“He’s Outstandingly Queer…”
Posted by Esther at 11.59am on 26 June 2008
This was a comment made last week by one 93 year old care home resident when faced with ‘Marty’, one of the characters in “I don’t know how to talk about it”.
As part of Connect in Care, we’re working with Highland Hospice to support a pilot programme they’re delivering to develop capacity among care homes in palliative care.
The experience of death and dying is central to care home communities and yet research shows that it is often the elephant in the room, with staff, families and residents finding it very difficult to talk about. That discussion of death is taboo reflects the attitudes of society in general.
“I don’t know how to talk about it” is an interactive play which we’re currently touring around Highland. It describes the impact on both staff and residents when death happens in their midst but is not mentioned. It is designed to encourage the community to express their views, experience and attitude towards death and dying. ”It’s curtains for you” is another resource, developed through Connect in Care, which supports people explore to these matters.
Contact Esther for further details.
Tags: care homes, connect in care, culture change, health care, older people, social care