I've been working at a nursing home for a year and eight months and let me tell you, it's tough. I mean sure, it's hard for the obvious reasons that everyone assumes, but you don't understand until you actually live it.

When I first began working at the nursing home I am at now, I have to admit, I wasn't entirely thrilled about it. I was scared and overwhelmed and I didn't know if it would be something I could handle. I'm a CNA with a stomach of steel, but unfortunately, I have sensitive feelings.

It's hard to work with people, see them everyday and grow attached, to see them eventually pass away. It breaks my heart to see my residents pass away, especially if they were alone towards the end of their life. But a resident dying isn't the only sad thing about nursing homes.

Most of the residents are alone. I mean sure, they have us, but many of them don't have family who come to visit regularly. There are those residents who have family over everyday for different meals, or get taken out every week, but you also have those who never get visits, and who don't even get a phone call once in awhile. The thing is, nursing homes are convenient for receiving the assistance that someone may need, but some people get forgotten.

As a CNA, I have to say that the hardest part of my job is seeing my residents sad. I mean sure, my feet are swollen at the end of my shift and I'm busy throughout my entire shift, but it doesn't beat the heartbreak I get when I have residents begging me to stay with them at the end of the night.

Personally, I believe that the elderly population is taken seriously for granted. I know that everyone has those times when they say, "I love old people!" or "Old people are so cute!" But we never make an attempt to interact with them, get to know them, or see what they need. Nursing homes are nice places to have your family get help, but they are also places that can be sad.

I know that at first I was very uneasy about working at a nursing home but I do not regret it one bit. I love my job and I can't imagine doing anything else, and I know just how much one can benefit from helping the elderly. You can learn great things from helping others, and you get a feeling of satisfaction seeing residents smile at you and being genuinely content with their lives.

Volunteer at a nursing home. Give your time to the elderly. Read with them, sing, or just go visit them every once in awhile, every little thing helps.