A relaxed, respectful and non judgemental place to share and offload the good and the tough times as a careworker in the community. Angels are human too!
Please DO NOT disclose real names and places.(Gertie and Jim will always represent my ladies and gentlemen.)
I don't know about you but during my time I think it was always assumed that as a carer you know everything about everything!!!!
You probably know where this is going don't you? No matter what situation we were walking into very rarely were we told; beforehand; this gentleman/lady has......It seemed we were just sent in and had to learn as we went along. (Of course,where equipment was concerned there was training provided for each individual before the first visit.)
So, I thought isn't this a good opportunity to put together at least the basics(again,each person is unique) to begin to understand what is going on for the person we are caring for, as well as their families.
It is a mxiture of own experience(sometimes alot closer to the heart) and what has been visited on lifes great journey.Oh and of course I will add in links for relevant sites that will go more in depth with each condition.
As September is Alzheimers month I feel it fitting for this to be the first step.(And I dedicate it to my grandad.x)
ALZHEIMERS
'..Named after Dr Alois Alzheimer, who observed the disease in 1901,
Alzheimer’s disease affects about 500,000 people in the UK, and an
estimated 35 million worldwide. Typical symptoms of early Alzheimer’s include:
Regularly forgetting recent events, names and faces.
Regularly misplacing items or putting them in odd places.
Confusion about the time of day.
Disorientation, especially away from your normal surroundings.
Getting lost.
Problems finding the right words.
Reduced judgement, for example, being unaware of danger.
Mood or behaviour problems such as apathy, irritability, or losing confidence...'
The speed of change varies between people and also between different
diseases, but in most dementias symptoms progress slowly over several
years. Everybody is unique and is affected in their own way. As dementia progresses:
People may find that their ability to remember, think and make decisions worsens.
Communication and language often become more difficult.
A person’s behaviour may change and some people can become sad or demoralised.
Anxieties or phobias are quite common.
Problems with time perception may cause problems with sleeping and restlessness at night.
Anger or agitation is common in the later stages of dementia.
It is common for people to be unsteady on their feet and fall more often.
Gradually people require more help with daily activities like dressing, toileting and eating.
So; this I hope ;gives you an idea of what it is about. In reality, for families of those caring for a loved one it can be heartbreaking and frustrating to grasp why this person you love no longer remembers you,or can't communicate in any way. Its heartbreaking to see this happen for many years on end.
Its hard to grasp that their'knowing' seems to have disappeared....or has it?
I remember reading somewhere that the 'eyes are the windows to the soul'...think about it. next time you look into a mirror, take a close look into your own soul and get to know yourself. Its quite powerful and it has been something I used in the past during many visits.
I can remember helping someone many years ago by singing the 'Archers' tune to motivate them to move and guide to the bathroom. On route, a towel or mat would be placed over carpet grips in each doorway(apparently it would be seen as an obstacle if left uncovered and they would come to a halt), These things are what you pick up as you go along and as I keep saying we are all individual,what works for one may not work for another.
I have come across a very interesting piece found on the Dementia UK website which looks at 'life story work'.... This framework is used by staff to collect information about the people
they are working with in order to help them understand more about them
and to provide information, which can help them to deliver person
centred care. This is a collaborative process with family members and
friends and emphasis is placed on using images and photographs to bring
the life story book ‘to life'. The template can be adapted and updated
according to individual needs or preferences and a copy can be stored
electronically in case of loss or damage.'
I've covered personal stress experiences with you before. As we are all unique individuals, we find our own way of dealing with this 'silent creeper'. Sometimes we are just too busy and caught up in day to day activities to realise it is shadowing us and then all of a sudden.... BANG! ITS ARRIVED!
I've come across this great piece which talks through a 'stress management checklist'. have a look and see just how much you suddenly find yourself relating to its content....
"...Stress should not be too high or too low. Just enough to motivate you.
Any more or less of it will cause problems. Make you unhappy. And stop
you from achieving your goals...."
Have come across this interesting piece of news today and thought I would share it with you.There are many of us who can't quite grasp the idea of reablement and yet its purpose is so simple.
".....Ruth Crowder, vice chair of the Welsh Reablement Alliance, said: "It prevents people becoming dependent, prevents them needing to go into care. "Reablement focuses on how you can help people to really
start to take responsibility and maximise their own independence so they
can live the life they want to live. "Whenever we hear older people talk about what they want it's about staying in their own home. "It's about doing all those things that are important to
them, whether that's playing with their grandchildren, seeing their
friends, being in contact with their family."
Think about it....where is the one place you want to be when you are not feeling 100%? For me it's home.
We did it....or rather YOU did it. Carers Coffee Pot has now had 1000 pageviews and its all down to you. (Actually at the time of writing this post it has reached 1010....!!!)
I have to admit to being a 'little' excited about this. Once again, interest has been shown and it is very warming that ; I hope; this blog is proving to be of help somewhere along the line.
Thank you all, you continue to do a wonderful job.
I had a very encourageable reponse in pageviews and comments regarding the whistleblowing post made back in june.
I have come across this article which is in favour of encouraging whistleblowing and thought you might find it an interesting read too...
'....Whistleblowing is not a dirty word — but the acts it prevents or puts
an end to most certainly are. No organization, regardless of size, can
afford not to encourage it. Every incident needs to be investigated
thoroughly. Everyone needs to know it’s safe to speak up.
If your organization isn’t embracing a culture that supports the
reporting of wrongdoing, then it has willingly exposed an Achilles heel.
It’s only a matter of when, not if, it will feel the consequences....'
