A reminder to check memory

As part of our work we quite often have to go into people’s homes when they’ve been taken into hospital or into a care home.

We nearly always find lists, shopping lists, to do lists, scripts for phone calls they need to make, things they need to remember.

Recently we were called by the local hospital as they had an elderly gentleman admitted who had no close family and no one to support him.  He had been admitted following a nasty fall. He was badly bruised and shaken up and was unable to tell them anything about himself. We explained to him about what we do and asked him if he would like us to help him, he confirmed he would and gave us his house keys so that we could get him some clothing and assess whether the property was safe for him to go home to.

We found the usual lists but this one will stay with me forever. A reminder to “check memory”. He had been trying to cope for so long with a failing memory. Lists upon lists, afraid to throw away anything in case it was needed, receipts, old bills, piles and piles of papers each one starting a “fresh” filing system.

It was heart breaking to see how he had been living. This is why I started Enable, so that people don’t have to live with the fear and confusion. To make lives better, to be a friendly voice, to Enable, the word sums it up so well.