I have often heard parents complain about the summer nights not getting dark until gone 9pm. Children will say 'It can't be time for bed it's still light outside' I experience the same issues with a lot of my ladies and gents.
Two ladies in particular who both used to be a Headmistress tend to cause a few problems. Being headmistresses they both dominate the younger carers and get away with what they want. The first one has often been found still in her chair in the morning because a carer has politely asked 'Would you like to go to bed now?' to which she has firmly replied 'No!' The carer has left herself with no-where to go and has had to leave her watching television. I don't give any choice and perhaps because I am older I get away with more, I just say 'Time for bed' and start to dress her in her nightwear. All our carers now know how to deal with her and she now just excepts the routine
The other lady is down for a call at 2030hrs. During the winter months, being dark, this is too late because she has made her own way to bed, which is not good as she often has falls when walking around. During the Summer months because it is light, she refuses to go to bed saying it is too early. Where possible I try to arrange my round to suit the season, however I can't go much later as I have two more calls after her.
The other night I arrived at the designated time and asked if she would make her way to the bedroom.
'No, It's too early'
As I experience this on a regular basis, I made us both a cup of tea and started to fill in my record of care notes whilst having a chat. Normally this is enough time for her to get used to the idea and feel she is making her own decision to go to bed. However on this occasion she was not having any of it. Aware that she won over the young carer the evening before, I was determined not to set a precedent. I also noted that earlier in the day she had fallen over and banged her head. so my conscience would not allow me to risk leaving her to get to bed on her own; The following conversation went round in loops and she had started to get so agitated that I was beginning to feel that I was fighting a losing battle.
'I will be alright dear, I am perfectly capable of making my own way to bed'
'But you have had a fall today'
'So! I am even less likely to have another one' came the illogical reply
'Yes but I would never forgive myself if you had another fall like this morning'
'It is still daylight outside and I am not a child'
'So what happens if you have a fall?
'I have my alarm button.'
'You mean the one tied to your trolley that you could not reach when you fell earlier in the month'
'When was that?
'When you bashed your arm' pointing to the bandaging that was still covering the wound. And you fell over this morning' aware that I was beginning to repeat myself
'Yes but I was alright then and I will be fine NOW!' she retorted as I could felt the tension rising.
'Yes but that was because the carer came in and found you within an hour. If I leave you now it could be ten hours before anyone found you.
'Sorry I don't see the difference'
'Well you were a headmistress, you should know' I said with a smile
'What?' came the puzzled response
'Ten minus one equals nine'
Tension broken as she started to chuckle 'Oh alright I'll go to bloody bed then'
The next week I was having the same problem with her. Smiling graciously when she was asking what time I would finishing whilst thinking 'That it all depends on you'. Some 40 minutes later when I finally get her into bed she asked 'When will I see you again?'
'Saturday evening and I am praying for rain.' I replied with a smirk
'Oh that's a bit glum, Why?'
'Because, you go to bed early when it's raining'
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