Pauline

Pauline cares for her partner who has Alzheimer’s. Her partner also suffers from arthritis and lower back pain. They live in their home and Pauline helps with many activities including personal care (i.e. washing).

Needs Current Approaches Used by Pauline Alternate Suggestions  What Could Be Created?
1. Pauline’s partner needs assistance with personal care, specifically washing. This causes Pauline a lot of anxiety as it is time consuming and needs to be broken down into small steps. Currently Pauline has to physically stand in the shower with her partner to provide a steady base.
2. Her partner has a bath chair but cannot use it as it is uncomfortable.  
3. Pauline’s partner needs assistance with personal care, specifically dressing. This causes Pauline a lot of anxiety as it is time consuming and needs to be broken down into small steps.  
 4. Pauline needs help finding seating that provides good back support for her partner, her partner’s lazy boy chair in particular does not provide adequate back support.  
5. Pauline is concerned about her partner’s nutritional intake. She is continuously reminding her partner to eat and her partner’s interest in food has changed.  
6. Pauline needs help coping when her partner gets agitated. Pauline tries to identify triggers for her partner but struggles with what to do once her partner has become agitated. 
7. Pauline needs help keeping her partner from wandering outside. She tries to distract her partner from wanting to go outside but this doesn’t always work. Pauline is aware of doormats that trigger an alarm when they are walked on (but she doesn’t think this will work well as it will become annoying as every person walks over it). She is also aware of door bells that would go off when the door is opened but neither of these were appealing to her. She has also considered putting a lock on the inside but didn’t think that would work well.
8. Pauline wants better access to LGTBQ support for seniors, she is concerned about how her partner will be treated if she has to go into residential care.