Christina Bennett Blog 3 3/15

Today was…interesting?  We visited a psychiatric hospital that I believe was in Las Tablas.  Edy and Gisela were the two extraordinary nurses that assisted us that day.  It was first opened in 1971 and is a government-run facility.  A new hospital is under construction next door and it seemed as if the current hospital had been neglected for years.  I felt like I was stepping to into the scene of a horror film.  The nurses all still where the traditional nurses cap and nurses orthopedic shoes.  The walls were a faded mint green and peeling.  Padlocked iron gates were left open.  Naked patients attempted to climb the fences.  Screeches, howls, incoherent babbling, and uncontrollable fits of laughter and crying echoed through the halls. 

The facility had an acute intake area, and four long-term resident wings separated by padlocked iron gates.  The patients were separated by sex and level of chronicity or acuity of their disease.  Several male patients were in their own area because they prefer to be naked and urinate or defecate on themselves.  The patients on the male units seemed withdrawn, sullen, forgotten.  Although, one gregarious patient had several of us fooled into thinking he was a representative of the hospital.  The women, on the other hand, were a much livelier bunch.  One grabbed Scott’s face with a wrestling sleeper hold death grip and planted a juicy kiss on his cheek.

We had planned several activities with the patients based on ones we had successfully completed with our patients in the U.S. during out Psych clinical last semester, but it was apparent early on that the patients at this facility lacked the capacity to participate fully.  We modified our exercise routine, ball toss exercise and art therapy activities.  We then improvised with impromptu makeovers and manicures!  The women’s wing had a beauty room with donated make up where they have a hairstylist cut the patients’ hair once a month.  There was such a remarkable difference in the attitudes of the women once we gave them their makeovers.  There moods were lightened and they all started walking around with their heads held higher.  One woman changed her outfit to a nice blouse and skirt.  We then invited the men over and had a dance party!

I was surprised by level of freedom afforded to the patients.  Males and females, acute and chronic patients were free to roam about through the seemingly secure areas.  They have occupational therapists that come for an hour a day, Monday through Friday to help rehabilitate them, although most patients will live at the hospital for the remainder of their lives.  Most of these patients’ families abandoned them years ago and they are now wards of the state.  The nurses have become their family.

For those of you that want to help, these patients need sheets, towels, linens, and personal hygiene items.