A care workers' experience.
Covid-19 and lockdown restrictions has affected nearly every aspect of life, and for both care home residents and staff, life has changed dramatically. There are questions surrounding the effects that these restrictions have had on residents health, mentally and physically.
In discussion around the effects on care home residents, one charity told MP's that its helpline had been told of one resident who said they would "rather die than carry on living like this". Judy Downey, who chairs the Relatives and Residents Association stated "what makes life worth living for most people? It's interaction with the people they love, and doing things they like, and all of that has gone". Despite England and Wales having differing lockdown restrictions, the effects of this pandemic are still universal when it comes to the emotional well-being of care home residents and staff.
Lis Hughes works in a care home in Wales, which homes around twenty residents. She spoke about her personal opinions and experiences around the effects of Covid-19 in her workplace, including the effects she has seen on residents and staff.
The effects on the residents, Lis believes, is very clear. Lockdown rules and restrictions has especially effected those suffering with dementia. It is clearly confusing for them to see staff in full PPE and for them to suddenly to not be able to see their loved ones. "It was really difficult trying to explain to the residents why they could not see their families, especially those suffering with dementia. It was obvious how confused they were".
Lis then goes on to tell of how one resident, who had to be hand-fed as she was physically unable to feed herself anymore, passed away whilst she was there. This family orientated woman had lots of children and even great-great grandchildren. Lis describes how both she, and the other members of staff believe that one of the reasons this resident deteriorated was because she could no longer see her family, and that it appeared she felt as though she had no reason to live.
These heart-breaking stories, unfortunately, are more common then you may first assume, with many charities and families speaking out about the effects on residents. Lis speaks of how she has been effected mentally, as the physical and emotional strain is only recently beginning to lift. Although she loves her job, this care home worker describes it as 'often upsetting' as residents sometimes feel dehumanised and embarrassed, and speaks of one resident who repeatedly says how she no longer wants to live.
Care home staff have also been effected considerably due to lockdown rules and restrictions. With now having to wear full PPE, staff struggle to communicate with residents and complain about how uncomfortable it is. Lis began her employment at the beginning of lockdown, where fifteen staff had recently gone off due to having to shield. She comments on how this added a lot of pressure to the remaining, and new staff, describing how she had to work nearly every day and for long, tiring hours. Lis describes how after working physically and mentally exhausting shifts in full PPE, she, along with the other staff, often feel as though they 'can not breathe'. Along with working long hours, staff have also seen the emotional effects of restrictions as they have to attempt to comfort often very confused residents, and those who appear to have 'given up'.
Staff have also seen effects on their personal lives. "One member of staff is so anxious about catching Coronavirus and bringing it into the care home that she has cancelled last minute, three times, for her hairdressing appointment" Lis states "it really shows how scared the staff are at doing anything which would put the residents at risk".
"I had no time for myself at all, especially due to the fifteen staff being off".
Despite the negative effects which lockdown restrictions have had on both care home residents and staff, there is still happiness and positivity. Some of the residents struggle to speak due to strokes or due to age, and are often very difficult to understand, or sometimes hardly speak at all. However Lis describes how rewarding it is when they do speak, and refers to a time when she was feeding one lady who hardly spoke and she said "you have some". Lis speaks of this fondly and tells of how it 'made her day'.
There is many other aspects to the job in which Lis enjoys, such as doing activities with the residents and taking them to sit out in the sun. She relates the time when three female residents rolled up their trousers as they wanted to tan their legs, which put a smile on both the staff, and Lis' face. Throughout the negativity of the lockdown restrictions, there was still happiness. The residents enjoy singing and music, so they often get one of the residents to play the piano and everyone sings. "You can see how happy music makes the residents. When they sing along, they are like different people".
Thankfully, families are now allowed to visit the residents. Even though it has to be outside in the garden, and through a Perspex screen, it has still made a significant difference to their emotional well-being. However, as restrictions begin to ease, questions are still circulating around whether or not care homes were failed by the government and that they should have done more to ease the heart-breaking effects they had.
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