Reflective Account

On night shift, I heard the call bell ringing I made my way up the stairs to M's room. I removed the key from the hook then knocked on the door and waited for a reply. M's shouted "come in." So I unlocked the door and entered. I knocked on the door to conform to the National Care Standards (NCS) Standard 16.2, "You know that staff will knock on your bedroom, toilet and bathroom doors and wait for you to say that they can come in." and to respect M's private space. I know from M's care plan, and from assisting her prior to this that she has poor eyesight and hearing difficulties. So after I had closed the door, I said in   loud clear voice "Hello it's Michelle", She replied "Who is it?" I walked over to M's bed and sat down beside her and repeated myself, also using positive body language. I made sure M had my full attention and was making it clear that I was listening to her, also treating her as an individual, adhering to Scottish Social Services Council codes of practice 1.1 "Treating each person as an individual."As this was through the night, M.B did not have her hearing aids in, and she does not like putting them in through the night, so I had to adapt more to her situation, so that she could hear me and she knew I was listening. This was the way M wished to communicate with me, so I adapted to the situation as this was her choice. She said "Oh hello Michelle, can you help me to the toilet?" I replied "Of course I can help you, can you stand up for me in your own time." I encouraged M to put her slippers on   and to use her trolley walker to walk to the toilet.

When M was on the toilet, I knelt down beside M and asked her in a loud clear voice "Would you like a minute?" She replied, "Oh, no please don't leave me." So I reassured her I would stay until she was finished on the toilet. When M was finished on the toilet she managed to do her own personal care and stood up and started walking to her bed but she stopped and her legs had gave way and she slid down...