work
I definitely such a job wasn't for me.
Amy Alison
Originally Posted by Quarterpoundher
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