Anna does not always like to be touched. This has become more apparent in recent weeks and it has put a strain on those who are responsible for helping her with washing and dressing and so on. I go back to Nancy’s account of the burns unit and her work with a six year old boy, with a burned face, who has to have his face washed:
‘I say that when he has the bath, it is not likely to hurt much at all, but it will be scary for him. I remind Sue that she knows from when she tried before herself that he was screaming before she touched him, when it certainly wasn’t hurting. I say it may help her to deal with him firmly and calmly if she can remember that he is frightened but not really in pain. I say it is important when we are in the bathroom that she is very matter of fact and calm and clear that he has to have it done.’
Later:
‘We all arrive back at his bed, and Max and Theresa are waiting there. Max comments that they hadn’t heard any screams. I say, ‘no, he did really well.’ Dad asks him if it had been as bad as he thought it would be and John replies,’Less worse’.’ (from, A psychotherapy service exposed, Nancy Cohn.)
What would a psychotherapy service for someone with dementia look like? We could think how she feels very vulnerable and touching her quite gently may feel to her like an assault. Touch her when she does not want it and she may hit out: ‘Now you know what it feels like,’ she says.