Philip Y. Kao PhD thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText

their showers and skin-checks. The laundry department has been known to lose people’s
laundry from time to time, but in this case, Mary’s family who visit her once every two
weeks, were annoyed that they had to purchase yet another set of bed linens. Sylvia
failed to mention to me that Mary’s family wanted to do her laundry exclusively.
Additionally, Mary is uncomfortable with male caregivers giving her showers, and so one
day Diane decided to do me the favour of giving Mary a shower. In order to make the
division of labour somewhat more fair, I decided to change Mary’s bed sheets and towels
while Diane was giving Mary a shower. I wrapped up the used linens, and placed a
laundry slip in the bag, sending it off to the laundry department in the basement. Mary’s
sheets did not surface from the laundry department the following week. Shortly
thereafter, Sylvia took out her aggression on Diane, by going straight upstairs to the
nurse’s office, which resulted in Diane having to leave her residents unattended for
thirty minutes so that she could try and track down the missing sheets. Sylvia also
blamed me for losing the sheets.
Meanwhile, another part-time caregiver named Chloe wanted to change her work
schedule from the morning to the afternoon shift. As a result, she moved to the third
floor from the first. On one particular Thursday, I briefed Chloe on everything that had
happened during my shift. As was customary, I went through the showers I had given,
and reminded Chloe of residents who had any outstanding doctor’s and beauty salon
appointments. I also mentioned that Jean, a recent resident, along with Judy were more
or less independent and that aside from reminding them when certain activities and
meals times were taking place, that they didn’t require anything special. I explained to
Chloe that this is what Sylvia told me when she was going over her residents with me.
I came to find out over the weekend that Chloe had actually texted Sylvia, disclosing to
her that I said that Jean and Judy were independent, and that we didn’t need to do
anything for them. Later on, I talked to Chloe about what she had texted. Likewise, I
spoke to Sylvia explaining the situation. I reminded her that when I wanted to help Jean
with her walker, Sylvia barked at me and said, “What are you doing? She is capable.”
Apparently I had meddled with her resident. I said, “Well since Jean’s recent episode,
isn’t she a fall risk?” Sylvia said, “No, she’s independent.” So I calmly walked away.
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