On my fifth year being a care (male) aid... JUST YOU WAIT!!! this is the CALM before the storm... FIRST THINGS FIRST DONT BE SICK @ WORK EVER, if you get COVID @ work you can get workers comp if you can prove you got it at work (worked with patient etc.). But wait till you have a person poop in the tub 2 different times after you toileted them (they didn't "go") before hand ..drain SCOOP refill...drain SCOOP refill.... a 20 - 25 minute bath is now an hour and now you are painfully behind.. We also deal with fecal fingerpainters, lots of incontinent bedding and the odd "brutal wound" (reporting to nurses, helping with dressing changes) . You will see/smell/touch blood, feces, urine (of all smells and colors), vomit, death and (hopefully not) see/smell some brutal pressure wounds or necrotic flesh. it is not uncommon for sexual advances or molestation towards both male and female workers, some residents can be severely cognitively impaired and it can be scary/ sad/ bothersome/ overwhelming. wait until you meet ALL the "OLD staff" (that every facility has) they will be mean and tear you apart because they know they can, keep your head up, do a good job, BE SMART, question things you are uncomfortable with and have some fun while doing it (responsibly! chat with residents, makes jokes, talk family, tell a story..etc. NOT fun as in chatting with other helper over resident, on cellphone etc.) We are underpaid and overworked but we can make differences in peoples lives esp. at the end of life stage. Be sure to sit down and chat with residents, learn stories and laugh. When I left my first facility nearly everyone (staff/residents) cried because of my social skills, high energy and visible pride in my work, during COVID lock down I fit a ton of roles and did my best to entertain folks during some very lonely times (sang, danced, karaoke, led mass, joked, called cable to subscribe the "good channels" on the commons TV) . Iv had COVID twice and regularly worked face to face with COVID positive (severe to mild) with PPE (n95 - goggles - gown). Sorry for rant lol I couldnt stop typing