Patricia Donaldson phoned this morning, regarding my complaint from the weekend. An interesting conversation, given that I think we are poles apart on what we consider proper care for the elderly.
To begin with, the policy at Beacon is that they will attempt to contact a ‘client‘ [I really hate that word, it should be PATIENT] if the worker is going to be more than 60 minutes late in arriving. Operative word is “attempt” as it would seem they are not obligated to, and that VIHA is just fine with that.
You and I, may be able to shrug off a late time within minutes, but a person who is aged, who is like my mother, 93 years old, they don’t shrug these changes so easily. It gnaws at them, and is something for them to fixate on, and worry about.
Sunday’s scheduled worker was pulled and sent elsewhere, and had her time changed to show up at 9:30 rather than9:00 am. Not a big deal, but it is when an old person is sitting on the edge of their bed, waiting for them.
It alters their established routine, which is not easy for them to shake off. Since Sunday, Mom has wondered if the next day’s worker will also be late, and that has gone on now for two days. She worries throughout the day, which adds stress to her. AT 93 WHO NEEDS ADDED STRESS?
Of course, this added stress to her, adds stress to me too. I am the one who has to deal with it, to console her, to reassure her. It isn’t easy for me either, but the fact is, it does have a physical impact on Mother. AND THAT IS NOT RIGHT!
Seems to me that we should be more aware of the needs of the elderly, rather than what suits us. Maybe I am expecting too much from Government & the Private Sector, but I don’t really think so. I mean what is it, about not having compassion, about not wanting to care?
Shouldn’t those be goals we should ALL strive for?
I am starting to try and reach our elusive Government figures, because you know, what about those who have no one? I am here, and can cajole, can reassure Mom, but what about those elderly people who are in their beds, the door unlocked, waiting for their worker?
It isn’t like they can check the computer, as most don’t even know what one looks like, let alone how to run one. Many are unable due to arthritic hands, to operate a computer keyboard, so how are they supposed to know that their scheduled worker is coming a half hour late, or an hour?
So they will sit on the edge of their bed, listening to every creak, every noise, wondering if that is their worker arriving, or if it is some stranger coming to harm them? After all, their minds aren’t quite what it once was. Yet today, private enterprise seems to forget, that they are serving real people, not numbers. Government is forgetting that these people are the one’s who made this country, this province. They are forgetting, that one day, they too, will be sitting on the edge of their bed, wondering why no one has shown up to help them bathe, to get them out of bed, or worse… to give them their daily medications.
AM I EXPECTING TOO MUCH?