As soon as the nurses went in there to do their chores, the old ladies would make their worst. Left alone, they were quite quiet.
The rest of the patients in this ward were quiet, nice, some very old, some senile, some confused, yes, but not agitated to the degree that this woman showed off! The nurses managed to do their job well and quietly in all the ward - just not in this room, with this woman! (To say the least - she disliked them and they disliked her!)
This puzzled me. One day I went to the room alone. I found the women half asleep in their beds - they were old! - How could a woman of this age possibly fight off a whole bunch of nurses, (leaving her some days no more than half-dressed) and manage to hurt them too?!
As the woman woke up and saw me, she immediately gave me a hostile glance. She didn't hit at me, but she was READY.
I introduced myself and asked her if I could talk to her for a minute. She nodded, distrust in her eyes. Where would I start?
-I saw what happened this morning, I said. I understand you dislike the morning routine? She nodded again, a little less on the defence, someone suddenly telling her something that she could agree with.
That had not happened for a long time.
We talked a little, and then she told me that she wouldn't let the nurses near her, because they would brush her teeth, and that hurt her.
I asked if she would show me where it hurt, and she immediately opened her mouth. Usually she would refuse that vigorously.
-You have a gum infection, I explained to her. No wonder it hurts! Now, the trouble is, if you don' brush your teeth, it will get worse and hurt more. If you let me brush your teeth, it will pass in a week. (Which was the truth.) Would you let me do it? I promise I'll be careful. She gave the nod, out came the toothbrush and paste, and to work we went! -Hold my hand, and if it hurts too much, you squeeze it! I said. I'll stop immediately. This she agreed to.
After this she would let the nurses wash her and dress her, but only I was to brush her teeth. Happy end!
What about the "crazy" woman, then? She was still silent, murmuring to herself and not answering any attemts to conversation from the nurses.
Her angry eyes were enough to scare anyone off - wrestlers, soldiers and state prisoners included! - No need to fight there! Her look was enough... No exaggerations! - Well...
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