Death
Last night at work, a friend that I was quite attached to died. I am in the death business. No I am not a funeral director or a serial killer, I am an aged care nurse. People do not generally move into a nursing home to "get better". They are there to die. In the afternoons "sundowners syndrome" (increased confusion/agitation) often hits people with dementia, and inevitably I will be approached by a distressed resident. "Excuse me Love" they say, "How do I get out of here?". I won't give away too many of the answers that I give to such questions, as most of them involve dubious acting skills and questionable distraction techniques. The answer that most frequently pops into my head, is also the truthful answer "there is only one way out for you, and that is in a body bag". You will be happy to know this is also the answer that I do not verbalise! Having been an aged care nurse (by choice) for the last 7+ years I have seen a lot...