However the house’s dynamics have changed dramatically in this time too, we now support some younger people who are very articulate and have strong personalities and amongst all the noise and requests for support it’s easy to forget the person who seeks out a quiet corner to sit in.
I want to tell you about last Saturday when Tony, a Support Worker at Surrey Court, helped out by covering a late
shift.
Whilst putting away washing I heard John coughing; he has been unwell with a chest infection. As I headed towards the lounge to see if John needed assistance I was surprised to hear John laughing!
I went to the lounge doorway and for about ten minutes I watched what I thought was the most amazing interaction I had ever seen John have! Tony was sat next to John on the sofa; Tony was rubbing John’s back and talking very quietly into John’s ear. I could hear that Tony was reassuring John and chatting about having a cold; he was telling John that sometimes having your back rubbed helped to ease your chest and may stop the coughing for a while. As I watched, John took hold of Tony’s hand and held it up to the side of his face. John was more animated than I have ever seen him, he was laughing and making verbalisations as Tony continued to gently rub his back and talk to him.
I left as I didn’t want to ruin the moment, but I could hear John and Tony communicating with each other for about another five minutes.
When I could no longer hear John I went back to tell Tony what a wonderful job I had seen him doing, but John had fallen asleep on Tony’s shoulder and stayed asleep still holding Tony’s hand for over half an hour.
Natalie Kitcher
Head of Service, Hampshire