Dignity Action Day 2015

Hie everyone I would like to ask from everyone do dignity champions visit hospitals and how our older relatives are treated? Is everyone happy about it you are not happy like me let's work shoulder to shoulder to help them I have worked in different hospitals and wards especially those dealing with elderly people, for example in meal time let to feed themselves whilst there can not manage come the care staff or nurse and take it away. At the same time they say it's meal times relatives are not allowed. Please good people let's help by exploring what is done wrong by those we think there are suppose to save us .

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At 3 Dec 2014 19:44:24, Dignity Champions [log in to view email address]'> wrote:Message sent by Jan Burns.

ts that time of year - getting ready for Dignity Action Day - once again we are working with the theme of Have you got time for Digni-tea? due to its resounding success last year. What have you got planned for the 1st February 2015 - there are lots of ideas on
this dignityincare website if you are stuck to know what to do. Share with us what you have planned - do what a champion is meant to do - lead and inspire others. I look forward to hearing from you - share - share - share-!!!!

I agree fully with Addmore, we are stronger together and must not accept bad practice.
Tonight I visited a residential care home, singing Christmas carols with a group of brownies.
First impressions not bad , I then entered room in which we were performing and was struck by the smell of urine.
It was 6pm and all but one of the residents were ready for bed.
We gave cards out and I supported some to open their envelopes, I noticed several had very dirty nails and hands. I spoke to some during a break and all had gravy stains remaining around their mouths. Perhaps my standards are higher than others?
Shouldn't everyone's standards be the same as mine?
At least half of those watching were propped up in wheelchairs, no brakes applied. The lady next to me moved further and further away each time someone walked by.
Do I see things others don't? Like the lady pinned into the corner waving at everyone for attention.
Ignored.
31 children to pass by the room of a resident who appeared to be in the final stages of life? Doors wide open.
I know care is complicated and difficult, I know people can be challenging, but surely some common sense prevails?
I have a history with the manager, and I am sure she will be happy to receive my call tomorrow. I simply can't accept these things.

Very true let's make our voices be heard against bad practice and cogradulate those who are doing their best, I really worried about what I see and hear in hospitals, special those without relatives and around its sad I can tell.

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At 3 Dec 2014 21:48:12, Dignity Champions [log in to view email address]'> wrote:Message sent by Rochelle Monte.

I agree fully with Addmore, we are stronger together and must not accept bad practice.
Tonight I visited a residential care home, singing Christmas carols with a group of brownies.
First impressions not bad , I then entered room in which we were performing and was struck by the smell of urine.
It was 6pm and all but one of the residents were ready for bed.
We gave cards out and I supported some to open their envelopes, I noticed several had very dirty nails and hands. I spoke to some during a break and all had gravy stains remaining around their mouths. Perhaps my standards are higher than others?
Shouldn't everyone's
standards be the same as mine?
At least half of those watching were propped up in wheelchairs, no brakes applied. The lady next to me moved further and further away each time someone walked by.
Do I see things others don't? Like the lady pinned into the corner waving at everyone for attention.
Ignored.
31 children to pass by the room of a resident who appeared to be in the final stages of life? Doors wide open.
I know care is complicated and difficult, I know people can be challenging, but surely some common sense prevails?
I have a history with the manager, and I am sure she will be happy to receive my call tomorrow. I simply can't accept these things.

Hi again Rochelle -

'Shouldn't everyone's standards be the same as mine?'

If everyone was up to your standards, I have a strong suspicion that care in some places would be better much than it is at the moment.

As for family and friends helping elderly patients in hospital to eat their meals, Addmore, there is some debate about this - some nurses claim that if untrained people do that, it can lead to various risks such as choking. However, if people in hospital need help to eat and they are not getting it - well, to my fairly [simple] way of looking, that amounts to the hospital 'letting patients starve', and that isn't acceptable: just 'plonking food in front of someone whose physical frailty will make it hard for them to eat it', and then taking it away largely uneaten, is pretty-obviously wrong !!!

Thank you all for your inputs - this is the very reason why we have the campaign - champions united together to challenge poor practice and uphold dignity at every opportunity. Standards should be the same as Mike says - but unfortunately they are not!! It would be great to hear the response you get Rochelle when you give feedback to the manager - if she/he needs help to turn it around point them in our direction.

Going back to Addmore's point about eating in hospitals, and when my dad was very poorly in hospital in 1995 just after an operation, my mum and I noticed that he seemed to be eating almost nothing in the days-to-weeks that followed. When we actually raised this issue, a nutritionist turned up and talked to us and my dad, and once the nutritionist was 'formally involved' the nurses on the ward started to record what my dad had eaten.

I think that hospital nurses are probably even more 'stretched' now than they were then - sad as it is, when you see something you think is not being done [or, in general, a problem], I suspect that unless you make a recorded comment about it, over-worked nurses are not likely to prioritise your concern.

You can see that is clearly wrong - everyone should be getting proper treatment, and it shouldn't be that 'whoever doesn't shout, doesn't get' - but I'm not sure what the answer is.

If everyone was like Rochelle, staff would probably 'be going the extra mile individually' - but, as various nurses on the Nursing Times website have pointed out, if nurses (and indeed HCAs) are covering the gaps [re too few staff on duty to properly do the job] by going 'above and beyond', the nurses end up being very stressed out, and managers do not (or, have less incentive to) pay for the extra staff the situation is calling out for.

It is all very hard to sort out.

Good day from Australia!

5 years ago a small group of people (some originally from the Uk) started a Dignity in Care group in Adelaide, South Australia, that grew to some 1000+ members mainly from hospitals and government health departments.

2104 saw an expansion due to the overwhelming interest from residential care and the public and we now have representatives from many organisations who meet bi-monthly to put out the message of Dignity and Respect to all in care situations.

In February the 1st we will be having "Dignity Trees" in the wards of "The Queen Elizabeth Hospital" Adelaide, on which staff and the public can pin messages of support - but we will also be using the date to announce our major event, The Dignity in Care Australia Conference to be held at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide , South Australia on October the 2nd 2015.

The theme is food and nutrition in care situations, with a title of "Eat Play Love". Guest Tv chefs will be here to show us how it's done and add a lighter side to a serious subject. We are looking forward to a great event - come and join us!

Hi David,

I'm impressed that a similar campaign is going on in Australia - in fact, the new 'connected world' links the entire world in a way which simply wasn't possible prior to ca 2000.

I loved this one - we (not me personally - I am not giving up my with-supper tipple) have currently got a high-publicity 'stop drinking' campaign in England:

'The Dignity in Care Australia Conference to be held at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide'