Frontier Rehab & Extended Care

In places such as these, you're opinions and needs are only thought of if you are a DNS, RCM, LPN, RN or some other form of management. They say "100% EMPLOYEE OWNED" but no one ever consults us on any changes. if they want a change, they do it. new signs, new bedpans, washrags, cleaner, EVERYTHING comes out of OUR paychecks. Then we have staff meetings (monthly) they exist only to tell us how we're screwing up. There's no such thing as employee of the month or bonuses, or anything like that. No, no, no. Instead we get bite sized candy bars given to us via bedpan!!! Yes, really!!! Then they have meetings for the higher ups...You see them rolling in, fruit trays, coffee carts, pastries and sandwiches!! Remember the bedpan of candy..yeah, they don't get that. Only us lowly employees do.

The higher ups never help out on the floor. They will literally hunt you down to tell you a call light is on!! Sometimes that resident just needs a blanket!! I'm pretty sure if you're an DNS, you're cleared for blanket fetching. and if you have enough time to hunt for an aid, you have enough time to fetch a blanket.

If you see a DNS, or STAFF DEVELOPMENT on the floor it's because state is in the building. All of a sudden they want to "help out" but as soon as state leaves the building, we're back to going it alone. That's not in their scope of practice.

Residents get angry because they have to wait for help, this is understandable. We workers get busy, we work up a sweat all day long and still lack in service. but for every aid running frantic around the facility, there is a manager, administrator, RCM, DNS, staff developer, or admin worker standing behind a nursing station desk chatting. This is not fair to our residents! We care for our residents or believe me we would not be able to keep doing the job we do, given the circumstances. It's unfortunate to see them suffer because there simply is not enough of us to go around. Say you have 9-12 residents (average in this facility) per aide. We have from 6am to 8am to have all of those residents up, cleaned, teeth brushed, hair brushed, clothes changed, socks and shoes on, taken to the bathroom, placed in their wheelchairs and brought to the dining room to eat. All while being friendly and having a conversation. How is it possible to do all those things CORRECTLY and on time? IT IS NOT! (if done correctly this takes 30 minutes per person) So some residents may get second rate care because of it. Not bad, not mean, but second rate.

We aides are expected to do:

1. All resident ADL's (dressing, toileting, changing, oral hygiene, catheter care, colostomy care, transfers)

2. All vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, respiration, ox sat, and temp)

3. breakfast, lunch and dinner service

4. All room changes. This includes moving furniture, the resident and the residents belongings.

5. All ADL flow charting

6. emptying and relining of soiled linens and trash

7. making sure residents are up and ready to go for any and all appointments

There is a lot we are responsible for and yet we're regarded and second rate healthcare providers. We are the ones caring for these men and women in pain. Talking to them when they're lonely, making them laugh, keeping them clean, fed and as happy as we can. We do this because, we CARE about them and we DO get attached.

It would simply be nice to be asked our opinions, given the bonuses the higher ups are given every year. Not get candy from a bedpan and receive help every once in a while when we need it, not when it makes them look good.

These are problems i no longer have to deal with as i have gotten a better job. but plenty people i know and care about are still there under these conditions.

CNA's are over worked and under appreciated and definitely underpaid!!! Residents are amazing!!!Management, and nursing services needs work.

by Verified visitor, Jan 2012

I had a very bad experience admitting my loved one to this facility. He was never really even admitted, (he was brought by ambulance through hospice) they would not allow the POA to sign the paperwork and only allowed them to review the forms begrudgingly. The business director constantly hounded and harassed us for money or a personal check every time we came through the front door for a visit instead of assisting with the several different insurance options we had. (I noticed this happening to other patients there as well) Our loved one was transferred back to hospice within four days, and we ended up with a $700 bill for the stay. Not happy, would never recommend it. Nobody should have to go through that during such a time.

They need a new business coordinator, unless their goal is to make families who are experiencing a hardship and an upsetting situation even more stressed than they need to be. She was so rude and unethical, it was just a terrible experience.

by Verified visitor, Oct 2009