Hi
Welcome to the first viewpoint for 2015
I am delighted to share this viewpoint from my dear Twitter friend Natasha Wilson
Welcome to the first viewpoint for 2015
I am delighted to share this viewpoint from my dear Twitter friend Natasha Wilson
Hi
I've
always known that working in the social care sector would come with many ups
& downs. Every day is different and often you are faced with challenges and
circumstances beyond your control. I have also always known, that working with
older people is something I am meant to do, for whatever reason. It is my
vocation & I love it. Below is just one of many examples I could offer,
about working with older people, and those who have Dementia. I'd like to think
it could encourage others to at least consider a career working with such
wonderful people. It's a true privilege. There are many stories of awful
experiences in care homes, but I'd like to counteract that with a positive.
A few months ago whilst at the
care home I volunteer at, I sat with a 90 year old wonderfully funny and
fiercely independent lady, who also has Dementia. I know all about her
fascinating life from speaking to her previously, but I know telling these
stories brings her great joy and pride, and so I sat and reacted like it was
the first time I had heard her amazing stories. She told me again about her
younger years in Germany and about her German side of the family. Out of pure
curiosity, I then asked her if she ever had to learn to speak German. "Oh
of course!" was the reply.
In that moment, she started recalling the numbers 1-10 in German. It was a splendid moment. I asked her if she would try to teach me, so I could boast about it mainly! We both laughed and then spent a good amount of time going through the numbers. She would say them, I would repeat, and we would start over again.
In that moment, she started recalling the numbers 1-10 in German. It was a splendid moment. I asked her if she would try to teach me, so I could boast about it mainly! We both laughed and then spent a good amount of time going through the numbers. She would say them, I would repeat, and we would start over again.
We laughed at how terrible &
"Yorkshire" my German sounded and laughed even harder when I asked if
she knew any rude words ("yes, as they are the most important ones"
she assured me!) Other residents were also getting involved and laughing along
with us, recalling school memories of learning the language. Care staff who
occasionally listened in to our conversations looked astonished that this lady
could recall and be in such good command of a different language. It made me
wonder how many other amazing skills, talents & assets were not sought out
because of the overarching assumptions based on ageism. Cooks, teachers,
tailors, mechanics, artists... All buried beneath grey hair, wrinkled faces and
a diagnosis of Dementia. Never beckoned out, recognised or praised.
Assumptions & stereotypes
are very damaging, and so I urge anybody to be more open minded the next time
they talk to a person with Dementia.
...And just to prove that I was
listening properly; eins, sfvie, dry, (can't remember!), foomf, (can't
remember!), seeban, oct.... That's about it, I'll revise harder next time!
Twitter: @N_Wilson94
Assistant Coordinator of The South
Yorkshire Dementia Creative Arts Exhibition
This October I did the 'Memory
Walk' for the Alzheimer's Society. Please click the link if you would like to
sponsor me - http://www.justgiving.com/natashas-memory-walk-for-the-alzsoc
Dementia Friends
Champion - Contact to arrange information session delivery.
Thanks for sharing this valuable informative. Its really useful for me. If anyone wants to get German Training in Chennai reach us FITA, rated as No.1 German Training Centers in Chennai.
ReplyDeleteGerman Course in Chennai