just got in from work
hi all,
just finished my night shift & am exhausted to say the least.
reading all these replies i see there is a mixed reaction to my suggestion. i can see the negative points but also the positive ones.
i know my organisation is a person centred non profit making company so their main objective is to give the best possible care there is to our clients. that means training,training & more training.most of it helps me but some is just text book learning & basically a load of cobblers.its written that you should deal with this situation this way & that situation that way but in reality nothing is ever that simple.
my night shift is a waking shift,under no curcumstances are we allowed to sleep during our 9 hour shift.last night for example,we have 33 residents,4 night staff,which is myself as senior & 3 carers.2 floors so 2 up 2 down.alot are still up walking around the home & have declined personal care from day staff so they have been left for us to assist them.all our residents are in the late stages of dementia & only about 2/3 are aware of the surroundings & who we are.most of the residents have come to us because they got 28days notice from a previous home as their behaviour was unacceptable.
now because of our dementia training we are able to approach the residents without much caution which in turn makes them feel at ease,we are prepared for any sudden change in mood & lots of reassurance is always given.the best way i deal with a mood change is start talking about the past & when they were younger as that memory is still very vivid in the mind,its mainly short term memory that goes first then the ability to function properly.anger comes through frustration more than anything else.
anyway,last night about 6 residents were up most of the night walking around,one in particular thought he was at work so was trying to mend the doors & just pottering about,another was screaming & shouting each time we tried to assist her as she was incontinent of urine & faeces,she scratched & nipped & even bit me when i got near her but i still had to keep going back & eventually calmed her down.
i know that family carers don't experience alot of that,as i said they are all late stage dementia. but i've seen questions asking why isn't my mother eating much anymore or my husband is awake all night,why.or,my wife has become aggressive & she was always so gentle,why!!
awareness would answer these simple questions.all our training is free as the organisation have their own trainers & families can get advice anytime they ask but i know its more difficult for home carers as the system don't often see them as priority.i don't rate the social services for assistance at all.
docs just write prescription for medication with terrible side affects so they don't care.
i know i've babbled a great deal but i really am on the side of the families & would love to help some way to get better support for them even if the awareness course isn't such a good idea!!!
