You are currently browsing the Advocacy category
Displaying 7 - 12 of 73 entries.

Never Mind My Experience | They Know Better

  • Posted on December 22, 2011 at 8:05 pm
Share|

Let me ask a question for anyone who is reading this.

Who do you think knows the Patient better, and what she is capable of doing,  as well as to what her physical condition is.    The son who has been dealing with her for years, on a 24 hour seven day basis, or the casual worker who has dealt with her no more than a half dozen times over the last two and half years?

It has been nearly two hours since Edna left, and you know, I am still in a state of disbelief, and anger too.  I mean, honestly, I don’t understand some of these workers, who have experience, who may even have knowledge about things I know nothing about.  And yet, it would seem to me, that if you give them the routine, that they would at least try to follow it, instead of totally ignoring it.

Mom CANNOT WALK, at the moment.  Our family Doctor believes she had a stroke, but her ability to stand is still there.  However it is shaky at best, and she has pain in her legs.  Moving from a sitting position, to standing then turning to sit in a wheelchair is hard for her.

So Edna’s solution is to keep her in bed.    Yeah, let’s make her into a complete invalid, when not necessary.

Edna’s other solution is let us put the wheelchair in front of Mom, so there is a barrier between Mom and her, and have Mom get into the wheelchair that way,  ON HER OWN.    Uh yeah, let’s have Mom fall over and crack her head, or worse.

I mean when you explain things to her, she seems to listen, but then proceeds to ignore everything you said.  Like telling her to keep the standing to a minimum, and to insure that Mom has her legs under her, before she stands up.   I even showed her at the start, but no, Edna can’t remember that, because well, that just isn’t how it is done.

The whole purpose of seeking additional help in the afternoon, was to insure Mom had a change, and light wash in her private region.  Figured it would be better to have a female do it, and besides, Mom seemed reluctant to have her depends changed in the afternoon.

Whatever her reasons are, by having someone come in to do it, makes her get up, and helps keep her regular.  I mean the goal is to get her up, take her to sit on the commode, then do a depend change, fresh nightshirt, and a bit of a wash.   That was the plan, and well, it worked yesterday with Anjoli, worked with Mariana on Tuesday.    NOT WITH EDNA TODAY.

Sitting on the commode isn’t fun, so when I did it, I would leave the area, to give Mom some form of privacy. Besides who wants to go to the biffy, with someone watching?   Both Anjoli and Mariana instinctively went out of the room.   NOT EDNA.

Like who wants to have a poop or piddle, with someone in your face?   I mean while she puts a hand towel over Mom’s crotch, for some modesty, she kneels in front and natters at Mom, asking if she is done yet.   THATS COMFORT RIGHT EDNA?

I suppose I could go on, for just how wrong it all was, and how stressful it is.  But what is the use? It isn’t like either VIHA or BEACON COMMUNITY SERVICES give a rat’s ass about how these people treat their Patients.

All VIHA cares about is how much they supposedly save the taxpayer by contracting this important work out to some MAKE ME MONEY OUTFIT.

All BEACON COMMUNITY SERVICES care about is how much money they can make, so they can afford to pay their CEO A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.    Doesn’t matter if they hire workers who haven’t a clue on what to do, or who care.   As long as they show a profit, which is pretty neat trick, when you consider they are supposed to be a NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION.

 

 

 

Continue reading Never Mind My Experience | They Know Better »

Care to leave a comment?

And So It Begins with BCS

  • Posted on December 22, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Share|

There are a myriad of reasons why the Provincial Government needs to RESCIND the contract with Beacon Community Services.    For me, the biggest reason and one that should be the sole criteria is in the Care being provided for Seniors by Beacon Community Services.

It is dangerous when you send a worker who hasn’t a clue on what to do.

Beacon Community Services puts its Patients AT RISK, by sending personnel who arent familiar with what their duties are supposed to be.

On Tuesday I increased Mom’s service from one hour a day, to two hours.  Actually had the Social Worker do it on Monday, and it began on Tuesday.

So without even a phone call, workers were put in place.  No notice, which is okay I suppose, because hey I have Internet, and am in the habit (again) of checking the schedule.

What galls me, is that they send people, without even knowing what is required.  Honestly, how can any home support worker provide competent and relevant help, IF THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO!

Consider that if I wasn’t here.  Mom is not capable in detailing what is needed, or in being able to properly explain what is needed or what her condition is.  Not minor either, like being unable to walk, and being shaky and very unsteady when standing.  Requires assistance in standing, and add to that her brittle bone condition, it is dangerous to send someone in cold.

It is one thing to make cold calls to sell somethng, quite another when it is about helping someone who is 94 years of age.

And once again, before even a schedule can be set, we are playing WORKER ROULETTE.

Those on the list Tuesday, aren’t on the list today, and GOD only knows who will actually be on the list when it comes time to show up.

How do you not CALL the Patient, to ascertain exactly what the service is to be?  I mean as it stands now, she is down for a Shower in the morning, and hey, guess what, another at 3pm.   This for a lady who CAN NOT STAND UP ON HER OWN.     Oh that is really gonna be good, don’t you think?  Let’s make it so she can fall, crack her head, AND DIE.

IF ANYONE FROM VIHA IS READING THIS BLOG  ASK YOURSELF JUST HOW CAN YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT, KNOWING THAT SUB STANDARD CARE IS BEING GIVEN TO PEOPLE IN YOUR CARE.

There simply is no accountability anymore with any Government or Business.  Beacon Community Services is not a Non Profit organization, but a truly greedy business.  The level of competency is off the wall.  Yes, some are trained, able to complete their duties, but when you can’t even bother to let them know what they are to do, how can they be expected to do a good job?  How can they do the job well, if you are constantly moving them around and not letting them visit the same people all the time?

This is by design.   If workers were assigned to patients, on a regular basis, then the COMPANY would be shown at how many workers actually are NOT properly trained.  And that is why they do everything they can, to avoid assigning Patients to one single worker.

And that is what must be addressed, because as it stands now, this system of home support is really ASSISSTED MURDER.

Continue reading And So It Begins with BCS »

Care to leave a comment?

And You Are Who

  • Posted on November 6, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Share|
This entry is part 8 of 8 in the series Follow The Money

Perhaps a better title would be :  How To Avoid Repercussions for Sending Unqualified Workers.

On Friday, I got a phone call, telling me that Nerissa was replacing Yvette for Saturday. Quick check of the schedule showed yep, a Nerissa was coming.  Course in that phone call I was also informed that she would be showing up the coming Friday.

Now the worker showed up, and I assumed it was Nerissa, but hey, no badge was visible, and she never did introduce herself. Course, if she did not sure I’d be able to understand or comprehend the name, due to a language barrier.

Tonight, in checking the schedule, I find that Saturday’s worker was not Nerissa, but Rose.  Uh, excuse me?  Who in hell was, or is Rose?

It matters, because when one files a complaint with VIHA, you have to have the facts correct.  IF I claim that we had a Nerissa and VIHA contacts Beacon Community Services, they are going to say I am talking out of my hat, because they sent me a Rose, not a Nerissa.  CASE CLOSED AS I AM MADE TO LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT WHO CAN’T GET THE NAMES EVEN RIGHT.

There is another issue here.  You see, by constantly changing the worker and then updating the schedule, they create a sense of trepidation. Just because they phone one day, to say who is coming, doesn’t seem to mean that is who will show up.  It allows them to avoid being told  NO DO NOT SEND THAT PERSON.

Neat trick, but it is not going to work.  See, I AM NOT AFRAID TO SEND A WORKER HOME AND DO THE JOB MYSELF.

It is a sad state of affairs, that has to be the end result. I am not looking forward to Monday, because I expect an argument from the Beacon people, when I tell them don’t send me Nerissa or Rose. I am also going to insist that any future changes, be vetted through me, and if they aren’t willing to comply, they can send no one.  I am not going to have them get richer off the well being of my Mother.

She is 94, and ENTITLED to competent help.  Beacon Community Services has a hand full of good capable women working for them, but the majority are simply glorified housekeepers.  Yes, housekeepers, because 9 out of 10 times, they are more interested in whether to empty garbage, or put laundry in, or make up the bed, than in properly drying an old lady, or even in insuring that she is properly washed.

I will say that for the most part, we have gotten our regular workers, but that is more due to me bitching loud and hard, than out of doing the right thing.  Sure, once in awhile they have to send a substitute, and under the right conditions, that shouldn’t matter but we are talking about dealing with elderly people who have health issues.  They need COMPETENT help, not HOUSEKEEPERS.

WHOEVER was here Yesterday, was just that. She’d only been working at Beacon for a few years, but even then, that is not an excuse. I have been looking after Mother for 2 years and 4 months and I know how to do the job, better than 90% of the substitutes that have shown up here.  I didn’t take any course, I’ve learned it the hard way, by doing it.

Course the difference between them and me is that I GIVE A DAMN ABOUT MY MOTHER.  It is obvious to me, that these so called home support workers simply don’t give a shit about the people they are assigned to look after.  AND THAT IS A SHAME.

From cars, to computers, to phones, we are a disposable society. Everything produced today is not built to last beyond the warranty, and that has now become how our Health Care System works.   Only trouble is that there is no fixed warranty on people, but they are no longer a precious commodity for our society.

INSTEAD THE ELDERLY ARE JUST ONE MORE DISPOSABLE COMMODITY OF SOCIETY.

This is the real legacy of Isabel MacKenzie and Beacon Community Services, along with the Government of Gordon Campbell and Christy Clarke.    I wonder…

HOW DO THEY SLEEP AT NIGHT?

 

 

Continue reading And You Are Who »

Care to leave a comment?

Do NO Harm

  • Posted on November 5, 2011 at 9:21 am
Share|
This entry is part 24 of 24 in the series Quality of Life

Google has this philosophy, of Do No Evil, but you know, there is another motto that our Provincial Government, Vancouver Island Health Authority, and Beacon Community Services should adopt.

DO NO HARM

It really would make life simpler for Seniors and for their caregivers.  Today we had a very nice lady, Nerissa, who was here back in 2010.  Guess what Nerissa, OLD PEOPLE CHANGE RAPIDLY!.

  1. When people are going to someone’s home, it is fine to park in front of it, to use their driveway if they have one, to even park across the street.  But IT IS NOT OKAY to block off neighbours driveways, and think it doesn’t matter.
  2. Read the CARE PLAN BEFORE you show up. It might let you know that there is a dog on the premises, so walking in immediately after ringing the door bell IS NOT A SMART MOVE.
  3. If the dog doesn’t bite you, rest assured…  I WILL.
  4. Wear the provided for IDENTIFICATION BADGE.  Like you really think you impressed me enough a year ago, that I’ll remember your face?
  5. Introduce yourself, might be nice to let the people whose home you are entering, who you are, and so they too, can introduce themselves.
  6. Wait for the person who let you in, to show you the way,.
  7. ASK if there is anything new since the care plan was made up, or any special things they should know BEFORE they start pulling on people’s arms and getting them out of bed.

It is nice to come early, but in this case, I think I know why you are early.  Others couldn’t wait for you to leave. OH you are nice, smile a lot, say thank you a lot, but the quality of service provided will haunt me for several days now.  And that is assuming the regular workers all show up, as scheduled.

Here is the deal Beacon Community Services, Vancouver Island Health Authority.

  • We are people, not nameless numbers.
  • People you are caring for are elderly, frail, and fragile.
  • No two Seniors are alike, even if they have basically the same infirmaties, or ailments.
  • English speaking people cannot understand foreign languages. If workers are unable to fully communicate with the Patient, ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN.
  • OLD PEOPLE DO NOT MOVE FAST
  • You may have 50 minutes to accomplish your task, an old person doesn’t care about that. They simply do not move at your speed.  You need to move at THEIR SPEED.
  • Seniors are deathly afraid of falling, which is why they MOVE SLOWLY.
  • Commands from the brain DO NOT move as quickly to an old person’s limbs as they do for your or me.
  • Seniors are set in their ways.
  • They hold onto their routine, so YOU ADAPT TO THEM, not the other way around.
  • Old people are scared, they know they are facing death, DON’T RUSH THEM TO MEET IT.
  • Aged people are embarassed and afraid of losing their dignity, and independance, so let them do things THEIR WAY, so they can hold onto something.

Here is the deal.  The TAXPAYERS are the one’s shelling out over $37 an hour to Beacon Community Services, for home support.  As nice as Nerissa was, she was not capable of doing the simple job of giving a 94 year old a sponge bath.   She did not know how to properly support an old person that is shaky, and unsteady on her feet.

Through the Grace of GOD, Mom did not fall and crack her head, or worse, DIE.   When you send people who cannot communicate clearly, you are putting that PATIENT AT RISK.  Proper training is essential, but if the people being trained have limited understanding of English, are limited in their ability to issue clear and concise instructions, all the training in the world is useless.

Every PERSON is different, even if they have the same ailments, have the same basic needs.  When a caregiver is there, ASK THEM QUESTIONS so you can properly attend to the needs of the PATIENT ENTRUSTED INTO YOUR CARE.

Looking after an old person is not easy. I can attest to that, and yet I also know that the vast majority of issues in dealing with an old person, is simply common sense.  They are shaky, so you have to be on your toes, ready to steady them BEFORE THEY FALL.  You need to talk loudly, SO THEY CAN HEAR YOU.  You need to SPEAK CLEARLY so they can understand the instructions, directions.

But most of all, YOU NEED TO CARE ABOUT THEM.

 

Continue reading Do NO Harm »

Care to leave a comment?

Old People Deserve Better

  • Posted on September 25, 2011 at 9:35 am
Share|

A winning smile, a bubbly personality are all well and good, if you are selling cosmetics, or clothing, or even a car. It works if you are a waitress, or desk clerk at a Hotel, and it can HELP if you are a home support worker, but that is all it can do. 

Old people, are unique.  They have lived a bit, and yeah, they can be ornery, cranky even as they get older, but honestly that is from fear of the unknown. No matter how strong your faith in GOD is, the closer you are to those final days, the harder it is to believe.  So you wind up taking it out on those around you, it is human nature.

Yes Mom can be a handful, can make life exasperating even, and difficult, but you know what, she is entitled to. She is after all 94 and to be honest, I don’t see her making it to 95.  She is tired, of the pain, of the difficulties in just doing simple tasks like getting out of bed, of standing up to go to the bathroom.

She isn’t feeble, or stupid. She knows it is hard on those around her, but she keeps fighting, fearing when her last bit of independence goes, when she becomes bed ridden.  Even I, find myself thinking about that, and I am only 56 years old.  I see how it impacts me, and I know David won’t have the patience, or the strength to cope with what I am dealing with.  So yes, it weighs on a person’s mind a lot, so how must it feel to be 94, and in such a condition?

Sure, there are other old people who are in better shape, and most in worse shape, but the last thing they need, is unwarranted stress added to their already complicated life.  They have enough pain, enough tzuris ( Yiddish for troubles ) that additional burdens are just, well cruel.

Perhaps I have a different interpretation of what Home Support is about.  Maybe that is why I am so disgusted with Beacon Community Services, and the people who run it, along with VIHA ( Vancouver Island Health Authority ) who enable outfits like Beacon Community Services to not just exist, but actually thrive.

In about ten minutes from now, I have to take Mom to the bedroom, not for a change, but to redo what the worker that was here at 9am did, so that Mom is free from pain. So that she can sit and read her book, in comfort, and be clean too.

  • VIHA needs to stop giving contracts to private businesses, without having a proper check and balance system in place. They need to insure that those who are sent into people’s homes, are qualified in proper procedures on how to get an elderly patient up out of bed, and into a bathroom for a wash and dressing.  
  • VIHA needs to take charge, and to deny contracts, or revoke contracts, from firms who place profits above quality of service.

IF you want to be in Home Care, then you need to hire staff that is qualified to do the task assigned. That means actually knowing what you are supposed to do for a Patient, BEFORE YOU ARRIVE AT THEIR DOOR.

I do this 24/7 and perhaps I am too picky, as has been mentioned to me from BCS, but hey, guess what, this is my Mother.  She is 94 and is ENTITLED to be given some consideration.  She is ENTITLED to be cared for, with respect, and with competent care.

Home Support, to me, means that you come in, to HELP, to bolster the primary caregiver by giving them a chance to rest, to be free from doing their job, even if it is for a short FIFTY MINUTES.   That means you come PREPARED to do the tasks listed in the Care Plan. 

You DO NOT use the excuse that it is your first visit, so no, you haven’t read the care plan.  HELL, if it is a first time, that SHOULD BE THE FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN ASSIGNED A NEW PATIENT.

As a business, providing such care, it is YOUR OBLIGATION to hire qualified personnel, and to follow up and INSURE that they are doing the assigned tasks, and doing them PROPERLY.

OLD PEOPLE, cranky or ornery or whatever, DESERVES IT.

too bad VIHA and Christy Clark, along with Isabel McKenzie and Beacon Community Services, disagree with me on that.   Their one and only concern, is how much money they can pocket on the backs of OLD PEOPLE.

Continue reading Old People Deserve Better »

Care to leave a comment?

I Will Call You Back

  • Posted on September 4, 2011 at 9:50 am
Share|

Five very simple words, that should be clear enough for anyone to understand.  In addition, adding the words… “soon as I am finished with Mrs. **** shower” should also be pretty straightforward. 

PLUS, it is about a change in schedule, for the next service call.  In other words, in order to know where to go once she leaves here, the worker has to call back for the address. 

So let’s call the worker 10 minutes later because of a change?  AND when she doesn’t answer her cell, you call the Patient’s home?

Just how frigging stupid are you?

It galls me that they can be so mindless.  I mean honestly, do these schedulers actually believe that the workers are finished in 10 minutes?  Or is it perhaps that they know just how lame so many of their support workers are, that many of them are dogging it anyhow?

You know, when the worker finished, and called back, there wasn’t any change.  Nothing had changed from when they called just as the worker arrived.  So why did they phone ten minutes later?

Course the real question is, if they can nag the worker, how come they rarely can phone the Patient when there is a scheduled change?

Continue reading I Will Call You Back »

Care to leave a comment?

SEO Powered by Platinum SEO from Techblissonline