Yesterday my friend and I went to the care home, my friend to give the exercise class and me to supply the music. Last week had been the best half an hour to date. Everyone in the room had joined in and we both left feeling really happy that we had managed to get so many residents involved.
However, yesterday was very different. One of the residents, in her nineties and only now showing signs of dementia, was in a bad mood and spoilt the class for everyone. Last week she sat next to the parrot’s cage and shouted rude comments as my friend started the warm up session. At first we found it quite amusing but were grateful when she retreated back into her chair and went to sleep. The parrot had, strangely, ignored this tirade, which was a bonus. We’ve had to put up with a shrieking parrot on a number of occasions!
Unfortunately yesterday this disgruntled woman had made up her mind that she was not going away and her comments came thick and fast. A number of the residents shouted at her to ‘stop being rude’ and to ‘leave us alone’. This only added fuel to the fire! Bizarrely the parrot slept through the noise or else I’d have had to turn the volume up even louder!
To make matters worse the activities manager was not in the room. She had taken a resident to the doctor so we were alone. My friend valiantly soldiered on until the lady sitting next to the disgruntled resident had enough. She had finished her tea and wanted to join the class. I was standing at one end of the room so could just make out a woman’s back and flailing arms.
I rushed outside and luckily found a carer in the hallway who managed to separate the two before any physical harm had been done. My friend, being the true professional, continued with her routine as if nothing had happened! The parrot had woken up, shrieked in disgust and immediately dropped forward to continue his nap.
I reported the incident to the care manager. She explained that there was not a lot she could do because, as I am very aware, this disgruntled resident has a mind of her own! She makes a beeline for the chair every morning and, other than physically removing her, won’t budge. Her behaviour disrupts the class and spoils it for all the other residents but I remain hopeful that something can be done to resolve this problem.
Next week will be the last class for a couple of weeks as both my friend and I are away. We understand dementia and how this awful disease can change personalities. We know that some weeks will be better than others! The management, staff and some of the relatives have thanked us for holding these classes. Apparently it leaves residents calmer and happier, so we soldier on …..👠
Jenny Burrell 