Holistic Caring in the HomePaper presented at Equality and

Social Justice in the 21st Century: Developing Alternatives. A Multi-

disciplinary International Conference

Wellington Park Hotel and The Queen’s University of Belfast

1 - 3 February 2006

Maureen and Jacqui O’Riordan

A care journey

• Our journey with our mother through Alzheimer's

• Developing and maintaining a holistic caring home environment

• There is something in the way - Identifying barriers to developing a holistic care context

• Thinking about care

A journey through our mother’s illness

• Something seems wrong …

• Repeating again, again, and again

• Do we really want to know … Diagnosis,

• And then …– Wandering– Clinging– Continuous talking …– Wanting to go home

A journey through our mother’s illness

• As we are progressing– Extra Personal hygiene

and care– Renovating and

buildings – Equipment - what,

how, changing

• We need to care 24/7 with– support – Dignity

• Subjectify the caree/r/s

There is something in the way - Identifying barriers

• Availability - now where is my life?

• Issues in changing and adjusting – Is invisible not valued?– Isolation– Privacy and space in the

home

• Current underlying assumptions in community/home care support

Gaps in supports in Ireland

• Not comprehensive enough• little communication across

supports– community– hospital

• Limited training• Rigidity of service• No overall co-ordination in

community care• Public day care ?• Good people working within an

ineffective system • Objectified Care System

Necessary supports that would be helpful

• Flexibility in support service

• What are the Questions ?

• Initial and on-going training for workers

• Communication across services

• Co-ordinates service support – one step ahead instead of 10 steps behind

• Pressure on services ? pressuring the vulnerable is not justifiable

Developing and maintaining a holistic caring home environment

• Support in the now• Frightened/Frustrated?

– Reverse the negative– Reassure

• Lateral thinking– Find ways of

communicating– Keep conversing

• Keep up involvement and participation– Embrace the wider

community – Be an advocate

Dignity

Different needs at different times

• Early on• Establishing a routine• Going through• Adjusting to change• Getting on• Following up• Still there

Closing Statement

• Care that is focused on the person

• Care that recognises the agency of the person – finding diverse ways of interaction

• Care that dignifies the caring context

• Supports that enable sustained continuation of care

• Always a person