I stopped reading to him and sat and chatted to all of them together.
24th January, 2003
Today dragged. I helped out with baths and a bed bath. A couple of the resident’s bath everyday and others only twice a week.
Bathing everyday helps the resident’s to feel fresh and clean, for example those who perspire heavily or suffer from incontinence.
A certain resident hates having a bath and would only bath twice a month if she wasn’t told to do otherwise.
I think it may be that she needs help in and out of the bath and doesn’t want to appear a nuisance.
She is quite an independent lady.
Today Mr Beggs discussed with me the rights of the residents. Below are some of the rights we chatted about:
- Right to heath care and services
- Right to medical services
- Right to specialist nursing services
- Right to therapy services
- Right to culturally sensitive care
They need to treated with dignity and respect in a way that is appropriate to their cultural background.
Today a few of the residents’ friends and relatives visited. There is no set visiting day or time. I think this is really good as hospitals visiting hours are restricted and patients may get lonely.
I understand that home managers fear that if there are no set visiting hours, the home will be over – run with visitors and it will be difficult to care for patients.
This is not the case.
I think that an open visiting policy encourages people to visit and is probably less disruptive than a rush of visitors at 2pm on a Sunday afternoon.
I found it quite interesting that an 86 year old woman can phone a taxi and get the taxi to take her shopping all on her own, especially with dementia.
31st January, 2003
I arrived this morning and I was shocked to hear that one of the resident’s had been taken into hospital. Mrs B had fallen down the stairs and broken her leg. The other residents were very down and extremely worried about their friend.
A few of the residents didn’t seem to understand what had actually happened. Mrs B’s closest friend has dementia and she seemed to think that Mrs B has passed away. I had to talk to the resident in a way that she would understand. Not adult –like but more child – like but not in a manipulating way.
Lunch was served early today 11.30am as the resident’s were all very hungry even though they had only just had a cup of tea and a scone at 10.45am. They can be greedy beggars at times!
I helped bed bath Mr Y, he is very fragile and aged 96. He’s such a friendly man. I actually could feel my emotions getting the better of me.
Mrs X informed that her arthritis seemed to be getting worse and the painkillers do not seem to be doing any good. She seems serious. Some of the resident’s tell you anything just to get a little attention. I decided to share the information with a senior member of staff who then passed the details on to the doctor.
I was glad when today ended as I was so tired.
7th February, 2003
Today started with a bang. Mrs A was out a walk and came back crying. I took her straight to a senior member of staff and Mrs A informed us that her arm was sore. She was taken to hospital and it turned out that she had fractured her collarbone.
Mr X suffers from incontinence and today we noticed how inflamed his skin was because of the contact with urine. A medicated cream was applied as this would reduce the risk of pressure sores.
Mrs X, Mrs B, Mrs A and Mrs C all had baths today and they all had to get their hair done. Mrs A is very fussy and just loves her make-up and perfume etc. I helped paint her nails today which was quite fun.
Before I began working on my first day I was warned about confidentiality. Basically, ‘what happens in the home is only talked about in the home.
I noticed that some of the care assistants are very aware of how essential it is to maintain confidentiality at all times; however some staff have inadvertently betrayed confidentiality during my time already.
A few examples are:
- Discussing a patient’s condition with another member of staff within earshot of other relatives and resident’s
- By disclosing information about the person’s condition to relatives and friends
I understand that betraying someone’s trust may destroy the caring relationship.
Lunch was served at 11.45 am. There were too many care assistants in the kitchen so I took the initiative to go around the rooms and empty all of the bins. They are normally in the morning but as we were busy with baths we did not have time.
I was glad when today was over as it seemed to go so slow.
17th – 21st February, 2003
This is my first block week.
I hope I enjoy it and learn something from this experience.
17th February, 2003
Well, today many of the resident’s relatives and friends came to visit. It made me think, I hope I never have to come and visit my mother or a loved one in a home. All of the resident’s live in a home on a permanent basis.
I have noticed that assisting certain individuals is not always straight – forward. Some of the resident’s can be resentful when they need help, perhaps with a measure of ambivalence towards receiving help, particularly in a society where independence is cherished.
I think this job is emotionally as well as physically demanding.
I didn’t spend much time with the residents today as they had visits and a few went out to visit family and friends.
18th February 2003
Mrs A is still finding it difficult to get dressed and up in the morning. Her fractured collar – bone is starting to heal and she is nearly back to her usual independent self. I always knew it wouldn’t take her long. She is so alert and so able.
One of the care assistants is very impatient. I have noticed how she is very grouchy and quite horrible to the residents. I don’t think someone like this should be allowed to be in the kind of job.
Today I helped toilet Mrs. B she’s still on her crutches so she needed a little guidance. I didn’t mind. She’s so tiny and frail and I’d have felt bad if she would have wet herself.
We decided after lunch to make pancakes therefore they would be able to have them with their tea break or after lunch tomorrow.
19th February, 2003
Today was a very glum day, weather wise and because of the weather I was not looking forward to work - placement.
The weather was horrible which meant I couldn’t take any of the resident’s out to get the early morning paper. They were all very angry about this so I took the time and decided to go down ‘in the rain’ and get them their papers.
They were all very grateful when I returned, which made me forget for a while how wet I was!
The resident’s were all up this morning when I went in as the chiropodist was coming. £20 – 00 to cut their toe – nails! That is shocking!
Today seemed to go quite quickly. I emptied the bins and then prepared lunch with J.M (care assistant).
The resident’s enjoyed their lunch today and especially the pancakes they had made the day before. I quite liked them myself especially with the strawberry jam, Mrs C had made.
20th February, 2003
I wasn’t sure what I was going to do today as I was told by Mr Beggs (the owner) that there were already three care assistants on.
I agreed with him that I would do my interview with Mrs B a resident as part of my Research Assignment.
This took up all day.
Mrs B was quite a talkative person when she wanted to be but I had to make sure I went in at the right angle or she would take about something completely different. It started off with Ballyrashane Creamery, which I really didn’t want to write about in my assignment and then finally we got on to her wedding and where she used to live.
21st February, 2003
Today I continued on with my interview with Mrs B.
28th February, 2003
Due to open in day in my technical college I was unable to attend work – placement.
7th March, 2003
I spent most of today spring-cleaning with AG, one of the care assistants as we were informed there was going to be an inspection.
A few of the resident’s went out today to meet their families and friends, this meant that our attention was left to the home.
21st March, 2003
Today I took Mrs A down the street and helped her pick a card and a present for her granddaughter’s birthday. She was so grateful for my help.
Mrs D was not as well as usual today. She did not look as good and seemed to be a lot more confused.
She has dementia and can become easily frustrated. She spent most of the today back and forth from her bedroom.
Mr Beggs seemed very worried and so was I but it was not my place to intrude.
We all had a wee sing-song after lunch, which the resident’s enjoyed.
It was an interesting day.
28th March, 2003
I helped shower Mrs C today. She is quite a well-built lady and one care assistant cannot handle her.
I was a little shocked when I saw her in the flesh, her toes were all curved over on top of each other.
It was a bit of a shock but that is what happens with her condition, for confidential reasons, I cannot actually say what her condition is.
Anyway, I enjoyed doing this as it made me feel like one of the other staff. I also enjoyed today as the resident’s were in good form, which seemed to make the day go quicker and also more pleasant.
7th – 11th April, 2003
This is my second block week. I hope I learn even more than I did on my first block week.
7th April, 2003
Today was really fun but then very boring.
I spent most of the day down the street with the resident’s.
We went grocery shopping and then got some Easter cards for their families and friends.
When we returned we had lunch and then most of the resident’s went to sleep! I was very bored.
8th April, 2003
There were no baths or showers to be done today.
All of the resident’s were asked to retire to the lounge at 9.30am.
All of the beds had to be stripped which seemed to take two and a half hours.
This brought me up to lunchtime and after lunch I helped Mrs A and Mr X get ready for the hairdresser coming.
9th April, 2003
When I arrived this morning, Mr Beggs informed me that Mrs A wished to go the library.
When I returned with Mrs A, I helped her read some of her books.
One of the care assistants then asked me to toilet Mrs D as she was still very confused.
10th April, 2003
Today when I went in, Mr Beggs asked me to take Mrs D up a cup of tea to her bedroom.
He informed me that Mrs D wished to stay in bed today because she wasn’t feeling 100%.
I noticed that she had deteriorated a lot from the beginning of my work placement.
She didn’t really know where she was or what she was doing.
I found this quite emotional.
11th April, 2003
Well it was the last day of my work placement and I was quite sad to be leaving.
I realised that I would miss the resident’s that I got to know the best and they too would miss me.
I went around everybody to say goodbye and I received a little token from the resident’s, which came to me as a surprise.
Most of the morning I gathered up all the policies and aims of the Residential Home from Mr. Beggs.
Lunchtime came sooner than I expected and it was nearly home time.
I enjoyed my work placement and did learn a lot as I had hoped to expect from the start of my work placement.
VOCATIONAL PRACTICE
WORK PLACEMENT NO. 2
LOG BOOK
CLAIRE ~ LOUISE MCNEILL
