A Day in the Life

Welcome to the world of adult social care! Whose story would you like to explore? [[Morning visit to Iris]] [[Lunch visit to Trevor]]

Iris is 82 years old. You are visiting her in the morning to help her get ready for the day. She normally gets up at 08:00 every morning, without fail. This morning, Iris says'' 'I'm staying in bed. Leave me alone'''. What do you do? [[Tell her that she HAS to get up, because that's why you're here]] [[Ask her if she is feeling unwell or upset]] [[Leave her house immediately]]

Trevor is 62 years old. He recently sustained an injury at work, so needs care and support until he's recovered. You are visiting him at lunch time to make him something to eat, as he cannot do this himself. Trevor's daughter, Alice, is at his house when you arrive. You greet them both, and ask Trevor what he'd like to eat. He says 'I've got a real hankering for beans on toast, with a big of grated cheese on top, please'. However, Alice says 'No, he'll have soup, he's got to use it up'. What do you do? [[Follow Trevor's choice of beans on toast?]] [[Follow Alice's instruction of soup?]]

You guide Iris to stand up. She tells you she feels dizzy, then she falls to the floor. She's a bit shaken, but isn't hurt. You help her get back into bed safely. You call the office or a senior colleague to inform them of what happened. [[Next]]

You ask Iris more about how she is feeling. She tells you that she feels dizzy when she tries standing up, so wants to stay in bed. What do you do? [[Help her to stand up quickly]] [[Sit with her and reassure her]] [[Tell her she's worrying too much]]

You leave her house immediately, and don't call in to the office/a senior colleague. You later find out that Iris tried to stand on her own again, but fell out of bed. Luckily she didn't injure herself, but she is shaken up. If you were to turn back time, you should ask Iris more about what she's feeling. That way, you might be able to get her the help she needs. [[Ask her if she is feeling unwell or upset]]

You find out later that the office contacted Iris' GP. The GP has visited her, and found she has '//postural hypotension//'. This means that she has low blood pressure when she stands up. The GP has reviewed her medication, and has prescribed a new medicine to help her. [[Summary 1]]

We all know how we're feeling better than anyone else. Iris not feeling well and not wanting to get up as usual is concerning. Part of our role as carers is to respond to how people are feeling. If you were to turn back time, you should ask Iris more about what she's feeling. That way, you might be able to get her the help she needs. (link-goto: "Go back and ask Iris how she's feeling", "Ask her if she is feeling unwell or upset") (link-goto: "Menu", "Welcome")

Well done! You helped Iris get the help she needed when she wasn't feeling well. Thanks to you letting the office/a senior colleague know, Iris should start feeling better soon! (link-goto: "Menu", "Welcome")

You sit with Iris and reassure her that she doesn't have to get up if she doesn't want to. Iris gives you consent to let the office/a senior colleague know about how she's feeling today. You give them a call and update them. [[Next 3]]

After telling Iris that she's worrying too much, she doesn't talk to you very much. You're due to visit her the next morning. However, you later get a message from the office to say that Iris has cancelled that visit. She also cancels the next time you are due to visit. And the next time. Each time she cancels, Iris is going without care. [[Summary 4]]

We all know how we're feeling better than anyone else. If Iris is feeling dizzy on standing, then you should consider that it might not be safe for her to stand. Luckily, she didn't hurt herself when she fell, but she could have done. If you were to turn back time, you should reassure Iris. That way, you might be able to get her the help she needs. (link-goto: "Go back and reassure her", "Sit with her and reassure her")

A big part of what we do in social care is based on trust. People often feel vulnerable and exposed when they're being supported, especially with personal care. By telling Iris that she is worrying too much, she might feel that she cannot trust you to take her health seriously. She might also feel embarrassed if she thinks she has been making a mountain out of a molehill. If you were to turn back time, you should sit with Iris and reassure her. That way, you can help her get the care she needs. (link-goto: 'Go back and reassure Iris', 'Sit with her and reassure her')

You respect Trevor's choice and make him beans on toast. Trevor eats it all and tells you it was really lovely. He's very pleased. [[Next4]]

You follow Alice's instruction and make him soup. Trevor is upset, and he only has a few spoonfuls before he says he is finished. When you ask him if everything is okay, he says he doesn't like the flavour of the soup. You offer him something else to eat, but he declines. Alice doesn't like seeing Trevor upset. She says 'perhaps I should have let him have beans on toast'. [[Next5]]

Alice is cross that you made him beans on toast rather than soup. She tells you the soup might have to be thrown away now as it goes out of date today. You calmly explain to Alice that her dad had (text-style:"underline")[mental capacity] to decide what he wanted to eat. Mental capacity means the ability to make a decision. [[Summary 5]]

Well done! You respected Trevor's independence to make decisions. Whilst Alice is cross, Trevor might have felt excluded from his own care and support if you had made him soup instead. (link-goto: "Menu", "Welcome")

People should be involved in their own care and support as much as possible. This means allowing them to make decisions where they can, and supporting them to remain involved where they cannot. If you could turn back time, you should respect Trevor's ability to make decisions about what he eats. (link-goto: "Make Trevor beans on toast", "Next4")