As the longest resident in bed occupation I meet some great people on the ward. Doris is like a contented cat; she sleeps at least 15 hours a day and has no problems of being disturbed by noise and lights. She is easily confused.
She is given her inhalers. And daily her response is: “oooh I’ve never seen these before. Nobody told me about them. “ Similarly she has a catheter and is nonetheless constantly asking for a commode as she needs to wee. The nurses patiently explain that the catheter is there to drain her wee so she doesn’t have to worry. “ Well why didn’t anyone tell me? If they’d told me I would have known” Yet certain things Doris never forgets….her sore bottom, the fact that she is never hungry at mealtimes. She has a wicked sense of humour for a 76 year old and keeps our spirits up. For about a week we are then blessed with Eileen. Eileen has the language of a three year old, but can communicate with sign language and facial expression. She has the mental age of an eight year old and she is the sweetest and most loving person you could ever hope to meet. Any one who comes onto the ward has to acknowledge her presence she makes sure of that. Her beaming smile and open arms are ever visible and she repeats: “Hello” endlessly until she receives a response. The day she gets her hair washed she wants everyone to know. She runs her fingers through her thick shock of dark curls (now clean) and holds up her new deodorant for everyone to smell. We all have to make approving signs and sounds “mmmmm” before she is satisfied. Eileen is grateful for the smallest favours; smiles, tissues, headphones for the radio. All the nurses adore her, as do the other patients. If you feel low, just a few minutes in Eileen’s presence can lift you from the doldrums in an instant. Eileen’s carers are a family with young children and they all gel beautifully. Eileen seems to have a natural affinity with children, as though she can immediately identify with them. When she is finally ready to go home the ward seems vast and empty without her. Meeting Eileen and getting to know her was a privilege for us all.
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