Martha

Think about how the human rights based approach you are applying in the case studies could help you in your daily life.

Scenario 1: Martha

Martha is a lady in her late 70s and has Alzheimer’s. She used to be a very active individual and had a particular love of dancing. Nowadays she has difficulty walking and spends a lot of her time at home where she is supported by close friends and relatives as well as care workers. She used to be a dance teacher and many visitors who come to see her are her ex-pupils.

One of these visitors, Susan, notices that Martha is somewhat distressed. Susan asks her what is wrong and Martha is unable to tell her. It is then that Susan notices that there are some bruises on Martha’s legs. She asks one of the care workers what had happened. The staff member tells Susan that normally when Martha is moved from her bed to a chair in the sitting room a wheelchair is used and that normally transit straps are used to stop Martha from falling. The worker says that Martha doesn’t like the straps and earlier in the day she had refused to allow the straps to be used. Unfortunately, when being moved Martha had had a slight tumble and had bruised herself as a result.

Susan attempts to say to the care worker that it is in Martha’s own best interest to have the straps there when she is being moved, even if she does not want them. But she gets the distinct impression that as she is not a relative she is not being listened to.

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