Dear LPG

I find myself with a comment that I feel the need to make.

One day not so long ago, I visited the offices of an organisation dedicated to caring for older people. I met their office administrator; a young girl who looked in her early twenties.  We talked a little and I found out that she was English born and bred and she appeared fairly well educated and we then focused on the details of the service that I was looking for from her organisation.   During our conversation I use the word ‘incontinent’ and I was really surprised to learn that she did not know what I meant.   At first I gasped with surprise but then I thought she was joking, only to find out that she was deadly serious.  Alas, she had no idea.  I thought “what planet are you on?”,  She worked with the elderly so that’s why I expected her to know.

I explained in succinct language:  someone who cannot control their bladder or indeed their bowels.  I explained that it was not a pretty sight or smell and it was generally associated with the elderly or women after giving birth.

I’m very often left speechless but on this occasion I was, and I came to the conclusion that there are too many university- educated administrators and managers these days that have serious gaps in the knowledge  and experience about the fundamentals of the service the organisations they work for offer.

Gloria Brown