Just recently I saw a lady at my mother's Ch being badgered and pestered to eat when she clearly didn't want it. This poor lady is in an even worse state than my mother, which is saying something, is very elderly and has gone downhill very fast in the past few months. The Ch is very good and the carer who was trying to get her to eat is lovely,,but as I watched I couldn't help thinking it was bordering on cruelty - however well meant - to badger her like that. The poor lady no longer has intelligible speech so is unable to say, as we would, please, just leave me alone! I really, really don't want it! All she could do was to keep crying and whimpering and turning her head away, but still the carer persisted.
If that were my mother, I would not allow them to do this. I would say, by all means offer, but if she doesn't want it then please allow her that choice.
I know the CH staff feel that it comes under their duty of care to get someone to eat, and often this is all well and good, but sometimes I do think it goes too far.
If that were my mother, I would not allow them to do this. I would say, by all means offer, but if she doesn't want it then please allow her that choice.
I know the CH staff feel that it comes under their duty of care to get someone to eat, and often this is all well and good, but sometimes I do think it goes too far.