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Care Opinion

Care for the elderly

Posted By The Dragon

"Care for the elderly"

About: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow / Clinical Haematology (Ward 4c)

(as a service user),

Having a relation who is advanced in years presents associated difficulties especially if they’ve enjoyed good health up until this recent episode. They can feel confused, disoriented and can find it hard to adapt to the changes they’re experiencing.

The staff must find it difficult to deal with elderly patients and it truly shows how this is a vocation and not a job.

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Responses

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 5 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 19/03/2019 at 11:26
Published on Care Opinion at 11:31

picture of Nicole McInally

Dear The Dragon

Thank you for your post.

Being in hospital can be a very difficult time for patients. Our staff recognise this and are there to provide support and reassurance.

It is important for our staff to know that their hard work is recognised and acknowledged so thank you for getting in touch.

Please pass on my best wishes to your relative.

Kind Regards

Nicole

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Response from Ian Reeves, Consultant Physician, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde 5 years ago
Ian Reeves
Consultant Physician,
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

I'm one of the doctors in the medicine for the elderly dept. i.reeves@nhs.net

Submitted on 19/03/2019 at 13:46
Published on Care Opinion at 13:56

picture of Ian Reeves

Dear "The Dragon''

Thank you for taking the time to post this on care opinion. It's wonderful to have this feedback, and I have found it very useful.

I agree that the changes in the health of older people can be very sudden, and very unsettling, and we need to work hard to try and correct this as much as possible for them.

I also agree that the staff need to have an approach which is not just 'a job'. Thank you for noticing this, and commenting in this way.

Caring for older people with complex needs can be challenging, which is why the positive and caring attitude of the staff is so important.

I will share your comments with the ward staff as well.

If there is anything else you think we could do, please let me know.

Best Wishes

Ian Reeves

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Update posted by The Dragon (a service user)

As mentioned in my original story, it could be helpful to have a small leaflet entitled "Living with X" which details in laypersons terms, the nature of the specific condition, how the condition is likely to affect your life, a list of dos and don'ts and a space for the patient to write down any questions that comes into their minds. After all, they normally have plenty of time to read through and study this, then when any questions come into their heads, they have a space to write them down. It may only need to be a double sided A4 leaflet. As you may be aware some patients may become bamboozled with "technobabble" and questions they mean to ask are forgotten during the doctor's rounds, if they write their queries down beforehand on such a leaflet, it may be handy - just a thought.

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