PlayMonday –
Role reversal
Today our
Health Unit woke up in a different way…
It woke up all reversed. The staff changed their “uniforms and roles”
among themselves, spreading confusion and doubt between the clients and some
collaborators that weren’t aware of the theme.
Everything
began when unexpectedly our Social Worker and our Speech Therapist entered in a
client’s room, dressed as auxiliaries, with the objective of waking her up and
start the hygiene. The client, surprised with the “new auxiliaries”, stretched
many times, questioning if it was a dream or reality, until she joined the play
with a big smile.
But it didn’t
end up here…In the cafeteria, we had the Psychomotor Rehabilitation Technician and one of our Physiotherapists, dressed and designated as Auxiliary and Socio-Cultural Instructor, waiting for our clients to serve them the breakfast . Surprised faces, comments like “the models are swapped” were said by many clients.
In
the Physiotherapy gym, appeared 3 different Physiotherapists… the Psychologist,
a Auxiliary and the Technical Director. In the Occupational Therapy and Psychomotor
Rehabilitation Therapy room we had an Auxiliary and the
gardener doing their appropriate interventions with the appropriate
equipment. Many doubts arose, like “Did
you changed jobs?”, “Here?”, “the uniform suits you!”. Still with some surprise
because of this role reversal, the clients participated actively in the
activity, following their routines, helping the inexperienced collaborators. In
the Speech Therapy room, we had the Occupational Therapist leading off a
session with a client. It entered the room and despite the doubtful expression,
the client participated in the intervention.
In
the recreation room cleaning we asked the collaboration of the Nurse and the
Physiotherapy auxiliary, to substitute the usual cleaning auxiliaries. Many
laughs were heard and funny comments as well.
To finish, a
new client was admitted… No more, no less than our Physiotherapist, in a
wheelchair and with everything that it was on her rights: nasogastric tube
(simulation), restrains and hospital clothes. Accompanied by the Doctor, role
that was played by the Occupational Therapist. There was a mix of emotions…
Sorrow, angst, shock, however, after the initial reaction, the clients ended up
laughing!
And everything
changed and laughs in that room reigned !
Another
dynamic that surprised our clients and it was delightful for us as technicians.
