tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post1456349077845160698..comments2023-05-08T10:46:34.371+01:00Comments on Y Cneifiwr: Dementia and Care of the ElderlyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-32953836356640310532013-09-12T12:54:02.032+01:002013-09-12T12:54:02.032+01:00Yes I agree, and costing the tax payers thousands ...Yes I agree, and costing the tax payers thousands of pounds. For what? Don't need them!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-42251335372615012742013-09-10T18:39:28.311+01:002013-09-10T18:39:28.311+01:00The very point I have been trying to make for a lo...The very point I have been trying to make for a long time now. Get rid of many of the pen pushers at middle management and at senior level, and with the money saved, employ more care staff. Then they will have time to engage with users of the service and provide quality care. Far too many managers within the social care structure at the moment. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-56715367732453526822013-09-09T14:30:55.614+01:002013-09-09T14:30:55.614+01:00Difyr iawn a rhwybeth sydd wedi bod ar fy meddwl l...Difyr iawn a rhwybeth sydd wedi bod ar fy meddwl lot ers treulio 5 mis yn gweithio mewn cegin cartref henoed. for 5 months this year i worked in a private run home, with a special dementia unit. Most of the residents suffered from various stages of dementia along with people who had been moved from a local authority home which had been shut before Xmas- they were more on the ball. The care was great and most of the girls woring there were welsh speakers. <br />The owneres were extremely proud off their 5 star new unit - lovely bedrooms, corodinated soft furnishings and ... wifi. considering that people with dementia cannot even read the Western mail, what use is wifi to them... none whatsoever but the owner can charge their families more money probably. <br />They were always short staffed and the quality of the food was pretty bad and boring. What got my goat was the fact that the poor buggers were bored stiff and as we all know plonked in front o f the telly and left to doze all day as the carers did not have time to entertain, nurture or stimulate. None of these people are treated as individuals, or ar any steps taken to try and furnish them with activites apart for the odd karoke singer/elvis impersonator. I really enjoyed working with the old people and depsite their different stages of dementia, you can always stimulate and engage them in a conversation if you only had the time to do so and make their day a little better.And when you managed to do this it felt great! Just imagine how long their days is...everlasting.gaynornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-66568406171880926962013-09-09T07:36:17.825+01:002013-09-09T07:36:17.825+01:00A huge - and growing - issue. And your journey br...A huge - and growing - issue. And your journey brought back memories. Two points struck me. Particularly but not exclusively in urban areas England is full of homes which are depressing in the extreme. One of the most comfortable and best equipped I came across is a local authority home in mid Wales. Second, there are special techniques and training for people looking after elderly with dementia which I came across in a small chain of homes on the Isle of Wight. It transforms their lives.Roger wattsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-35352967024139602812013-09-08T15:13:49.587+01:002013-09-08T15:13:49.587+01:00A thought provoking blog. It brought back thought...A thought provoking blog. It brought back thoughts of 40 odd years ago when our school 6th form did a concert for the local old folks' home. A parent suggested that we do a Flanagan and Allen piece. I'd never heard of them, but we dug out a record and 6 of us sang 3 of their hits "Run Rabbit Run", "Don't Wake Me 'Cos I'm Dreaming" and "Shine On Harvest Moon". We dressed up in fur coats and straw boaters (one borrowed from the butcher's window). I couldn't believe how well our lame impersonations went down. We had requests to go "on tour" of other homes, which we happily acceded to. I'd never heard of any of these songs, but we barely had to start singing before they all joined in. So gratifying and they loved it.Jonathannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-59246630913351971572013-09-08T13:26:49.342+01:002013-09-08T13:26:49.342+01:00God bless you Cneifiwr! Thank you for putting the ...God bless you Cneifiwr! Thank you for putting the care back into "healthcare." <br /><br />You say you are "not a healthcare professional" yet it is evident from what you have said that you met the psychosocial needs of a vulnerable group of people. Testament that qualifications and training is no substitute for people skills, patience, care and compassion. The former can be learnt and developed whilst the latter is inherent. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-84088665575224292252013-09-08T12:03:51.487+01:002013-09-08T12:03:51.487+01:00Thank you Cneifiwr
Another excellent article, it i...Thank you Cneifiwr<br />Another excellent article, it is some time since I had anybody that I know in a care home but luckily while they were there they were well cared for and mostly happytowy71https://www.blogger.com/profile/17385691259489936354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-9953401893306359532013-09-08T10:33:14.287+01:002013-09-08T10:33:14.287+01:00An outstanding first-hand account of something tha...An outstanding first-hand account of something that's going to be increasingly important in the debates we have ahead surrounding care for the elderly.<br /><br />Illnesses like dementia are very complicated, and it's always read as though they're "stuck in time", which I suppose would be absolutely terrifying. So services like those you describe are no doubt a great comfort to them as evident from your account.Owenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-43507512515932622762013-09-08T10:17:12.848+01:002013-09-08T10:17:12.848+01:00I can do a rousing rendition of Cyfri'r geifr,...I can do a rousing rendition of Cyfri'r geifr, Emlyn Uwch Cych. <br /><br />You are absolutely right about the language issue. Dementia sufferers tend to lose their second language first.<br /><br />Beti George has done a lot to raise awareness of this, and the NHS has a really good initiative called Mwy na Geiriau. Some of their films are really moving:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kVLjnGIuOg<br /><br />I am hoping to organise some sessions locally.<br /><br />Cneifiwrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08767078276794410524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-75741452014277014262013-09-08T09:43:26.910+01:002013-09-08T09:43:26.910+01:00Diolch am hyn, Cneifiwr. Standards of care really ...Diolch am hyn, Cneifiwr. Standards of care really do vary even in West Wales, but the palatial care homes of England are few and far between here.<br /><br />When I am old and weary, and my fed-up children have chucked me in the homes, will there be someone like you to do sing-along-a Dafydd Iwan or Bryn Fôn?<br /><br />It's a serious question. In our part of rural Wales, the vast majority of residential and nursing home residents are Welsh speakers, but any entertainment provided (including the ubiquitous lounge TV) tends to be in English.<br /><br />Keep up the good work.Emlyn Uwch Cychhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03384157218244458970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-43314956762954985102013-09-08T09:25:32.805+01:002013-09-08T09:25:32.805+01:00Fascinating and enlightening. ThanksFascinating and enlightening. ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118857435900510280.post-26196013215042608512013-09-08T08:48:28.169+01:002013-09-08T08:48:28.169+01:00Such a moving item. Reminds me of an experience in...Such a moving item. Reminds me of an experience in my family when my daughter was traveling in South America. She passed through Trefelin (Laurie Lee) style with her violin. She was asked to join in an informal concert in Ysgol yr Andes. After the concert she was asked to visit an elderly lady in the town who was suffering from memory loss. Out came the fiddle and Calon lan and many other hymns filled the room. I understand there was a bit of the PG tips advert when the monkeys move the piano - hey dad the piano's on my foot - you hum it son and I'll play it. One photo of the teenager and the old lady captured the joy for both of them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com