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LO2 – Undertaken new challenges & developing new skills. A new challenge may be an unfamiliar experience or an extension of an existing one. The newly acquired or developed skills may be shown through experiences that the student has not previously undertaken or through increased expertise in an established area. |
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LO7 ETHICS – Considering the ethical implications of actions. Students show awareness of the consequences of choices and actions in planning and carrying out CAS experiences. |
How do you feel participating in this service has changed your understanding of dementia care?
Participating in this service has given me the opportunity to interact with several patients, and through these interactions, I have been made aware of the widely varying and unique stages that patients can fall under when it comes to dementia (an umbrella term), rather than there being a ‘one, fits all’ category. As a result, I have to come to the realisation that dementia care is necessitated – at times – to be extremely specialised and tailored to an individual’s situation.
Furthermore, one of the most important lessons I’ve learnt about dementia care came from one of the sessions a staff member from Apex Harmony Lodge ran. For me, she really highlighted the difficult ethical decisions that those who work in dementia care face everyday – such as balancing the needs of many residents, considering patient confidentiality, the potential for abuse and the benefits and risks of medicine. Personally as a volunteer, she also raised an ethical issue that provoked some thought. Often when we interact with dementia patients, we tend to unintentionally treat patients as though they are children. However, it vital to understand and remember that people with dementia remain the same equally valued people throughout the course of their illness, regardless of the extent of the changes in their mental abilities. This really a sparked a realisation in me and made me actively consider my behaviour during interactions and what I can do better.
What experiences have impacted you during our visits in season 1 and 2 – what were the challenges and successes you have faced?
A significant experience that has held a lasting impact, has been the interactions I had with my first assigned dementia patient. New to the program, a sheet containing information about her was given to me. However, as the first session itself unfolded, I came to the realisation that not only were some details incorrect (such as the language she spoke), but that it had not prepared me for what to expect. A significant but persistent challenge during our sessions become communication. Moreover, her reluctance to listen to music persevered. Our programme endeavours to be a form of therapy for these patients, however at times we can be so fixated with our purpose to use the medium as a means of healing, that we can forget, that music may be not be that tool for everyone.
How do you feel you have learnt or developed your skills through this service? Recollect any significant moments you have had so far.
When we think of service, we think of giving. However through each of the interactions I’ve had with different patients, I have had the opportunity to take away something – whether it might be a happy memory, a challenge I overcame, or simply a learning take-away. Initially, I was quite apprehensive about initiating engaging conversations with patients. However, a particularly joyful memory was when – to my surprise – I chatted about old Bollywood movies with a patient. Furthermore, he also shared his experiences as a teenager in Singapore. It made me realise that despite our differences, we had more common-ground on which to connect and converse, than what I had previously imagined.
