Do hospital staff really care about the elderly in pain?

Question

Are elderly people treated properly in NHS hospitals or do the staff tend to think "They are old and if they are in pain it doesn't really matter because they won't be with us much longer so we will save our energies for the younger people?"

Answer 1

Yes we do!!!! I am a CNA of 7 years and I feel so badly for them having to live in pain the way they do! Everyday can be a stuggle. Of course all staff are not compasionate and they should not be working with the elderly.

Answer 2

While I am sure there are some burned out psyches among the hospital staff (suffering from compassion fatigue), the vast majority of people caring for the elderly are doing their best to keep them comfortable and out of pain or even discomfort. They have daily multiple glimpses into their own futures, and want the best for their patients. They do, however, have to be professional at all times, an approach often interpreted by family members not associated with the medical profession as coldness and lack of caring.

If your family member is in hospital and you feel like they are not getting the level of care you desire, you CAN go and lodge a complaint, but that won't help the situation. The best thing you can do is make an effort to "get in close" to some of the nursing or aide staff, show genuine interest in them, bring them something for the group, like a healthy, or even not so healthy snack and leave it in the room with a handwritten note saying it is for the staff. Thank them for their work, any little nicety they perform for your loved one. In brief, be gracious. I think you will be surprised at the quality and quantity of attention your family member gets.

Answer 3

Yes, elderly patients are treated well on the whole. In my department they are treated more considerately than most other patients. We allocate them a higher priority so that they get seen and treated more quickly. We provide transport home in all cases (which we do not do for many other patients) we have a dedicated aftercare team who arrange for home follow up and assessment.
We operate a low threshold for admitting the older patients so that they aren't left struggling at home.

I wonder whether the questioner really believes their own statement or whether they are playing devils advocate?

Answer 4

I truly believe that hospital staff feel and treat ALL patients with care. Although if I was in their shoes I would be a bit harsh with those abusive drunks that end up in hostpital after a night out. But then I do weigh 18 stone.

Answer 5

hi, (ANS) i quite sympathize along with your comments and question. No.a million i imagine the present project is amazingly very adverse verging on dreadful. that's because the authorities coverage & NHS coverage makes a huge difference (or separation) between a) therapy and what's assessed as b) own care or social care. No.2 i'm no longer putting forward the project is okay or proper its no longer yet i'm positive its all right down to funds & budgets i.e. funding of facilities for the elderly. Plus bypass over administration at nearby authority factor too purely makes issues worse. No.3 Social facilities are below tremendous pressure to attain set aims for worrying for his or her consumers to on real of the funding topics. i.e. who will be a social worker given the insane pressures of work i.e. call for out strips the skill to furnish the actually care provider. No.4 My straightforward heart felt sympathy is going out to you. My mom is close to to 80 years now and that i have considered her by x1 hip replace and x2 knee replacements in 36months & she has osteoarthritis plus epilepsy. although she manages to maintain solid Independence & continues to be cellular getting any more desirable care or facilities for the elderly or disabled is amazingly confusing i do not recognize what the solutions are. No.5 the genuine adjustments are:- a) contained in the techniques set of everybody contained in the country because sometime we can all grow to be previous & want care facilities & b) It want the administration & political will means to make elderly care a techniques a techniques extra of a urgent precedence i.e. the look after the elderly has grow to be a Cinderella provider i.e. its no longer considered as beautiful is it shall we face information right here!! c) It calls for a techniques a techniques extra money than its on the instantaneous receiving for positive, regrettably if we scrapped in basic terms the Trident nuclear submarine replace software that ought to pay for each little thing thats mandatory. Trident is anticipated to price the united kingdom £750 billion over the subsequent 10years so see what I advise. the authorities priorities are completely incorrect in my opinion. form Regards Ivan

Answer 6

It depends on the Nurse or doctor. Working in a hospital you see both types. Ones who truly care and want to help. And then you see the ones that think they are top sh*t, and don't care about anyone but themselves. It's sad to say that not all hospital personnel are caring, but I've seen it first hand, at many hospitals.

Answer 7

wow great question i worked in a hospital for awhile as a nurses aid and if it wasnt for nurses aids i think old people would suffer.we do more for them than the nurses do,bath change bedding,walk them and make sure they get their meds on time by going over their charts.i think people who have been nurses for 6 to 10 yrs need to move to a different dept so they arent so mean to people.just because they are old doesnt mean they dont have feelings and arent in pain.so if you work in this industry make sure to take care of all people equally .

Answer 8

Good question, I have often felt the same way, I think patients need cared for regardless of age!

Answer 9

nice question,i saw my dad in law in agony whilst dying of cancer at a liverpool uk hospital,when i asked a nurse did she know he was in pain she said"" how am i supposed to know if he isn`t rolling around in the bed,i myself have had three debilitating operations in the same place,however armed with this knowledge when i go into hospital i don`t give them all my medication as requested,i keep enough to use if they are ` to busy`,not including myGET OUT OF LIFE FREE`PACK IF IT LOOKS AS IF I COULD END UP IN THE SAME SITUATION AS DAD IN LAW.remember friend life is a one off, KEN

Answer 10

yes they realy do and they often feel for them
me been one of the staff you are talking about!