Need to Know
Our Provincial Government is on the hot seat, for the lack of security when it comes to Patient Files. Seems that sensitive files were somehow, misplaced, misused, and well, just poorly handled, which I guess is a political thing, for now.
And yet, when people are being sent into our homes, they come ill prepared simply because no one is telling them why they are being sent. There is a dirth of information being given to them, though they can probably find all they need to know, on Google. Makes no sense, really.
Yet Carol James, Stephen Harper continue to cry about being ACCOUNTABLE, but I have to wonder, to whom? It seems to me, that it isn’t about being accountable to us, the people, but to their SPECIAL INTEREST SPONSORS. Somehow, that just seems wrong to me.
However, when it comes to helping people, it just seems today that our society is not about the individual, but more about corporate profits, about the bottom line. Yet many of the agencies hired to provide health services, are NON PROFIT. Now I don’t know, but to me, non profit means that they don’t make a profit, though I would also assume it means they don’t lose money. That they still have to meet their expenses, and maybe have a bit left over, as a reserve.
And yet these Non Profit Agencies are buying up other companies, right, left, and center, somehow.
Somehow, we have lost sight of the true purpose of health care. It isn’t about making money, least it wasn’t when I was growing up. Yet today, it is. That says a lot, about our society, I think, and worse, about us as human beings.
Flu Season & Old People
It is the Flu Season, and perhaps even more of a risk this year, than in many past years. This is especially true for those at risk, such as Health Care Workers, Seniors, & Young Children. And yet our Federal Government is spending 5 times more of our money on promoting it’s unrealistic tax cut program, than on informing us about Swine Flu.
I suppose many will say, so what, it is just advertising, but the truth is simple. KNOWLEDGE IS KEY TO SURVIVING. The more you and I know, the better we can plan and better we can protect ourselves. Sure there is a ton of information on the Internet, but how much of that is true? Lots in the newspapers too, on radio and television, but again, how much of that is true, and HOW MUCH IS JUST HYPE TO SELL PAPERS, RAISE RATINGS?
We need an authoritative site, or organization, to give us the facts. One would suppose that would be our Government, but the fact is, they are more concerned about projecting their image, than they actually are in caring. Least that is the case with both the Harper Conservatives in Ottawa, and the Campbell Government in Victoria.
And what about our health agencies?
Why has VIHA not given us, the families of elderly patients, some information on this, on how to protect our loved ones? OH WAIT I KNOW WHY, IT ISN’T IN THEIR BUDGET BUT THE OLYMPICS ARE ON TRACK.
Point is that I have a support worker coming to my home daily, and they also go to other homes, daily. HOW SAFE AM I & MOM? I mean, are they getting shots to keep them immunized from the Flu, or is the vaccine worthless? What do I do, to protect mom? Should I be taking other precautions, or what?
While the Press creates worry, and makes one afraid, should we be afraid? After all, the Government did send a bunch of body bags to the reserves in Manitoba, so do they know something we don’t, or were they, not just being callous, but paranoid too? So much has been made of this flu, and yet truth is, it doesn’t appear to be any more dangerous than other strains, or is that also hype?
IT IS THAT UNCERTAINTY, WHICH MAKES IT NECESSARY TO SPEND MONEY ON ADS, TO INFORM THE PUBLIC, NOT CREATE FEAR OR PANIC, BUT TO GIVE US THE FACTS. YET HOME RENOVATION TAX CUTS ARE MORE IMPORTANT TO OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
Erosion of Resistence
I wonder, if the real goal behind all the red tape, all the delay tactics, by Government, is simply to wear a person down? Do they care, that they endanger people’s health, by their refusal to treat people with dignity? Do they care, that one day, they too will be in their nineties, and possibly in need of help or support?
WE ARE RUNNING OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AS A BUSINESS, INSTEAD OF IT BEING A NECESSARY PART OF LIFE.
Adrian Dix is the health critic for the provincial NDP, and still no reply from him, on the policies his party have, in regards to private contracts, or health care.
Ida Jong, our Liberal MLA, has decided, apparently, that the issue of private contracts has been settled, because Beacon Community Services agreed to provide regular health workers, and so to her, it seems the fire is out.
The Times Colonist has yet to reply, despite already having a reporter looking into the growing issue of complaints about Beacon Community Services, and the VIHA contract to them.
Strange isn’t it, until you realize:
ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY, NOT THE PEOPLE.
They Suffer, Then They Die
It is very difficult, to accept, but that appears to be today’s motto for those providing health care to the Elderly.
They Suffer in Silence, Then They Simply Die.
This morning, once again I had to step in, and do what the workers are supposed to do, for Mother. Not only that, but she seemed surprised that I would even dare question her care, which only infuriates me. I LOVE MY MOTHER & NO ONE, IS GOING TO MIS TREAT HER.
It really is that simple.
To begin with, you don’t expect a 92 year old, with a cast, to transfer herself from the bed, to a transport chair. (scaled down wheelchair) You need to help her up, steady her and let her move at her own speed, with you guiding her, keeping her from falling, from taking a mis-step that could lead to another serious fall, with injuries.
When you are supposed to wash a person, it makes much more logical sense to remove the dirty clothing, including any soiled undergarments. You DO NOT wash her upper body while she is sitting in piss.
It really is that simple.
WHEN a person is elderly, you DO NOT force their limbs with your own hands, you DO NOT grab them tightly, to shift them, to get their arms upright to clean them. You DO NOT use soap then dry them off, and slap on lotion, as the health care plan requires. ANY of those actions can lead to serious damage, especially when a person has BRITTLE BONES.
It really is that simple.
When the older person is in a cast, you don’t force their clean nightshirt on over their head first, forcing them to use their arms in an upright position, to get the hands through the sleeve openings. The goal is to take the path of least resistance, to gently slide the arms through the sleeve openings, then bring the head opening up and over.
It really is that simple.
You DO NOT CUT the depends, a patient is wearing, to slide them off. The Patient MAY need assistance in standing up, but while it may take more effort, it is simpler, and less dangerous than trying to cut through the material. Last thing you want is to slip and maybe cut the skin. Okay, so YOU may have to bend down and slide the soiled depends (undergarments) off, and YES the smell isn’t pleasant, but then YOU did take on the job, didn’t you?
It really is that simple.
The Elderly DO NOT move at the same speed we do. They shuffle, they have troubles moving, so rushing them, is only going to lead to problems, to complications like falls. IF the time allotted isn’t enough, then YOU need to inform the people in charge, but YOU DO NOT RUSH OLD PEOPLE.
It really is that simple.
Caring for a person who is aged, is not an easy task. With pay starting at over $15 an hour, plus mileage, one would assume that is a decent wage for the task involved. If a person feels it isn’t a good starting wage, THEN DO NOT TAKE ON THE JOB. These are people, not numbers, not some faceless blob. They are ENTITLED to respect, to have their dignity, and not be subjected to rough handling, simply because one is unhappy with the pay being given.
It really is that simple.
Home Support workers are there to do a job, to help where family members may not be able to, such as a male having to clean a female private regions. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to inform them of any conditions that exist, so they can take appropriate action.
It really is that simple.
The primary purpose of home support, is to do tasks to aid the senior citizen, and the SECONDARY purpose is to lighten the load of the 24/7 caregiver, which is usually a family member.
That DOES NOT mean you change them into clean clothes, when they have just been changed.
It DOES NOT mean you use 5 wash clothes, or towels, and toss them into the laundry basket, when 2 would suffice.
It DOES NOT mean you leave the garbage stuffed to over flowing, filled with urine & feces soaked under garments.
It DOES NOT mean you ignore cleaning the washroom after use, or FAIL to use appropriate DISINFECTENT. A quick wipe with a cloth IS NOT SUFFICIENT.
It DOES NOT mean you toss the blankets on the unmade bed, and that you determine to move things, to a new place, simply because it is easier for you. IF you see a pillow at the foot of the bed, see that the Patient has her feet resting on it, DO NOT PUT IT UP ON THE PILLOW SHE USES FOR HER HEAD.
It really is that simple.
AND yet it seems it isn’t that simple. In just nearly SIX WEEKS, those workers supplied by Beacon Community Services seem INCAPABLE of doing just that.
These are supposed to be TRAINED WORKERS, and YET they cannot follow simple procedures. They are unable to read written instructions, but they all know how to use the phone to clock in and out.
THEY SUFFER, THEN THEY DIE
IT REALLY IS THAT SIMPLE
Tell Me Beacon Community Service, Vancouver Island Health Authority, Elected Members of the Legislature, HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT?
Home Support Workers
I am not sure if there are others, working for BC Med, but for our district, we have Beacon Home Services. They are the one’s who hire and send the appropriate staff to help, in the home, patients under care. You know, the type who give you a bath, when you can’t manage on your own, or help you dress when you can’t do it yourself.
Personally, I have mixed feelings on the quality of care they provide. They also provide assisted care living, and again, it is taxpayer paid and/or private. I wonder, do the private paying people get the same treatment, or is it a step up?
What qualifications does Beacon require of those it is going to hire?
Are they trained in anything, or are they just people looking for a job, and so they get hired?
Everyone has a system these days. The Hospital with its “send everyone through emergency” to even the “Community Health Laison” and oh yeah, Beacon. Who designs these systems, and have they ever had to follow them, themselves? IF they did, then they are a lot smarter and intuitive, than most people.
To begin with, the idea of logging in and out, not bad, but not very simple either. I suppose it is to keep track of hours. Then we have the so called ‘yellow book’ which is supposed to detail the home plan, for temporary workers that might come to the home.
NOT LIKE ANY SEEM TO EVEN KNOW ABOUT THIS YELLOW BOOK!
Then we have the actual task assigned, and time allotted to the worker. Strange how the client, (patient) isn’t informed of this. We have no idea on what they are sent to do, or told. So each new worker, has to have the drill explained, and believe me, it gets tiresome when there is NO REGULAR ASSIGNED WORKER.
Again, Community Laison is supposed to co-ordinate it, but they are swamped, and so don’t get to it, PRIOR to the service commencing. ( Least when emergencies happen. ) You know, it isn’t always the crisis that creates the most trauma to the patient, but the aftermath of it all.
When you are needing help, for simple tasks like going to the bathroom, to wipe your tushie, it is hard. It creates a sense of helplessness, and if the worker isn’t aware of these issues, it makes it harder to cope with. Sensitivety is key, and most, it seems, have that, but again, a fair number don’t. So it comes down to the luck of the draw, and it shouldn’t.
Problems arise, personalities clash, but while there is a system to shunt a person around, a system to clock in, a system to arrange for help, the system to correct issues, is unreachable.
