CARE WORKER:
[00:00:00] Hiraeth for the Welsh person is so dreadfully important, and – how can I say – the importance of talking to somebody about perhaps where they lived.
[00:00:14] They’ve probably lived in that house for so many year and if there are photos in their room, get to talk to them about it and what their home was like.
[00:00:25] Their garden, did they like their garden? Flowers?
[00:00:29] Every little thing like that.
[00:00:32] But hiraeth is dreadful.
[00:00:34] The importance of the Welsh language can’t be under estimated.
[00:00:39] When you start to speak Welsh to somebody, they instantly make a rapport with you.
[00:00:48] They open up, things are far, far easier
[00:00:51] I’ve worked with other carers who are English speaking and the person that you’re supporting and helping will, you instinctively know when somebody speaks Welsh.
[00:01:08] You can get on far easier.
[00:01:11] Things are so much easier when you know somebody does speak Welsh.
[00:01:17] There’s an instant rapport and things are much, much easier.
[00:01:21] Things are so closer, it’s like a big family, it’s like a big Welsh family and that can’t be under estimated.
[00:01:30] Offering choices is extremely important to somebody and getting to find out the way that somebody, how can I say, took their tea –
[00:01:40] Did they take sugar, “Llaeth neu siwgr yn eich te?” which means do you take sugar or tea, sugar or milk in your tea?
[00:01:48] “Pa mor gryf? How strong do you like it?
[00:01:52] A choice of meals, lots of different little things,
[00:02:02] “Beth y’ch chi’n mo’yn wisgo y tro ’ma?” What do they like to wear that morning, that’s appropriate, that’s appropriate to the weather conditions.
[00:02:12] And always offering, perhaps go to the wardrobe, I’m thinking “What about this?” Offering choices, “Dewis, dewis am beth mae’n mo’yn wisgo”.
[00:02:23] That is a choice in what you want to wear, even if you hang them up and show the person so that they can point “Yes, that would be a nice outfit”.