We have similar "volunteers" in Nowra, NSW. They are a little different, being designed to look specifically like an older person (wrinkles, grey hair etc). Our first one was called "Geri" - short for "geriatric", and as we can change Geri's anatomy around, we can present Geri as "Geraldine" or "Gerald". Unfortunately, Geri is now quite old and sometimes his private parts fall off. :) The second one we were given, we called "Betty" after our cleaner, and since then we have named each one after people who have been important in the development of our facilities. This personalises them a little more for the students, who are expected to always treat them with kindness and respect. Sometimes when we go to events to promote our courses, we take Geri with us in a wheelchair, and tell enquirers about her life story and how she feels about being old and frail. Often school kids find her fascinating - she has often had her photo taken and has ended up in several local school newsletters. When our students start their courses, we tell them that they have to be careful with the manikins, as they are worth $4000 (about 3 weeks wages for me after tax), but that I would much rather that they make their mistakes with, or drop, the manikin than a real live older frail person! We tell them that first they will practice on the manikin, then they might practice on one another, and only when we feel they are safe to "let loose on the rest of humanity" will we let them near a real older person.
As well as Geri and all her friends, we also bring real volunteers in to be involved in some assessments, particularly those around medication. There is a requirement here that at least part of the assessment for this Unit is done in the workplace, but obviously local aged care facilities wouldn't let outsiders give out their meds, so we use "real" older people who need help with (placebo) medications. The nursing staff prepare the volunteer by giving them a series of roles to play - they might be a person who is convinced that these aren't the right colour pills, or they may drop their pills, or maybe they will be unwell when the "nurse" comes to them. This gives the students a sense of how important it is to get their work "right". It is a huge amount of prep for the staff, but invaluable. The volunteers are often tired by the end of the day, but they seem to have fun too!
I think that is a very good idea to have a dummy for this kind of "work". But what is more important is that the students get oppertunity to lay in bed themeselves, to feel what the patient feels when we move theme or pick them up. It gives us reason to think before we do our move..
Is this an example of the typical Swedish man?
ReplyDelete:-)
DeleteWe have similar "volunteers" in Nowra, NSW. They are a little different, being designed to look specifically like an older person (wrinkles, grey hair etc).
ReplyDeleteOur first one was called "Geri" - short for "geriatric", and as we can change Geri's anatomy around, we can present Geri as "Geraldine" or "Gerald". Unfortunately, Geri is now quite old and sometimes his private parts fall off. :)
The second one we were given, we called "Betty" after our cleaner, and since then we have named each one after people who have been important in the development of our facilities. This personalises them a little more for the students, who are expected to always treat them with kindness and respect.
Sometimes when we go to events to promote our courses, we take Geri with us in a wheelchair, and tell enquirers about her life story and how she feels about being old and frail. Often school kids find her fascinating - she has often had her photo taken and has ended up in several local school newsletters.
When our students start their courses, we tell them that they have to be careful with the manikins, as they are worth $4000 (about 3 weeks wages for me after tax), but that I would much rather that they make their mistakes with, or drop, the manikin than a real live older frail person! We tell them that first they will practice on the manikin, then they might practice on one another, and only when we feel they are safe to "let loose on the rest of humanity" will we let them near a real older person.
As well as Geri and all her friends, we also bring real volunteers in to be involved in some assessments, particularly those around medication. There is a requirement here that at least part of the assessment for this Unit is done in the workplace, but obviously local aged care facilities wouldn't let outsiders give out their meds, so we use "real" older people who need help with (placebo) medications. The nursing staff prepare the volunteer by giving them a series of roles to play - they might be a person who is convinced that these aren't the right colour pills, or they may drop their pills, or maybe they will be unwell when the "nurse" comes to them. This gives the students a sense of how important it is to get their work "right". It is a huge amount of prep for the staff, but invaluable. The volunteers are often tired by the end of the day, but they seem to have fun too!
We also have designed "volunteers", one of them is dark skinned. We can also change between male and female.
ReplyDeleteHi Miriam! What else can you use the "friendly volunteer for? What situation can you simulate?
ReplyDeleteI think that is a very good idea to have a dummy for this kind of "work". But what is more important is that the students get oppertunity to lay in bed themeselves, to feel what the patient feels when we move theme or pick them up. It gives us reason to think before we do our move..
ReplyDelete