The new carer was not so good after all. She left shaking her head and saying it was not going to work. Which is what Anna says.
‘She doesn’t relate to me,'said the carer. I tried to explain that it takes time, but she was not interested.
She wrote in the book: This client is not warming to me, at this moment she said she hate me, so it may be better for someone else to take my place.
In one way, fair enough. But if all the carers said that, we would be in trouble. I am left thinking – given health funding, who do we really want to see working here? Someone experienced in residential care or the continuing care ward of a hospital? Perhaps, or would they have picked up habits that are not good for looking after someone at home?
When Anna says to a carer, Go away! there is a question, who makes the decisions around here, and by what authority? From where she stands, any care that she doesn’t want is an assault. You could say that in such matters she is not competent, but she is not subject to any section of the Mental Health act. As yet. I am the facto manager of this care home.
Years ago I wrote a chapter in a book – A Home in Hospital? – where I was arguing for a sympathetic approach to the care of older people in hospital. I could yet be writing a follow up – In Hospital at Home?