Choose one of the scenarios below and watch part 1 of the film, you can choose from Shiela, Irene or Jimmy. Hover the image to show a summary of the video, click the image to start on the path of that scenario. Once the scenario has been completed you will return here to either move on using the 'next button' or try out a different scenario.
Sheila is a lady in her mid 70s who has recently been diagnosed with the early onset of dementia. Sheila is fascinated with plants and loved her garden. She now lives in a care home.
In this film we see Sheila looking outside at the sensory garden and struggling to try to open the door which leads out onto the garden. Mary, the support worker, assists Sheila back to her seat and tells her that it is not possible for Sheila to go out into the garden on her own and that dinner is nearly ready.
Mary reminds Sheila that her daughter was concerned that Sheila should not be allowed to go out unaided. Sheila gets increasingly frustrated and distressed at this. In a later scene we see the care staff discussing the incident and the ways in which they can handle the situation.
Irene lives at home. She has recently spent a period of time in hospital as a result of a urinary tract infection, and although she is now back at home she is increasingly weak and frail. When the infection was bad, she was very confused.
Irene is supported by her son, Alan. Alan has recently been made redundant and has not coped well with this additional pressure and we get the impression that he has been depressed, drinking a bit too much and smoking almost constantly. Irene gets on very well with her son, dotes on him.
Sadly, Irene’s condition deteriorates over time and the rate of this decline has become faster to the extent that she is now unable to move from her bedroom and requires assistance for all aspects of her life. She never leaves her bedroom and very rarely sees anyone other than the staff who come to support and care for her.
The film clip shows two workers who know Irene well sitting in their car chatting about Irene. It becomes clear that this is to be the last day that they are going to be working with Irene. They are concerned that she doesn’t know that this is the case and that she will be very upset when she learns this. The workers also spend some time talking about Alan, and express their concerns that he has gone downhill fast since he lost his job and that his mood has changed.
Jimmy lives in his local care home. He is in his 70s and although increasingly frail has a positive outlook and is very well liked and respected by other residents as well as by the staff who have a good supportive relationship with him.
Anne is Jimmy’s youngest daughter. She is a working mother in her mid 30s and cares a great deal about her father. She is often very stressed and agitated trying to balance seeing her father, her job, her partner and her children. She has a positive relationship with the staff. In the film clip we see Anne having a conversation with the manager of the care home.
Anne is concerned about her dad falling over when trying to get out of bed. Anne suggests that bed sides would help her father to be safe. In the next scene Anne is seen chatting to Jimmy’s care worker about her father’s diet. She reminds the worker that she had suggested a particular diet. Jimmy has his own ideas.
