In an effort to enhance its staff’s compassion for the people in their care, this Clinton County nursing home took a very unusual step some time ago: It held a contest to see which staff member could last the longest living as a resident of the facility.
The winner managed to make it for eight days, taking home a grand prize of $500 – apparently not all that much, considering that only four employees accepted the challenge.
But I think this “Through the Looking Glass” project is absolutely brilliant. I hope it catches on and finds some major funding along the way. Just think what would happen to the quality of care – and the level of compassion – that nursing-home residents would experience if their caregivers really understood, from personal experience, exactly what they were going through each and every day.