4.3 - Use of the life story in practice

Case description 1 "I'm going home to my mother!" 

Greta is restless and anxious. She walks back and forth in the corridor of her accommodation. Greta says repeatedly that she wants to go home to her mother, she must do her duty and help her. Greta shouts and knocks on the front door trying to get out, and sometimes she gets completely desperate when it is not possible. She has put on her coat and shoes - she is going home at all costs. Greta becomes aggressive and kicks out. She tells the staff to open the locked door, because she cannot be here, her mother is waiting and besides, she does not want to stay here among all the strange people who are always staring at her. This behaviour is repeated almost daily, every afternoon.   

To discuss:  

1. What can you do about the situation?  

2. What do you know about Greta's mother through the life story? And how can you use that knowledge in this particular situation?  

3. In what other ways can you use the life story in this situation?

4. What solutions do you see in the short term, i.e. what would you do to calm Greta here and now? 

5. What solutions would you suggest in the long term to make Greta feel better in the long run?  

6. What does the law say about locking up people with dementia? 

 



A lifestory document and use of it in practice Case description 1 "I´m going home to my mother!" Specialisation of Case description 1 Case description 2 "Shower refusal" Specialisation of Case description 2

Back to the unit