Hiya,

From my other experiences a lot don't & few do. I think it depends what type of person the carer is; you either want to do it or not, & if you don't you shouldn't. If you join up & decide it's not for you, leave ASAP.

I think it's very short-staffed here, but they're too tight to pay for more. My mum says that people in care homes are becoming more disabled. She's right.

I often think a "model resident" means one that doesn't make any requests at all so the carers don't have to do anything. I try not to use the necklace unless there's something I need.

Luckily I can occupy myself & be happy w/ or w/o people around me; people here can't change TV channels or even have a cup of tea, which would kill me – not being able to make it was/is bad enough. The friend I dragged to Steeleye struggles to talk but he picks stuff up for me/squeezes my hand if i'm spasming, so I get him to sign what he needs. Staff ask me what he's saying.

There's a lady who works here who also loves folklore/magick etc. I was spasming one day & she says "may the Goddess protect you" – when she said the word Goddess he looked at me & slurred "Maddy Prior"♥ (ahh)

There's one man here who's 42 but he's got a very low mental age. He's obsessed with what the time is (I'm number dyslexic), wears 2 watches – 1 on each wrist – & tells everyone that they both look different. His music taste is brilliant ('50s rock & roll), he's polite to the point of it being a bit creepy, & sees everyone as a friend. His obsession can drive you mad, but the world would be a better place if there were more like him.