Advantage of Diversion
ENTERTAINING THE PATLEXT.—One important need of patients, whether acutely or chronically ill, is diversion. This helps to pass time and keep up the spirits. During severe ill¬ness there is such a depressed or abnormal condition of the body and the mind that attempts at diversion will meet with no response and will result in positive injury. But during convalescence, especially during protracted or chronic illness, diversions are definitely helpful.
If such patients are allowed to make themselves useful, either in their own care or other¬wise, they will feel less helpless than when waited on “hand and foot” and will gain more rapidly—provided, of course, these small things are within their capacity. Xothing is better for the mentality and morale than having the hands occupied at something that requires moderate mental concentration. Each patient will have to be treated in this matter according to his own peculiarities and conditions; but patient and nurse working together can usually devise some interesting and not only harmless but beneficial program.
One must, of course, be careful not to allow a patient to overdo in anything undertaken. Normal convalescence is steady, even though, at times, it may be slow: but there should be no sliding back, no loss of improvement made. If the pa¬tient’s small activities cause weariness there will be irritability and depression, bence discouragement. A mistake often made is to endeavor to entertain a patient, or keep hiin occupied, practically all his waking hours. There should be many hours every day when his time is his own, to relax and day-dream, to plan for the future, to sleep or to occupy himself in any other way he chooses.
There are times during acute illness when visitors cannot be allowed, even members of the immediate family. But when his condition i*ffl permit, visitors, bringing in some fresh con¬tact with the outside world, may be of much benefit to the patient. But such visits must be refreshing1, brightening and encouraging, comforting and reposeful, or they will tire and irritate the patient and retard his progress. A visitor is help¬ful if he or she is cheerful and does most of the entertaining without dominating the scene. The patient should not feel under any obligation to entertain the visitor. If any such effort is made the call will be detrimental.