PATIENT INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATING HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Today's blog has been prompted by a feature I read this week in a local newspaper, regarding the advances in Dementia care at a specialist unit.

The above feature stated; "Staff even leave dusters lying around the wards so that patients can assert their independence and feel useful by polishing the furniture." If and when I have to go into one of these units, I hope that supportive developments in the field of specialist pschotherapeutic support for Dementia patients will have moved on considerably, from the stated practice of  leaving dusters lying around for me to do a bit of dusting! I see this as a degrading and from my perspective can be described as lazy and unimaginative provision of care.

Apparently, the specialist caring innovations include: "Other ways to sooth patients include giving them pieces of cloth covered in buttons, zips and a variety of textured fabrics with which they can fiddle." I can think of nothing more agitating, than being presented with a load of buttons on a cloth, together with zips to attempt to undo. Having witnessed my late father, who had Alzheimer's, anxiously struggling with his key case and knowing that with it's removal, he became less anxious, I am extremely concerned if the above kind of  "specialist care" awaits me.

Interestingly / disturbingly, no reference was made to the difference in the provision of services for those in the relatively early stages of the disease's development and people who are suffering it's advanced stage.

I am in two minds as to whether to contact the nurse in charge of the unit to offer her a relatively early stage dementia, patient's insight / observations. One reason I hesitate to offer my observations, is that, it is possible, should my observations be seen as threatening and unwelcome, my reaction ccould be unproductive. One of the byproducts of the condition, that I have been increasingly aware of this past year, is that, increasingly, I can no longer confidently predict my response to people and situations.

As I write, I am now increasingly of the opinion, that it might be safer, for all concerned, if I were to forward my observations in writing to the unit.

Another frightening omission from the newspaper feature, was the total lack of reference of the necessity to maintain a patient's dignity and self respect. For people to be treated with dignity and to be able to maintain their self respect, I believe, is essential in any health care setting.

Rather than dusting, patients should be offered the opportunity to commence blogging!

JSAFGA