Page Section: Centre Content Column
Mental health
Need for more independence + answers to questions
mental health residential care ~ right 3 ~ dignity &
independence ~ right 6 ~ fully informed
A consumer living in a mental health residential care facility rang
and requested an advocate visit with them as they did not like
speaking on the phone and wanted to discuss their concerns in
private.
The consumer told the advocate it was difficult to
communicate with staff and hard to explain what was bothering them.
The consumer liked living here but felt that they had little
control over how they lived.
The main concern for the consumer was not wanting to have a shower
everyday. They thought every second day would be better for them.
They also didn't understand why they had been banned from one
of the living areas, and wanted to discuss the medications they
were being given. The advocate discussed with the consumer
the different options to communicate these concerns to staff. The
consumer decided to meet and talk with the Nurse Manager,
with advocate support. The advocate suggested seeing if the
Nurse Manager was available while the advocate was visiting to
which the consumer agreed.
The Nurse Manager met with the consumer with the advocate's
support. There was agreement that the consumer could shower every
second day and this was noted on the consumer's file. The
Nurse Manager explained to the consumer why they could not go to
the other living room and the consumer accepted the explanation.
The consumer's medication was explained and a suggestion made that
at the next doctor's appointment they could be reviewed. The
consumer thought this was a good idea. The consumer was happy with
the outcome and the support of the advocate.
Need for more independence and answers to
questions
Mental health residential care ~ Right 3 ~ Dignity &
independence ~ Right 6 ~ Fully informed
A consumer living in a mental health residential care facility
rang and requested an advocate visit with them as they did not like
speaking on the phone and wanted to discuss their concerns in
private.
The consumer told the advocate it was difficult to communicate
with staff and hard to explain what was bothering them. The
consumer liked living there but felt that they had little control
over how they lived.
The main concern for the consumer was not wanting to have a
shower every day. They thought every second day would be better for
them. They also didn't understand why they had been banned from one
of the living areas, and wanted to discuss the medications they
were being given. The advocate and consumer discussed the options
for communicating these concerns to staff. The consumer decided
to meet and talk with the Nurse Manager, with advocate
support. The advocate suggested seeing if the Nurse Manager
was available while the advocate was visiting, to which the
consumer agreed.
The Nurse Manager met with the consumer with the advocate's
support. There was agreement that the consumer could shower every
second day and this was noted on the consumer's file. The Nurse
Manager explained to the consumer why they could not go to the
other living room and the consumer accepted the explanation. The
consumer's medication was explained and a suggestion made that at
the next doctor's appointment they could be reviewed. The
consumer thought this was a good idea. The consumer was happy with
the outcome and the support of the advocate.