Patience

 

 

Right now everything looks so strange to me, as if I don't belong here. It's me that's out of place. And the worst thing is that I feel there's somewhere I do belong, but I just can't find it. - L J Smith 

 

 

 

My job involves working with people with Alzheimer's. I'm luckily a person blessed with endless amounts of patience and am not fazed by the endless repetitive questions. I understand family members unable to cope and I will happily take over to give them a break. Yesterday I got very angry with a co worker who had an angry mean response to a question asked by a person with Alzheimer's. The person was very upset because they thought they were lost and wanted to go home. The co worker was frustrated I understand but telling them they don't have a home anymore and that no wanted them was not an appropriate response. Remember it's better to remove yourself from the situation temporarily than to respond like that. A person with memory loss is genuinely afraid and reaching out for help because they believe they are lost. They don't know they are safe and being cared for. Reacting in a way that hurts and scares them is wrong. Just take a second to think how you would feel if you awoke in a strange place with strange people and didn't know where your family or home was.  How distressing would be for you to hear a response like that. So, if you find yourself in a similar situation just always answer kindly. Even if it is 50 times in the space of an hour. 

 I actually had a rare weekend home alone. The rest of the family were away and I had to work so I stayed home. Apart from having to work it was lovely. No sink full of dishes. Watching what I want on tv. I'd like to say I went out partying after work but in reality I went to bed with a glass of wine, my book and my bed companion the cat.