I just wanted to share a little story with you about a patient I had recently. I met a man this week in the claudication clinic I was running with my supervisor. He’s an 87 year old man who doesn’t look a day over 65… literally. He’s the most genuine patient I have ever met. Always friendly and keen to do his exercises, and has his wife there every session to watch and cheer him on as he does his treadmill and bike tests.
This week we had an 86 year old woman join the clinic who is very shy and was a little anxious about starting the class with a group full of already established participants. Before starting the class she mentioned to me that she wasn’t sure she could do it since she felt “too old”. I managed to talk her into it and yesterday she showed up in her “tai-chi” exercise clothes complete with a jewel encrusted name badge and ready to exercise. Very cute.
I introduced her to the class on her arrival, and I could tell she was nervous. It reminded me a lot of anytime I start a new venture (for instance a new physio placement). The gentleman in our class took to her immediately and made her feel right at home. By the end of the class she was power walking and cycling like a pro!
At the end of the class she thanked me for introducing her to her “new physio friends, especially that nice young man and his wife”. When I told her she was a year younger than him, she couldn’t believe it. She said to me “I guess I’m not too old after all!”
It made me realize that despite your age there will always be times in your life when you have to start something new that might not initially be within your comfort zone. I know that in a few weeks it will be very overwhelming to start work as a physio new grad, but everyone has been there at one stage or another. This weeks claudication class just reaffirmed how important it is to take the time to help someone who is new get settled in (be it a patient new to physio, or those who start work after you do).
I honestly believe that had it not been for this gentleman, despite all my advice and encouragement my patient would probably not have returned to physio. But because someone in her position (experiencing claudication pain) and her own age showed her she is capable of doing it, she has developed some much needed confidence.
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Great post Meg, I think is very good that you picked on the fact that this lady required aliitle more TLC than your average participant. Your right, people might have to do something that is out of their comfort at any time through out their lives...even at 86!!I think all too often we avoid doing things that take us out of our comfort zone, and this is a shame. Imagion if every person did one thing, no matter how small, every week that took them out of their comfort zone. I think we would suprise ourselves, life would be more interesting. Just imagion looking back after 50 years, there would be so many experiences/memories that staying in your comfort zone would have never lead to....something to think about ;)
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