Chapter 515 - Stressful Day
I attended my monthly carers' group this morning, expecting words of wisdom from the invited speaker, the geriatrician she sees about once each year. Prior to his arrival a flier was distributed about an upcoming session, held locally, for Educational Dementia Immersive Experience about which the group leader explained a little about vision issues for some dementia sufferers. I think I mentioned in a recent post that I had taken her to our optometrist who reported her findings to the ophthalmologist who will see her next week. I did not mention my surprise that visual acuity (correct word?) could be so effected and my concerns to the group.
The geriatrician was a woeful speaker. A rather vocal woman butted in, raising an issue she has with her partner whose tools and general junk she has decided to throw out. The dementia suffering partner freaked at her idea and became uncontrollable. His son collected him to stay at the son's place. The woman kept waffling on so I piped up mentioning my own case with unwanted clothes being placed in black bags to be taken to the Salvos or wherever, that the "patient" needs to agree to disposing of items, that he/she needs to own the idea. The woman shut up. The geriatrician continued.
A bloke saw an opening to mention the difficulty he recently experienced when he left his wife in the care of relatives while he was absent for a little over an hour. His wife freaked out that he was not there. One of the relatives was unable to cope so left the house. I thought better of sticking my nose in to relate my experience of a couple of close relatives who stayed with us for a few days; one of them needed assuring that I was not intending to go out, leaving my responsibility in their care. The other became angry with my responsibility when no sympathy was shown for a son, well into his 40's, having problems with his ex. My responsibility showed little reaction, other than puzzlement , at the red faced fury facing her. I thought best not to mention my experience with the relative who I believe has had a counselling role in an organisation. The geriatrician continued.
Another bloke raised his problem of his wife having developed the habit of sitting on the toilet for over 2 hours for no reason that he can see. He said "no one has been able to explain why she does this", presumably referring to his GP. Various comments from other members of the group were directed his way. I just had to point out how damaging so long on the toilet was in matters of prolapse and such problems. I asked whether he had ever looked, use a mobile phone to take a picture of the area to show to a doctor and that a bidet may help. The geriatrician continued.
I left the meeting disappointed in the geriatrician's presentation and irritated with myself for offering comments from my own experience and thankful I refrained from saying a lot more. We "lay person" carers are an untrained bunch of people but obviously some are very slow learners.
The geriatrician was a woeful speaker. A rather vocal woman butted in, raising an issue she has with her partner whose tools and general junk she has decided to throw out. The dementia suffering partner freaked at her idea and became uncontrollable. His son collected him to stay at the son's place. The woman kept waffling on so I piped up mentioning my own case with unwanted clothes being placed in black bags to be taken to the Salvos or wherever, that the "patient" needs to agree to disposing of items, that he/she needs to own the idea. The woman shut up. The geriatrician continued.
A bloke saw an opening to mention the difficulty he recently experienced when he left his wife in the care of relatives while he was absent for a little over an hour. His wife freaked out that he was not there. One of the relatives was unable to cope so left the house. I thought better of sticking my nose in to relate my experience of a couple of close relatives who stayed with us for a few days; one of them needed assuring that I was not intending to go out, leaving my responsibility in their care. The other became angry with my responsibility when no sympathy was shown for a son, well into his 40's, having problems with his ex. My responsibility showed little reaction, other than puzzlement , at the red faced fury facing her. I thought best not to mention my experience with the relative who I believe has had a counselling role in an organisation. The geriatrician continued.
Another bloke raised his problem of his wife having developed the habit of sitting on the toilet for over 2 hours for no reason that he can see. He said "no one has been able to explain why she does this", presumably referring to his GP. Various comments from other members of the group were directed his way. I just had to point out how damaging so long on the toilet was in matters of prolapse and such problems. I asked whether he had ever looked, use a mobile phone to take a picture of the area to show to a doctor and that a bidet may help. The geriatrician continued.
I left the meeting disappointed in the geriatrician's presentation and irritated with myself for offering comments from my own experience and thankful I refrained from saying a lot more. We "lay person" carers are an untrained bunch of people but obviously some are very slow learners.
posted by Kilpike | 8:38 pm
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