cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/36437828
I don’t think I could be that:
seems to be very low paid, seniors and their families can be very demanding: some family members with dementia I know are basically 78 year old toddlers, throwing a fit for ridiculous stuff, except that this toddler becomes worse with every passing day, then issues with food: too much for him, but if you take half of the food from the plate, he looks at you as if you killed a puppy (what do you expect me to do?), then the constant need of validation and laughing at his stupid jokes he repeats several times a day, completely unrealistic expectations for the day (visiting 3 malls in 4 hours), they’re completely self centered children.
not.for.me, and I’m not even the main caregiver. How can you survive this kind of emotional labor?
does it pay being an occupational therapist?
As a matter of fact there is a chance we become this entitled family who feels we can dictate to an overworked occupational therapist how to do his or her job, because we’re the ones paying…
what a bleak future for everyone involved.
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I’m a PT Asst. I’ve worked with a lot of OTs and PTs in outpatient, hospitals, rehabs, and schools. If you ask them why they became therapists, most will say that have experienced a need for therapy or have had a family member who has. Like anyone, we like money, but it’s not the reason we chose this job. It’s easier to deal with dementia, autism, behavior issues, non-compliance, difficult personalities, etc. when the person is not your family member. We don’t take it personally. We get a cool rush when people learn/relearn things. After a great session we feel proud of our patients and the work we’ve done with/for them.