The importance of presence

I lear
ned from my experiences in the nursing home especially those I had with two very old ladies with dementia but also with a lot of personality as well. one of them said to me if only I could have visitors who didn't keep talking I would just like to have someone there like my son in the room but not constantly talking. I was glad that I was able to be with her for an hour and a half on her last day of life. she was conscious but in severe pain and I sat by her until the nurse asked me to to leave because they had to wash her when I got to the door she said say goodnight everyone it was only 3:30 in the afternoon but I did what she wanted as I said on her behalf goodnight everyone good night it was a great privilege to know this Welsh school teacher who was a mother of three children the other woman was more about their affected by dementia I learnt from observation and experience that I could communicate with a much better if I was present snd fully aware of my own body. you could say when I was indwelling in my body. then she would respond even when she seemed mentally disturbed. through this being president I became fond of her I would say that in the end I loved her she was very different from the angry person who swore at me when she finally says I love you Mary

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