Its really great to see Angela Rippon today all over the TV pushing the need for dementia training with Doctors/Nurses etc.. I have my doubts that alot of these don't even want to be trained.
My Father, who was diagnosed with Dementia 4 years ago, was admitted to hospital in June when his Hip Joint had collapsed and had all broken into pieces. He hadn't had a fall, a slip, nothing, he was just in alot of pain and therefore very confused. He was admitted to a large South West Hospital(better not name it), where to cut a long story short he sat in an Orthopaedic Ward for 10 days waiting to be operated, sedated most of the time because they said he caused such a fuss otherwise.
After much pestering by myself and sister they performed a girdlestone operation, great we thought! Until Physio's repeatedly moaning to us on a daily basis because he kept putting weight on his bad leg when he should't be. They gave up after 2 weeks and sent him to a cottage hospital for another 5 weeks with little help, because "he wouldn't do what he's told".
To make things worse I even heard 2 nurses talking about going on Dementia Training Course - Nurse A saying she can't be bothered, she's been on loads of training lately and Nurse B saying well why don't we go and have a good old JOLLY, make them pay.
Do they really have to say these things infront of Full Time Dementia Carers????
Now 3 months on he's in hospital again, due to lack of mobility - why?? because hospital staff couldn't be bothered to give him the time and treatment that he should have had after his original operation.
After 5 months, I could count on one hand how many decent Doctors/Nurses/Carers who had contact with my Father, understood his illness. - GOSH don't I wish I didn't have to know about Dementia at times.
I think the care is in the person and no amount of Training or Degrees will change that with some.
My Father, who was diagnosed with Dementia 4 years ago, was admitted to hospital in June when his Hip Joint had collapsed and had all broken into pieces. He hadn't had a fall, a slip, nothing, he was just in alot of pain and therefore very confused. He was admitted to a large South West Hospital(better not name it), where to cut a long story short he sat in an Orthopaedic Ward for 10 days waiting to be operated, sedated most of the time because they said he caused such a fuss otherwise.
After much pestering by myself and sister they performed a girdlestone operation, great we thought! Until Physio's repeatedly moaning to us on a daily basis because he kept putting weight on his bad leg when he should't be. They gave up after 2 weeks and sent him to a cottage hospital for another 5 weeks with little help, because "he wouldn't do what he's told".
To make things worse I even heard 2 nurses talking about going on Dementia Training Course - Nurse A saying she can't be bothered, she's been on loads of training lately and Nurse B saying well why don't we go and have a good old JOLLY, make them pay.
Do they really have to say these things infront of Full Time Dementia Carers????
Now 3 months on he's in hospital again, due to lack of mobility - why?? because hospital staff couldn't be bothered to give him the time and treatment that he should have had after his original operation.
After 5 months, I could count on one hand how many decent Doctors/Nurses/Carers who had contact with my Father, understood his illness. - GOSH don't I wish I didn't have to know about Dementia at times.
I think the care is in the person and no amount of Training or Degrees will change that with some.