What Life Is Like In A Nursing Home 

I work as a CNA at a nursing home and that’s all the residents want is visitors. They want people to talk with them. I’ve seen many of them bawl their eyes out because they miss their families. So if you have someone in a nursing home call them, make time to see them even just once a week. It means the world to them.

" 1 mom can take care of 10 kids... 10 kids can't take care of 1 mom" Damn

Nursing homes often treat their residence horribly. I used to work as an EMT delivering patients in nursing homes and I've seen a lot of abuse in there.

This is not what most nursing homes are like. They’re usually understaffed patients barely get the care they need and they are lonely most of their days and the caregivers are exhausted or awful people.

Not being funny but if my parents looked after me growing up. I’m damn sure I’m looking after them when they grow old

This is heartbreaking. Its as if they all became toddlers again, reversing their age. They are all so precious. Really is a reality check and makes you appreciate where you are in your life right now. ❤️

HA! I found this quite humorous. This is NOT what a nursing home is like. Hoawever this one is very nice and ot looks like they actually care for their patients. Most of the elderly are abused in nursing homes, so this was very nice to see.

Woah, Elsie‘s beading is absolutely amazing. I’ve honestly never seen something like that. All of the residents seem so happy. Funnily enough life in the nursing home reminds me a lot of my schedule in the daycare I work at. Everyone seems so full of joy and we play loads of games! I hope the elders there will all live the rest of their lives as happy as they are now!

My grandfather was in a “nursing home” and he was never allowed outside. He tried to escape multiple times as he was used to the going out on a walk up a mountain casually, it was absolute torture for him nit to go outside and I still feel guilty that it’s where he died.

My husband works in nursing at a care facility. He works 60+ hour weeks doing overnight nursing shifts. He rarely gets breaks and only gets 1 half hour lunch break a night and comes home exhausted every morning. But he was voted last week by all the residents in the facility as their favorite nursing staff member and was given an award for it by the residents. He ditched out on our anniversary just to cover a shift tonight so that they wouldn't be understaffed and the residents would be cared for. It breaks his heart when families never visit their elderly loved ones and he comes home a wreck when a resident passes away. He makes time to go to their funerals and share memories of the loved one with their families. Not all nursing facilities are great and not all nurses and cna's are good, but there are many, like my husband, who really love their residents and would do anything to make their lives better, happy and more fulfilled. So before you say how terrible these nursing staff member are, just remember that they are caring for the loved ones you either can't or won't care for yourself and they are doing it for 48-60+ hours a week and most are lucky if they make $11 an hour to do so. They don't do that job for the money, guys, they do it because many of them actually care for these people as if they were their own loved ones. I am very lucky to be married to a man with that much love, kindness and patience because nursing is not a job many people are capable of doing and they aren't appreciated enough.

I used to volunteer at a nursing and it was such a humbling experience. When I heard one of my favorite lady died, I cried for days but yet I was so happy to that I’ve got to spend time with her and make her last days happy/memorable.

I find it sad to think their own children don’t come and visit them. Before my grandma passed away and got more ill, my mom, aunts, and uncles would always take care of her. She lived primarily with my aunt in Colorado, but before her health had gotten bad, she would always travel to the PNW and visit all her children (11 alive today). And trust me, when my grandma was in town, she was the Queen. When she stayed with my mom, my mom and I would take shifts at night to make sure my grandma got the proper medications and tucked her in bed. Bless her heart. Never would I want to put my mom in a nursing home. It’s hard to trust people these days with our most precious gifts.

The elderly are my weakness. Really hitting me where it hurts today, buzzfeed.

as an stna who works in a nursing home facility, it is sad to read the comments of everyone saying how the elderly are abused in nursing homes. most of us work really hard to take care of them and make sure everything is okay and goes as needed. it’s our goal to help not hurt. though i know not every stna is great just like all professions.

The thumbnail is the cutest lady i have ever seen❤️

Wow, this really hit me. I once volunteered at a nursing home for a few weeks for my church about 2 years ago when I was 13. I remember not really wanting to do it because I was worried about school and homework and other selfish reasons but also because all of my grandparents had died and I didn't want it to remind me of them. It was especially hard thinking of my maternal grandpa because he was the last grandparent I had and he was the only one I really got to know. Towards the end of his life, his Parkinsons medicine started affecting his perception of reality and he started to see things that weren't there and it really sucked, even though he was still his same old goofy self, he wasn't completely sane. When he died, it really hit me how real age can be and how much changes as you get older(sorry, i realize this is kind of a tangent, back to the retirement home). So when the time came for volunteering at the retirement home, I was worried I would see things i didn't want to see, such as people who aren't completely there. The truth is, I did have multiple experiences where people had mental problems, but I also saw many seniors who where fine, kind and gentle people who honestly, had no reason for being there which i felt bad about. The good thing was that this was during the holiday season so it was really great that us children could come and cheer them up during the time of the year when they should be with family. It's especially great that they would light up when they saw us because they enjoyed our company and it's nice to know you're helping someone. During my time there, really learned a lot about what a retirement home is like and how age affects you. I remember we used to play with them during physicaly therapy games and it was interesting to see how hard it was for them to kick a ball around a circle and how much easier it was for me and the other volunteers(however, the one thing my grandpa could do at his old age was kick a ball so high it would hit you in the face). Now, of course a retirment home is all the cliche things people say it is, but it's also much more than that and I would recommend everyone volunteer at a retirement home at some point in their life because you never know how it will change you. It's all really about bringing joy to other peoples lives. **sorry, this is very poorly worded and all over the place, but what I'm trying to say is just volunteer at a retirement home, it's a great experience

I was in my school choir and we went to go sing to the elders.when I started singing and saw them so happy i was tearing up☹️

This is so awesome. My mom has been a hospice nurse for thirty years and from her I’ve learned how important it is to care for the elderly. The littlest interactions can bring so much more joy to their days. Sit and talk with the elderly, you’d be surprised how much you’ll laugh and learn ♥️

I work and do internship at a nursing home and it's a really thankful job.

I WISH the nursing/rehab center I was in right now was like this! The food is completely inedible here! I’m only 42 and stuck here for another 2 weeks, thank God it’s only 2 weeks!

Our elderly population is so so so important and have so much to offer

My great grandma got abused by a home aide. She was 99 with dementia and they treated her like dirt. She ended up declining extremely fast and had to go into hospice in a nursing home facility. They were so lazy with her care. She passed away almost a month ago. Im glad this woman cares for her residents. Wish my grandma had the same care 😞 I miss her

I had no idea, this is a real eye opener for me. I’m going to try to volunteer at a nursing home now after watching this video

This is the nicest nursing home I have ever seen. The staff seem lovely. In all of nursing school I nit once did I do a rotation where the patients were treated like parents.

This is such a great thing you guys are doing. The current generation (me included) need to get their eyes open and see this aspect of life too. These aspects of life tend to increase compassion and sensitivity in the mind, which is a amazing!

When my parents get old I’m not going to put them in the nursing home, they can live in my house and I will take care of them, like they took care of me when I was a baby. 😀❤️

aww that lady looks so sweet and so full of life!

this made me actually cry I don’t know why! This was a beautiful video, I’m sure not all nursing homes are like this as I have seen in the comments, I have never been to one so I cannot comment but I’m sorry if you have experienced otherwise, but this looks like a wonderful service, all the elderly people seem so pure and talented with their amazing beaded flowers and singing! made me think of my grandma ❤️

I once volunteered in a rehab center and had an amazing experience with all the seniors there. Even though they were suffering with so much pain, they always shared their wisdom, encouragements and life stories. When you spend time with them, you will get to learn so many precious things. Seriously, it's not a waste of time and it changed my life completely. Right now, I am studying to become a rehab nurse for elders.

There can be 5 star nursing homes with horrible workers.. there are a lot of nursing assistants and nurses that don't do right. I've seen it because I worked as a CNA for 5 years. I've witnessed workers treat residents poorly and I confronted them and corrected them. There are few people that actually have compassion and are in the job for the right reasons. I have a grandma in a nursing home and I have a grandma and grandpa in an assisted living facility so I take abuse to heart. Theres bad people no matter what the profession is but there are still some good ones.

I’ve worked as a cna for about five years and I’ve never actually seen any physical abuse. However, the big issue I’ve seen from place to place is understaffing. It is impossible for one aide to provide good care for twenty to thirty patients. Unfortunately, many states still don’t have sufficient laws regulating this sort of thing. If you have a complaint about you loved ones care, please call your local ombudsman! The number will be on display in the facility (it legally has to be). Hopefully someday private healthcare facilities will be more closely regulated by the state. That being said, almost all of the caregivers I’ve worked with are the most incredible people. It is a dirty, painful job that pays barely more than minimum wage, they do it out of love. There’s a lot of disrespect in the comments for the people who work against a broken system to care for our grandmas and grandpas.

I'm an intern at a nursing home. It's a pretty nice one. The residents are really sweet and seem to be cared for well by the nurses and volunteers/interns, but I know there are other ones that aren't as nice and treat their residents poorly. I'm just grateful that I'm part of one of the good ones.

Respect your elders family members and love them now because we they are gone it's would be too late for you 😭 👴👵💙

Poor lady. God bless them.

Starting my clinical soon at a skilled nursing facility and this brought prospective into my eyes. I will definitely take note of this and give my patients the best care I could provide.

This is so beautiful to see how so many people work so hard to help the elderly!! It’s so heartbreaking to know that so many kids leave their own parents after they worked so hard to raise them, the least one can do is just be there for their parents. To anyone reading this, please love, value, respect, and spend time with your parents, even if it’s just visiting them for an hour or so! And I hope you all have a great rest of your day!!!

I worked in a nursing home and I urge everyone to research and visit every home that is an option for your loved one. In large homes there is a problem typically with being short staffed and often people are pushed to the side lines and don’t receive the best care. There are people who care, there are people who love their jobs, but there are people who don’t. And it can be hell on earth for residents who are in homes that aren’t a good fit for them and their needs. And please above all else. Visit your family. In my entire 2 years of work at the Home, I saw very very few visitors. My Home had 50 some residents. And I hardly ever saw family and friends. They ask where you are, they ask when you will come. And they wait for you. Your company is the most important thing in the world. There is nothing worse than hearing how much they miss their kids and grand kids.

My grandma would come live with me before I’d ever put her in a nursing home.

I took care of my grandma for eight years, best years of my life getting to know such a wonderful person!

Beautiful people taking care of elderly 🌞

this scares me about getting old... 😔😔

I've worked at a nursing home and assisted living facility and things of that sort and I enjoy working with the elderly. It breaks my heart seeing how some of these older people are treated by not only their families but by the the other workers in the facility. Seeing how they operate was actually what motivated me to get my licensing to work in the medical field. Some of the people in those facilities are the sweetest people you'll ever meet in your entire life.. you get some mean ones every now and then lol they all need a little love and to know somebody cares for them

In my experience, this is not what elder care looks like in Amerrica. When my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, she was severely neglected and died weighing 80 pounds in a facility in California. So tragic. Its is good to see that there is at least one hood place out there.

My grandmother works at a nursing home. And I always loved going over just to talk to the people there. They have a piano and I would play it for them. It's the little things that mean so much to them, like music, or a conversation. ❤️

Did you guys experience the part where your great grandma has to whisper to you they abuse her? Or when they say they aren't allowed to help as your grandpa falls out of bed and fatally injured himself?

I Hope That Everyone Who Likes This Comment Will Have A Good Day ❤️

Bless the people who do this job with all their heart, because they really care about the others ❤️

"it takes one parents to look after ten kids but ten kids cant see one parent"....thats so true...love what yous are doing...thank you for your work...an hospitality...god bless... #livelifetothefullest #respect

I was a caregiver at different nursing homes and I saw SO MUCH ABUSE other caregivers were doing to the elderly, like hitting, pinching, mocking them, leaving their bed soaked for HOURS , leaving there depends soaked for hours even if it’s diarrhea, pushing, sexual assault, omg the list could go on. And they would only clean up the elderly if their family was coming to visit. I spoke up every single time and the manager or owner would often ignore it. I would call APS (Adult Protective Services) anonymously and tell them what was going on and they would visit the facility and would do nothing about it. There was a lot of turning your head about what other people were doing and I had to leave so many facilities because of that. So many occasions I cried when I got home because there was nothing I could do and there were times I got threatened to be fired if I said anything or I did get fired. Not to mention I worked at a facility where people got high in the back on there break and would still try to work. So much abuse was going on I want to cry just thinking about it. I’ve wanted to do storytimes about being a caregiver and what goes on behind closed doors but I always feel like I would get hate or get in trouble for speaking up. Sorry if this was too long to read, please don’t hate

My nan keeps on talking about not being around for my wedding because I’m barely a teenager. It makes me want to hug her and never let her go because I love and care for her so much. Never take your grandparents’ love fore-granted. I know that the majority of them care and love for you more than you could ever imagine and cherish them until you part each other, ❤️

This was a beautiful video. I did visit my mother before she passed, but I should have more often. Thank you for making this.

Okay. Umm my heart just shattered. This was honestly so beautiful!! 😢❤️❤️

Anyone else tear up and called they're grandmother, booking a ticket home now.

Reading all these comments, I vow to never put my parents in a nursing home. I’m 20, studying, but my parents are in their 60s with health challenges already. I don’t know how, but i will give everything and work hard to let them spend their retirement on comfort and happiness, miles away from a nursing home.

I love working at a residential facility the residents are so nice and grateful!!

This is so sweet that these normal people take ther time to do this for people who dont have people to talk to that are just alone and could possibly be abused. and that they help them and are nice to it just makes world better I deeply thank anyone you does this it's so nice ❤❤

I used to work as a CNA in a nursing home for over a year and I can confidently say that this is not an accurate portrayal at all. Nursing homes are always understaffed and we would constantly work 16 hour days because there was nobody else. I could have made more money at Walmart and not have to deal with the emotional and physical labor that working as a CNA does. The family of the resident always treated the workers like trash, as if it was our fault that their parent was dying. We would be on our feet for hours, constantly running around and sweating our asses off. Not to mention so many of the residents that are confused would try to beat us and refuse their medication. I am never going back.

To those people who are saying that nursing homes are full of abuse, they don’t get treated properly etc, it’s not always the case. I work at a nursing home and I get abused all the time and there are difficult people, nonetheless we do our best to ensure each individual is given the care they need and the staff I work with are literally the nicest people ever- we even have singers and dancers come over and the elderly love it!

What a great video. Glad to see you girls are doing so well, and taking care of the elderly. God bless you. im a little teary-eyed. 😊

Thank you for everything you guys do

So many people in the comments say that they would take in their parents before sending them to a nursing home, but besides the "It's harder than you think" argument, I don't think you guys considered the very real possibility that they don't want to leave their home at all (and older people can be really stubborn about this). Would you also be willing to give up the life that you built for yourself to move BACK IN with your parents in order to take care of them? To quit your job or make your partner and kids move with you? It's a nice thought and I know that I'll do everything to take care of my parents when they're old, but I also know that they would never want me to give up everything WE as a family have worked for, to do so. Then I'd rather choose to actually spend some money on a decent care facility (because they DO exist)

Luckily I live less than 5 minutes away from my grandparents house, so we visit them all the time and on Sundays we all have dinner at their house as one big family. I LOVE my grandparents. ❤ And they're so funny too

Loved the video ♥️♥️ And family should really visit their parents more. When i came in at work after christmas i saw a cliënt being upset. I asked her what was wrong , she started crying and told me that her family did not show up on christmas.

Hey buzzfeed I love your work you guys are the best RU-vid channel on RU-vid. You always make me happy and cheer me up thank you for all your effort keep up the amazing work.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Beautiful video

I hope I've instilled this in my children. I care for my mother. I hope when I'm 90, I can have a couch to lay on in watch TV and teenage children to annoy :). I fear being trapped in an evil nursing home. I could NEVER imagine placing my parents in any facility... ever.

I’ve worked in quite a few nursing homes and some were wonderful and coming back and seeing residents you use to take care of and remember you is such a rewarding feeling. I miss it so much and wonder from time to time how they are doing.

This brought tears to my eyes. It is true, we as a society neglect the elderly. They took care of us when we needed them, the least we could do is visit them. I will visit my Nana today, she is 90 and still lives at home.

Not all nursing homes are the same! In my experience (I have a lot), most people who work in nursing homes seem to just be there to collect paychecks. Nursing homes are notorious for elderly abuse.

This is not how 90% of nursing homes are. The elderly are often abused and mistreated but are unable to communicate that to their families...

My God I’m literally in tears. I been doing this with my parents who unfortunately dont have such great health and my grandma who is 90 yrs old. Old people needs as much love and care as kids I just dont get how can some ppl abandon their elders!! This government needs to do more for old people who are alone and dont have the means to pay for someone to help them. And we as a society must also look out for them and help in any way possible.

I worked as a careworker in Japan before. I love my patients and I always talk to them because I learn a lot of things from them. I was away from my family (working abroad) but some patients made me feel like I was their family and I really appreciated that. It's so sad to see some of them pass away, but I'm somehow also relieved that they could no longer suffer from Dementia.

Nursing homes are hell to old people it’s kinda sad

Firstly, I am not demeaning or speaking ill about the other cultures and secondly I am not boasting or comparing my culture with rest of the world. So, please don't be offended. My comment was that in our culture, there is no such thing as retirement/nursing home. Elderly have always been a part of the family, no matter how sick they get. Now, it is changing a little bit and we are witnessing few nursing/retirement homes. But personally for me it's very difficult to do this with any of the elderly. And I have witnessed how hard it is to care for them (My grandpa was 90 years old), specially when dementia kicks in and you are a middle class family who can't afford 24 hour help in your house. I really don't know how and what will I do when I have to make such decision. The very thought of it scares me to death.

welp, I just cried my eyes out. they are doing so amazing by caring for them. Everyone please so visit your grandparents and love them even if they are not around anymore

Thank you for doing all that you do , and it's true my friends grandpa wanted away in a using home but when we wld go see him it's like he was back to normal lk nothing g had ever happened he just wanted to go home and it breaks my heart that many ppl forget about there loved ones and just dump them into a nursing home or elderly living center it's so sad 😞

I used to work at a nurse home Doing laundry, half of the nurses in there used to hit the elderly patient 😭

Uhhhh they all act kind when there are cameras lol 😂👍

I’m 15 and volunteer at one sometimes I feel bad but often times it’s so fun and the residents are so nice!

Being 20 and working in a nursing home is one of the toughest and best things I have done so far. I love my elderly people dearly and making there day can simply be offering a hug. A lot of workers are there simply for their pay check. Each resident has a story, has something to say and often forgotten is that they are a person. Yes it’s your job but to them it’s their life.

It's so incredibly sad reading the comments and most of then talking about now "notorious" nursing homes are for abusing the elderly, and I work in a nursing home in Canada and have volunteered at a separate nursing home as well as a retirement home, and I've never once seen in my life anything about the elderly being abused, all the seniors are treated with the upmost respect and although the facility isn't anything like living at home, it still isn't bad. The food is catered to each individual resident based on their dietary needs and restrictions, which is why some may consider it 'bland'. The programs are there intended to add a little umph or excitement in their days, and call bells and bed raises are for the residents safety. The ministry of health also comes in periodically to make sure everything is in check and their statistics and findings are posted online for everyone -including new and potential residents and family members- to view. All in all it's a safe secure and comfortable place not only to work at but to trust that your elderly loved ones receive the care they deserve.

I worked in a Nursing home as a CNA and from experience, I can report that the residents are nowhere near treated as well as these people are. I was terminated on suspected abuse and neglect unfairly because a patient had an accident on my watch. But the real source of neglect is when the patients are not fed good food, changed immediately after soiling their briefs, or even being bathed properly or with care. They only want respect and care and they don't get it which is very sad.

Bless them all, they're so precious :, )

Makes me so happy😊💜 I work in memory care and we do all of these things in the facility that I work in.

I don't know if anyone else noticed but Eilat and Miriam are jewish, makes me proud to be a jew 😄

Give this video a like you liked it

Such a great and touching video. Well done Buzzfeed.

We used to visit my great grandpa in a nursing home until he passed away, I used to love going there.

Nursing homes would be much more fun with loads of me’s running around

They should be with their families not in some prison

This nursing home shows how much love and care they have for their patients. I remember going to a nursing home to visit my grandfather and once I entered the building an elderly woman stopped me and told me to call the ambulance because she was feeling sick. I got worried and quickly walked towards the front desk to let them know what’s going on. While I was explaining the situation the lady from the front desk told me to ignore her and walk away. She added that the elderly woman is crazy and wants attention. I was shocked of what I was hearing. I’m glad my grandfather was there temporarily stationed there.

God bless responsible caregivers💜 The elderly mustnt be forgotten💜

I've decided not to grow old.

People in the comments say the workers abuse them I don’t agree with that at all my mom is a nurse and has been doing it for 40 years and has had 12 jobs in nursing homes and everytime she comes home saying all the workers are so nice to her and to all the elderly and have partys every Sunday and have desert every Tuesday.

I’m starting my course in September. I’m honestly so excited for it. 😊

Oh wow those beaded flowers were beautiful!! She is so talented!

Why do many westerners do this? Take care of your parents, your grandparents!

Wow. Really opened my eyes

God bless these people..

bleseed all hearts of this people