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( , Sun 1 Apr 2001, 1:00)
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I did work experience in a nursing home that deals with mainly dementia.
For three days, I followed and dealt with the care of these people, from waking them up at 7, dressing them, meals, toilet stuff, putting them to bed and the rest.
Some of the people there had lived brilliant lives; one had a PHD to her name. They had varying degrees of dementia, from only needing a small amount of supervision, to being doubly incontinent and unable to feed themselves and bed-bound.
I swear, I've came out of this experience a different person. At times I felt like crying, I felt so guilty having to make them eat, stop them arguing, and generally having to treat these people like toddlers. I am more ready than ever to do nursing.
What's severely humbled you lately?
( , Fri 21 Aug 2009, 23:31, 8 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

cycled here.
It's 125 miles.
He started out at 7 in the morning and was here by 6 in the evening!
Makes you feel a bit shit really, especially as he's 10 years older than me.
( , Fri 21 Aug 2009, 23:38, Reply)

yes,
Don't hate me,
But I worked in a dementia unit for over a year. Some of the most fun times ever! Its not all doom and gloom in the dementia home. you missed out on the escape attempts, the ladies who think they're in a hotel, the fun that these guys still have!
Three days isn't a good case study. A lot of time its hard, yes, family not remembered, confusion, violence, old men peeing in the laundry basket, but it can be a pretty jolly place all in all. Far better than the regular old folks home next door I can tell you!
The regular workers concentrate on the quality of life these guys can still have...
( , Sat 22 Aug 2009, 2:58, Reply)

the women who think they are in a hotel were terribly amusing in a kind of sad way. Particularly as they were generally complaining about the service and demanding that their bill be brought to them in the morning.
( , Sat 22 Aug 2009, 9:00, Reply)

The woman who used to has just had a hip replacement!
I should have said, I did have some fun times. It was just depressing too!
( , Sat 22 Aug 2009, 11:54, Reply)

I've never seen the effects of dementia in a "mass" setting (e.g., outside of individuals) and you are to be commended for taking the time to obtain the experience.
To quote from House, MD:
Rebecca Adler: I just want to die with a little dignity.
Dr. House: There's no such thing! Our bodies break down, sometimes when we're 90, sometimes before we're even born, but it always happens and there's never any dignity in it. I don't care if you can walk, see, wipe your own ass. It's always ugly - always! We can live with dignity - we can't die with it.
( , Sat 22 Aug 2009, 9:45, Reply)

And just been tol I am Dyslexic
And I spelt all of that correctly, so why?
Edit: Oh, bugger.
( , Sat 22 Aug 2009, 12:16, Reply)
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