Hi all
I have been to see my Husband who is in the assessment ward at a local hospital where he has been for the last 3months.
Whilst there I observed a carer "teasing " another patient who is there for assessment as she has become rather agressive and lashes out, hitting ,hair pulling etc at anyone who is near.
The carer told the patient that she had damaged the carers cardigan and shows the Patient a cardigan that has had a button ripped off.
Of course the patent has no recollection of damaging this garment and says so, the carer then asks the patient what she is going to do about it asking if the lady can darn it...the patient says no
Tha carer then says that the patient will have to pay for it the patient says I have no money.....the carer then says can you write me a cheque ? at which point the patient says in a frail voice I can't write a cheque.
The carer was not doing this with any malice but was being sardonic...unfortunately the dementia patient was unable to recognise that the carer was teasing.
My point is (sorry for the long post) There should be a list of do's and don'ts and the top of my list would be don't try to use humour in a sarcastic/sardonic/dry way and certainly don't score points off the vulnerable by deliberately confusing them.
Thankfully my husband goes to his new care home tomorrow I would hate to think anyone would have a laugh at his expense.
I can't get this poor lady out of my mind.
Judith
I have been to see my Husband who is in the assessment ward at a local hospital where he has been for the last 3months.
Whilst there I observed a carer "teasing " another patient who is there for assessment as she has become rather agressive and lashes out, hitting ,hair pulling etc at anyone who is near.
The carer told the patient that she had damaged the carers cardigan and shows the Patient a cardigan that has had a button ripped off.
Of course the patent has no recollection of damaging this garment and says so, the carer then asks the patient what she is going to do about it asking if the lady can darn it...the patient says no
Tha carer then says that the patient will have to pay for it the patient says I have no money.....the carer then says can you write me a cheque ? at which point the patient says in a frail voice I can't write a cheque.
The carer was not doing this with any malice but was being sardonic...unfortunately the dementia patient was unable to recognise that the carer was teasing.
My point is (sorry for the long post) There should be a list of do's and don'ts and the top of my list would be don't try to use humour in a sarcastic/sardonic/dry way and certainly don't score points off the vulnerable by deliberately confusing them.
Thankfully my husband goes to his new care home tomorrow I would hate to think anyone would have a laugh at his expense.
I can't get this poor lady out of my mind.
Judith