I am currently on my gerontology placement and am finding some of the more demented patients very difficult. Some are very aggressive and call me names and swear at me when trying to get them to do anything. For example I was asked by my supervisor to do a mobility assessment on an elderly lady. I introduced myself and made niceties etc to develop rapport, then simply asked her to come to the gym with me for “a look at how you are managing”. She told me she was managing fine and if I didn’t believe her to call her husband. I then decided to compromise and do a simplified assessment in her room. I asked her if she could roll to her side. She then became very aggressive and told me to “bugger off”. I asked her to sit over the edge of the bed and she told me to “go to hell” and “get out of here I’m sick of the sight of you”.
None of the physio’s have been able to get her to comply and do any physiotherapy. I have tried to trick her into doing exercise or assessment. I told her I didn’t think she could sit over bed and walk and that I thought she was fibbing. She then did these tasks to prove to me (very abusively) that she could do them. I’m not really sure if this is ethical, but I was able to get the task done and in doing so determined her level of mobility. I was wondering if anyone has any strategies that they find helpful.
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2 comments:
well, I guess if patients dont want help, that is their decision. And we can try only so much. perhaps a little balance test may ease the situation or even a visit by the afro?
I was optimistic the afro could magic on this delightful lady, but saddly it proved uneffected and appeared to anger the patient even more so. as for the balance test that would be highly inappropriate and a would only serve to perpertuate the situation.
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