Jacqueline’s poem: Dignity in dementia Jacqueline Harrison was the registered manager at a nursing home where many residents are living with dementia. Read her story and poem, ‘Dignity’, written as a reminder for staff to see beyond dementia when providing care. Jacqueline Harrison - 07 June 2019 "I’ve been working at Westmorland Court for the past five years and it’s a privilege to look after elderly people. Families are entrusting their loved ones to our care and, in my opinion, it’s the most rewarding job in the world. We have a mixture of residents at the home, both nursing and residential. A lot of them have various levels of dementia which impacts on their daily lives. For each client I have written a “This is Me” document which gives the carers a brief insight into the person, their background, likes and dislikes and how they liked to be cared for. As well as This is Me, I decided to write a poem for staff to help them look beyond dementia. It’s important to remember that our residents all had lives before they were diagnosed. A copy of the poem was placed in the staff room to remind people of its content. The reaction was extremely positive. Staff commented that it had reminded them to think about the person, not just the condition, and that every person with dementia is different. I think the key thing is something that my parents taught me when I was growing up – ‘treat others as you wish to be treated’. We must remember to ask permission before giving care, explain in detail what’s going to happen, reassure, offer choices and respect decisions made. Above all, remember that people with dementia are human beings. We will all grow old one day. DIGNITY by Jacqueline Harrison I may seem old and frail to you, My “faculties” all gone. I may need help in all I do, But that doesn’t mean “I’m done” I was just like you once, you know My abilities all intact. I had a job, a life, a home And that, my dear carer, is a fact! Just because I now need help With any daily task Doesn’t mean I’ve lost my dignity It’s just something old age likes to mask Please remember when you help me That I’m still “ME” inside So yes, though you wash and feed me I still have my dignity and pride Dignity is so important It might be the last thing that I own So please, dear carer, remember To treat me as one of your own

Thank you for setting up this memorial to Jacque. We hope that you find it a positive experience developing the site and that it becomes a place of comfort and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.

I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other that we still are. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? Life means all that it ever meant, it is the same as it ever was.