Why client needs to change homes
Dear Elaineo, Just logged onto site and picked up your story, so felt I must reply. Sometimes it is very difficult to support the client and the family at the same time. You feel that the client will receive better care somewhere else, but will they? If all care homes had a reasonable number of staff, lets say 1:5 then staff could give the time to care. I believe that staff do not not need special training to care for people with Dementia, OK lets educate staff on what dementia is and how it can affect their ability to communicate their needs. What people with Dementia need is caring, sensitive people, staff that will treat them with dignity and respect and give them time.
I am sorry that the family have treated you with so little respect. Where is your Manager? The family probably feel that they do not want to move their Mother. Perhaps they looked at many homes before deciding where she should live. Moving Mother could cause her confusion to get worse. Perhaps some members of the family are finding the whole situation to difficult to cope with. Or maybe they have difficulties in their own lives to contend with. Or perhaps they are not happy people!
Do the family get any support from the local Alzheimer's Society Support Group? I have found (being a facilitator for 5 years) that the support from other carers can be immense. Can you point them in the right direction?
Do not allow families to treat you with disrepect, Elaineo. You are doing a splendid job, caring can be very draining, physically and emotionally. I know because I have been a paid carer for 16 years. I also take my hat off to those family carers, caring 24/7 - because I don't know how you do it!! I hope your care home appreciates your caring and honest qualities. You are doing a grand job!!
