occupations of a patient

I'm an occupational therapist, and it's my job -- by definition -- to be a master of assessing what people do and how they do it.  I think I might be on to a regular blog-post topic, but today I picked one specific occupation to evaluate...

Sometimes occupations are cool/interesting/unique things, like basket weaving, or cooking, or being a teacher, or being a grandma, or playing a board game, or lifting weights... the list goes on.

But sometimes, occupations are not so glamorous or fascinating... Yet, necessary.  Things like cleaning the house, or being able to get up on your own, or flossing your teeth, or walking with a walker, or of course one of my personal favorites... going to the bathroom.

I help people go to the bathroom all day long!  But more importantly, I help them help themselves.  Even more importantly, I eventually get to the point where I don't help them at all!  And even though it's not as glamorous as returning to playing golf or getting back to driving, it is pretty dang important.  Nearly all of my patients (I work in assisted living, skilled nursing, long term care) have a toileting or incontinence-related goal.

Remember when we were little and we needed a grown-up to take us to the restroom?  Then, in school, we would have to raise a hand and ask permission and take a hall pass.  Wen we got to college, it was amazing when we were told, "feel free to excuse yourself..."  Some people refuse to use the bathroom in public for various reasons... for other people, going to the bathroom in groups is a ritual.  Some of my grad school friends would always go into big stall together at the bars... but for whatever reason I just could never get comfortable with sharing that personal moment with someone else.  Personally, sometimes I go to the bathroom just to sit down and take a break.

At some point, many of us will return back to the days of not only having to ask permission (by way of a call bell...or yelling...or maybe it's already too late), but then having to wait for that permission to be acknowledged, then have one of several options happen after a stranger enters the room: A) she comes in and help you out of bed and to the toilet, pulls your pants down as quickly as possible... and helps you get cleaned up after... Hopefully while being as polite and respectful as possible;  B) she comes in and helps you roll over in bed to place a really big pink bucket under your butt, then walks away, and you wonder if she'll ever come back;  or C) it's already too late.  She comes in and helps you get cleaned up.

And while either A/B/C are occurring, your new intimate companion may or may not be pleasant and polite and respectful; the water may or may not be warm; multiple people may or may not enter your room without regard to your privacy; and any one of these participants may or may not be having separate conversations (on a phone/walkie-talkie/yelling out the door) that may or may not have anything to do with you.

My dear medical friends, the next time you go to the bathroom, cherish the privacy and quiet and respect that comes with a closed door.  And the next time you decide not to knock on a patient's door, just remember the sacredness of that personal, private moment.  :)

We all do it... some people just need a chaperone.  They still deserve to have a little moment to themselves (if they want!).

If you came from Medical Mondays, thanks so much for stopping by and reading my post! :)