Morning all,
Thanks Essie - they are a bit OTT, but I enjoy playing with the editing and seeing what I can come up with, lol.
Lemony, when I worked in care, we had a lot of ladies who were really uncomfortable with being washed or recieving any personal care, and would respond like your Mum did Where we could, we would always get the client to 'do it for themselves' (if they would and if we had the time!) to try and minimise their objections, and I suppose I try and do the same with Mil. It would be so much quicker to wash her myself, but other than her bottom and the backs of her legs (which she can't reach because she has slightly limited movement in one shoulder after a fall, years ago), I get her to do everything else - even if it means me re-directing her to the same area over and over till its washed properly! I have her dressing gown ready to get on her as soon as poss, so she is undressed for the least amount of time, and I use the big wall mirror to keep an eye that she is washing properly, rather than staring at her obviously. Its so frustrating, when I honestly try and be respectful and understanding about how it must be difficult to have someone invade your privacy like that, that she then throws that sort of remark at me anyway
Slugsta, so sad about the ladys' husband and how she is now the only one left I hope the children she helped look after will be there for her in the coming months, to help her through such a difficult time xxxx
I usually managed to get to where I had to go in the bad weather, but at the end of that week/10 days of bad snow, I was due to go out that night on a run which involved a particular village that was hell to get to and get around in, in bad weather. I had the radio on, tuned to a local station, and as the day went on the situation was just getting worse and worse, with all public transport cancelled and the police issuing orders that the village (plus a couple of others) were now so snow bound that they were describing attempting to drive there as being 'suicidal'. I contacted the police myself and was told in no uncertain terms NOT to attempt to get to the village, that it was 'impassable' as far as cars were concerned, so I called my bosses and told them. One boss told me to drive as 'near as I could then get out and ******* walk'. I refused - for minimum wage, no sick pay if injured and their attitude, I just didn't see why I should risk my neck trying to walk up and down hilly streets, over a 3 or 4 mile route, in tretcherous conditions - and they instead sent a new-ish member of staff, who actually lived in the village, to walk the route. She fell and ended up with a broken hip All the clients on the list lived (thankfully) with family, so none were left 'stuck' - but the poor staff was left unable to work and without a wage for about 3 months, I believe.
Mil again very tired and confused last night, but no asking to go home, just an almost half-hearted repeated set of questions about where the little girl (makes a change from the 'little lad') had gone. She once again seemed totally shattered and once again, OH reported that she was dripping in sweat when he collected her. I'm making sure lately that she is wearing really light tops to DC - I know like most homes, the heating tends to be kept quite high there - but even so, she seems to so often be excessively over heated most of the time when we pick her up. Tending still to blank me when I spoke to her, unless I said 'tea's ready' or 'would you like a drink?' - she responded fast enough then No complaints of pain, but I did notice she was tending to favour one leg when she walked, limping slightly - I also noticed a new, quite nasty, bruise on one hand, and at bedtime, that was matched by a new bruise on her hip on the same side, so I am assuming she has had another stumble/fall in DC. The falls are becoming more frequent now and its impossible for her to be watched all the time, especially in DC which is a big place that she wanders all over. OH has saved her from a few falls over the last two weeks, especially when she gets up from the table, or when she tries to turn around as she is walking (its almost like her feet get 'tangled' when she tries to turn), and I managed to 'brace' her upright after she nearly fell in the bathroom a couple of days ago. Its getting to the stage where I suspect that it won't be long before the poor thing ends up with a broken bone or other serious injury as a result of a fall, and I have no idea how she - or us - would cope with that. I was watching her last night as she came back from the loo, and despite the fact that her weight seems to be stable, she is somehow looking very much frailer now
We also had her darn near choking last night at tea - Its a bit difficult because offers to cut up her food are rarely met with other than an 'I'm not a child, I can do it myself' and its only if she is struggling that she will accept help. I'm trying to accomodate that when I prepare her food, and last night thought we were safe with lamb chops - simply because she always picks them up with her fingers and bites the meat off them, so doesn't have to struggle with cutting meat. However, as she finished her meal last night, she suddenly started coughing, reached for her glass of water and spat a huge chunk of meat into it - left her still coughing and with eyes streaming, but otherwise OK - but I think that in future she is going to be served bite size pieces of meat only, as I'm not risking that again!
No issues with getting her to bed, in fact she was not only compliant, but actually thanked me for helping her And all quiet after.
Shirl is off out today, so the usual visit is cancelled. I did tell Mil this last night and her response was that she would 'go in the afternoon instead' (?) so I doubt she took in what I had said - not that she will remember today anyway! Youngest to theatre, otherwise, just the usual 'pootling' - even the shopping I needed was done yesterday, so hoping Mil behaves and we can have a relatively chilled day!
Hope you all have a good day xxxx
Thanks Essie - they are a bit OTT, but I enjoy playing with the editing and seeing what I can come up with, lol.
Lemony, when I worked in care, we had a lot of ladies who were really uncomfortable with being washed or recieving any personal care, and would respond like your Mum did Where we could, we would always get the client to 'do it for themselves' (if they would and if we had the time!) to try and minimise their objections, and I suppose I try and do the same with Mil. It would be so much quicker to wash her myself, but other than her bottom and the backs of her legs (which she can't reach because she has slightly limited movement in one shoulder after a fall, years ago), I get her to do everything else - even if it means me re-directing her to the same area over and over till its washed properly! I have her dressing gown ready to get on her as soon as poss, so she is undressed for the least amount of time, and I use the big wall mirror to keep an eye that she is washing properly, rather than staring at her obviously. Its so frustrating, when I honestly try and be respectful and understanding about how it must be difficult to have someone invade your privacy like that, that she then throws that sort of remark at me anyway
Slugsta, so sad about the ladys' husband and how she is now the only one left I hope the children she helped look after will be there for her in the coming months, to help her through such a difficult time xxxx
I usually managed to get to where I had to go in the bad weather, but at the end of that week/10 days of bad snow, I was due to go out that night on a run which involved a particular village that was hell to get to and get around in, in bad weather. I had the radio on, tuned to a local station, and as the day went on the situation was just getting worse and worse, with all public transport cancelled and the police issuing orders that the village (plus a couple of others) were now so snow bound that they were describing attempting to drive there as being 'suicidal'. I contacted the police myself and was told in no uncertain terms NOT to attempt to get to the village, that it was 'impassable' as far as cars were concerned, so I called my bosses and told them. One boss told me to drive as 'near as I could then get out and ******* walk'. I refused - for minimum wage, no sick pay if injured and their attitude, I just didn't see why I should risk my neck trying to walk up and down hilly streets, over a 3 or 4 mile route, in tretcherous conditions - and they instead sent a new-ish member of staff, who actually lived in the village, to walk the route. She fell and ended up with a broken hip All the clients on the list lived (thankfully) with family, so none were left 'stuck' - but the poor staff was left unable to work and without a wage for about 3 months, I believe.
Mil again very tired and confused last night, but no asking to go home, just an almost half-hearted repeated set of questions about where the little girl (makes a change from the 'little lad') had gone. She once again seemed totally shattered and once again, OH reported that she was dripping in sweat when he collected her. I'm making sure lately that she is wearing really light tops to DC - I know like most homes, the heating tends to be kept quite high there - but even so, she seems to so often be excessively over heated most of the time when we pick her up. Tending still to blank me when I spoke to her, unless I said 'tea's ready' or 'would you like a drink?' - she responded fast enough then No complaints of pain, but I did notice she was tending to favour one leg when she walked, limping slightly - I also noticed a new, quite nasty, bruise on one hand, and at bedtime, that was matched by a new bruise on her hip on the same side, so I am assuming she has had another stumble/fall in DC. The falls are becoming more frequent now and its impossible for her to be watched all the time, especially in DC which is a big place that she wanders all over. OH has saved her from a few falls over the last two weeks, especially when she gets up from the table, or when she tries to turn around as she is walking (its almost like her feet get 'tangled' when she tries to turn), and I managed to 'brace' her upright after she nearly fell in the bathroom a couple of days ago. Its getting to the stage where I suspect that it won't be long before the poor thing ends up with a broken bone or other serious injury as a result of a fall, and I have no idea how she - or us - would cope with that. I was watching her last night as she came back from the loo, and despite the fact that her weight seems to be stable, she is somehow looking very much frailer now
We also had her darn near choking last night at tea - Its a bit difficult because offers to cut up her food are rarely met with other than an 'I'm not a child, I can do it myself' and its only if she is struggling that she will accept help. I'm trying to accomodate that when I prepare her food, and last night thought we were safe with lamb chops - simply because she always picks them up with her fingers and bites the meat off them, so doesn't have to struggle with cutting meat. However, as she finished her meal last night, she suddenly started coughing, reached for her glass of water and spat a huge chunk of meat into it - left her still coughing and with eyes streaming, but otherwise OK - but I think that in future she is going to be served bite size pieces of meat only, as I'm not risking that again!
No issues with getting her to bed, in fact she was not only compliant, but actually thanked me for helping her And all quiet after.
Shirl is off out today, so the usual visit is cancelled. I did tell Mil this last night and her response was that she would 'go in the afternoon instead' (?) so I doubt she took in what I had said - not that she will remember today anyway! Youngest to theatre, otherwise, just the usual 'pootling' - even the shopping I needed was done yesterday, so hoping Mil behaves and we can have a relatively chilled day!
Hope you all have a good day xxxx