Awet Belay Woldegeorges

Alopecia has a physical and psychological impact. People with alopecia experience depression, low self-esteem, anxiety disorders, social phobia and paranoid disorder (Hunt and McHale, 2005). In addition, Mrs Jones left her loved home as a result of her dementia and lives in a nursing home. However, it can be argued that Sarah failed to recognise the impact of both of these things on Mrs Jones’s daily life.

The role of Sarah is to care for Mrs Jones’s wellbeing with dignity and respect by looking at Mrs Jones as a whole. Dignity is also about upholding Mrs Jones’s wishes and rights. Mrs Jones needed some help as all of us will one day, but Sarah should be reminded that Mrs Jones was once as young as her. Therefore, because Mrs Jones has lost some independence and relies on care, this does not mean that Sarah has the right to deny Mrs Jones’s rights, choices, preferences and beliefs.

I have worked in nursing homes for several years. I never deny my residents’ wishes even if sometimes these decisions sound unwise. The Mental Capacity Act (2005) recognises that a person should not be discriminated against because of age or appearance, a condition of his, or an aspect of his behaviour, which might lead others to make unjustified assumptions about his capacity. I have always thought that we can learn from our eldery and frail residents. These actions that seem nothing to Sarah, for Mrs Jones may mean the world.

People expect to be treated with dignity and as a person because despite their dementia or alopecia, they are still them inside. It was also clearly highlighted in the ‘This is me’ document what Mrs Jones wishes and what made her happy was to go to church. Thus Sarah should have been beside Mrs Jones to empower her to make decisions rather than arguing and upsetting her. It is essential to involve families with Mrs Jones care, however Sarah’s assumptions should have never impacted on Mrs Jones’s wishes. Sarah should have protected Mrs Jones’s wishes rather prioritising Mrs Jones’s daughter’s feelings. What about Mrs Jones’s feeling then?

To conclude, Sarah should reflect that Mrs Jones was content and cheerful with her care. However, making assumptions against Mrs Jones’s wishes made her lose the therapeutic relationship that had developed with Mrs Jones. Thus, mutual respect is

essential because every human being deserves a dignifying care which should never make people feel undervalued.