Luvvy, deary and darling are just some of the names my 88 year old father was called during his recent stay in hospital.
I've no complaints about the standard of care he received. It was reasonable - not perfect, but OK. I understand that the ward was busy and understaffed and that the staff were doing their best.
But what's all this name-calling? My dad, as I've mentioned on here before, was a rear gunner during WW2. He's a serious man who shows respect to others and expects it back from them. Especially from people a couple of generations younger than himself.
Would it really be such a strain on the resources of the NHS if nursing and care staff were to call patients 'Mr Smith' (or whatever), instead of 'Freddy, love' - at least until they'd been acquainted for a while? Or if they could go easy on the 'luvvies' and 'darlings', or the 'Ooh, we are ready for a shave, aren't we, Freddy?', or 'Is it the waterworks again, me dear?'
Maybe some elderly people don't mind being addressed that way. Maybe some like it. My father doesn't. Would a little respect cost so very much?
4 comments:
I think you address an important point, Rosalie - it's that lack of respect generally shown to the elderly.
Thanks, Rosemary. Now to decide what to do. Have a feeling a letter of complaint may not be quite enough...
From what I recall of hospital stays there's precious little respect for patients full stop. But that's another issue.
That's quite possibly true. But if it were me being treated with disrepect I'd soon give them what for. My dad comes from a more polite generation...
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