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Consistency, Qualified, allows for Adaption

  • Posted on January 31, 2012 at 4:14 pm
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What Beacon Community Services FAILS TO UNDERSTAND is that by having Inconsistent workers, coming into one’s home, is a health and safety risk.

Regular workers are needed for those requiring long term home support.

One major reason, is that if you have consistent qualified help showing up each day, you can adapt to situations such as I had to do today.

Mom was too weak, too tired, to get out of bed, for a simple sponge bath.  Normally at 9am, that is the routine, but she was just too weak, too tired.

ONLY because the afternoon worker scheduled was qualified, did I make the decision to forgo a full sponge bath, but instead simply had the regular worker do a wipe and depend change. Even this simple procedure, exhausted Mom, but it was better than a full on bed bath.

Knowing the worker that was coming this afternoon, and that she was qualified, allowed me to not overtax Mom this morning.

It may seem trivial, minor, but fact is, the added stress can lead to serious health complications, such as Stroke. YES, a stroke, because if you are stressed, your already weak heart has to beat faster, has to pound faster to get the blood going. That is just an accident waiting to happen, so trivial, I don’t think so.    Would you think it trivial if it was your Mother?

Considering she didn’t get out of bed until just before 1 PM, I can only imagine how it would have been, if she had been subjected to a full bed bath, or sponge bath.

So by reversing the order, so that this afternoon gave her a full sponge bath, it has helped refresh her, helped to not tax what little energy she has available.  It went fine, and even generated a smile or two.

AND THIS IS ONLY BECAUSE THERE ACTUALLY WAS A QUALIFIED WORKERS SLATED FOR THIS AFTERNOON.   COURSE, THERE IS THE DOUBT THAT WHO IS ON THE SCHEDULE WILL SHOW UP, BUT IT WAS A RISK I FELT I NEEDED TO TAKE.    ONE THAT WORKED OUT TODAY.

What Beacon Community Services ( and VIHA ) don’t seem to comprehend, is that worry creates stress, which in turn robs a person of not just needed strength, but the ability to think, to reason.  If you are battered with uncertainty, you wonder if you can afford to adapt to a change in the Patient’s health, or if it would be futile.

Given how BCS changes its schedule at the very last minute, fails to even notify you of those changes, it is a gamble.

Somehow, Health Care for a ninety four year old shouldn’t be a crap shoot.

I am lucky, in the sense that I can manage Mom’s routine on my own, if need be.  But what about those elderly patients who have no one to step in like Mom does?

For everyone who reads this blog, that really is the question you need to be asking yourself.  See, I know that some of these workers are top notch. They know their stuff, but the majority DO NOT.   That is just plain WRONG, and in fact, should be the other way around.  BAD APPLES SHOULD BE THE EXCEPTION,  NOT THE NORM.

It should be a no brainer, in the morning to say to the worker, let’s leave the sponge bath for this afternoon.  It shouldn’t be that I spend from 10am until 3pm worrying about will the qualified worker attend, or will BCS have pulled another of their famous switches.   It is our Tax Dollars that pays for this service, yet VIHA seems to be unwilling to set guidelines, and to ENFORCE THEM.

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Workers Who Make Assumptions Can Kill Their Patients

  • Posted on December 25, 2011 at 10:09 am
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IF you were going on a flight, from Victoria to Rome, would you want your Pilot to rely on Dead Reckoning to get you there, or would you like him to use the Navigational Aids provided for Airline?    Would you prefer a Pilot that PASSED FLIGHT SCHOOL or one who is a whiz at using Microsoft’s Flight Simulator?

Myself, I’d like a Pilot who Graduated Flight School, and who used all the latest Navigational Aids to get me to Rome, but IF you are Beacon Community Services, well it seems you wouldn’t mind flying to ROME with someone who played Microsoft’s Flight Simulator game rather than graduate from any formal flight school.

This mornings substitute was Lily.

She had been here a long time ago, but hey, that didn’t matter because she remembered what was needed.  Course things have changed dramatically from two years ago.  But hey not to worry, she is a trained professional, as Beacon Community Services can attest to.   And that is good enough for VIHA.   After all, why would BCS lie?

If I tell you, that the person you are to assist, has trouble standing, of keeping her balance, and that the standing needs to be kept to a minimum, would you have stand for several minutes, without any support?

Would you expect her to stand up to brush her teeth?

How about let’s get her to stand up while we remove the soiled nightshirt, and remove one hand from holding onto any support?

Maybe I need to take a refresher course in speaking the English Language.   I mean I would think that if you say “keep to a minimum” it would be sufficient words to insure that you don’t have her being a jumping jack, or have her stand for a long length of time.   Obviously, for Lily, those words had no meaning.

Then let’s make her get up with minimal assistance, and sit in a wheelchair, when she has trouble standing, never mind moving her feet.  After all, you gotta get going, and this is just, well one stop in a long day of helping old people.  One can’t wait around all day for them to move, now can one?

Course my favorite of the morning, was in wondering why I was handing her the walker, while she had Mom in the bathroom.  She hadn’t a clue as to what it was for.  In fact she wanted to know if that was for Mom to sit on.

WORKERS LIKE THIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO PATIENTS, SERIOUS ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY CAUSE DEATH.   THIS IS WHAT BEACON COMMUNITY SERVICES SENDS TO OUR HOMES.    THANK YOU PREMIER CAMPBELL AND CURRENT PREMIER CLARK.

 

 

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It Really Is a Catch 22

  • Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:55 pm
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It would seem that our Provincial Government has opted to NOT authorize Mom’ for some medication, to help combat her groin infection.  To be honest, it is a rather confusing system, our Pharmacare.

I can understand the need to try the cheaper variety first. I mean hell, some of those knockoffs work just fine, but when they don’t, well come on, at least see if the fancy name brand shit will work. I mean that is common sense, right?

NOT according to our Government.

Now there is also this insane bullshit, that certain drugs for diseases aren’t covered. Like Mom’s infection is basically a yeast infection. It impacts her daily quality of life, and yet Pharmacare doesn’t seem to think that medication that helps that, should be covered.

Perhaps our Premier, Christie Clark has never had a yeast infection, that made it difficult for her to walk, to even rest comfortably.  I suppose that her predecessor  Gordon Campbell never had one either. Maybe all that alcohol he imbibed helped him become immune?

I suppose it is a common malady, but come on, the lady needing help here is NINETY FOUR YEARS OLD.  Surely that alone should allow for some consideration, or is it that because she is that old, who gives a fuck?  Personally, I kind of think that is the real reason behind some of these decisions.  Obviously quality of life for the elderly IS NOT a priority for any of our Elected Officials. ( That includes all of the parties, not just our Provincial Liberals. )

You know, I would love to be around when people like Stephen Harper and Christie Clark are in their late eighties, and they need special medications, that aren’t covered by Pharmacare. ( assuming we even have that, then )  And that they are dependent on the Public Health System for it, and have NO outside sources of income to cover those added LUXURY ITEMS.   

Wonder then, if they would regret their decisions made today.

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Routine is Good for Mom, Depressing for Me

  • Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:19 am
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It is like playing the same record over and over again.

While I firmly believe, that a routine is good for Mom’s health, I also am realizing how depressing it is for me, for David as well.  Mom needs a consistent time for things. Not sure why, but I believe it helps her keep focused. It keeps her mind working.

It also gives her a zone of comfort. That makes a world of difference, because when things fall our of  the routine, the health implications scare her, and me.  Like having the same worker, same time, allows her some peace of mind. It also reduces the amount of stress, which in turn keeps her steady on her feet.

We’ve had our regular workers since Saturday. Our week regular worker is back and to be honest, the shaking is way less these last few days, than any single day last week. I’d say that between Saturday and Monday night, Mom had perhaps 3 mild shaking episodes.  Compared to Friday when she had five.  Yep, a substitute was here Friday.

Problem is, it wears me down. I mean the same routine, day in, day out. I get up, manage to get a cup of tea ( or coffee ) before having to get her breakfast ready. It means checking on Mom, opening the blinds and telling her what time it is. Means taking the towels out from between her legs, then sitting down to check email.

Not much time to do anything else, because have to be ready for the worker at 9am. Course, one also wonders, who that worker will be, because BCS likes to lull one, then spring a surprise or two.  I have to say, that they are getting better, but the fear lingers.

Then it is breakfast time. Nothing changes, her pills are their, laxative, toast with jam, coffee, yogurt with fruit.   Time to wait till she finishes, folds the napkin, then is ready to come to the chesterfield.  It is now 10:30am, still no work done, because, well, sometimes she finishes early, other times needs a diaper change.

I could go on, but you get the idea. It zaps the strength, because the only changes that happen, are minor crisises.  Not the kind of change that lets one unwind, is it?

The routine doesn’t vary much, from day to day. From 7:30am to 10pm, it is the same. By the end of the day, all one wants to do is curl up under the covers & sleep. Yet even then, the mind will play tricks, not letting you sleep all the way through. The body becomes weaker, heavier.  Each trek up and down the stairs, takes a bit longer, because really, you are exhausted.

Diaper changes seem to be constant, though they aren’t in reality. It just seems that way. I mean it takes me less than 30 seconds to go from the living room to her bedroom. It takes, on average, about 5 minutes for Mom to go the same distance, with me behind her. 

That gets me annoyed, impatient, which is wrong, but the grind of it all, is zapping one’s reasoning process. I mean it is better that she takes her time, because it helps to prevent tripping, falling. So it is a good thing, but being worn out, one tends to look at it, as an annoyance, a detriment.

This is caregiving 101.

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Why Should We Pay For Old People

  • Posted on March 28, 2011 at 11:02 am
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The CBC has a report on the Guaranteed Income Supplement issue.  According to Jack Layton, it is why he refused to support the Harper Government. He wanted $700 Million added, instead of the $300 Million that Harper added.

Honestly, I don’t believe Jack Layton & the NDP defeated the Harper Government, over a $400 Million dollar difference, do you?

In reading the story it seems that the dollar differences really aren’t that huge, which makes me question the accuracy of the figures used.  It states that 5.8% of Seniors live in poverty, but again, what is that level?

Is Mom living in poverty?  I’d have to say NO, but I would also have to say, that without the financial contribution both David & I make, she wouldn’t have the basics.  So I suppose that is indeed living in poverty.

Yet what galls me is two comments, one from a 23 year old and another from some guy who thinks, well, tough titties for those who didn’t save when they could. ( oh yeah, you just know I added my comments to those remarks ) What these comments do, is make me wonder, about the attitudes we have today.

When I was growing up, I was taught that you helped those who didn’t have as much as you. Even if all you had was a loaf of bread, and someone had none, you shared that loaf of bread. I would say, that was the Judao Christian ethic that built this country, or am I wrong?

Whose responsibility is it, to help those who, for whatever reason, are unable to help themselves, such as my Mother?

David & I earn well under $30,000.00 a year. Mom has no private retirement income, no assets even, so whose obligation is it?  I think both David & I do our best, but when your Hydro bill is $300 a month,  your cost for her medications is about $200 for the first six months of the year, who helps when we can’t manage?   And if we are paying for all this, how can we be expected to put aside a nickle for our old age?

It is easy to say, save now, but given the cost of living today, the real issue is… HOW?

We don’t drive a fancy new car, hell our car is a 1982 diesel. Be nice to have a new laundry machine that was energy effecient, but where do I get the $1500 for them?  It isn’t like I can go get a job, because I have to be home, to change her depends a few times each day. I have to be here, to help her to the bathroom, to fix her lunch, dinner. If I don’t, she won’t eat, even if she could get around to fix something.

So whose responsibility is it?   I pour my time, what little I earn, into the household as does my wife, David.  It isn’t fair to him, yet he does it. I mean she is My Mother, not his, but I know if his parents need help, when they are older, we’ll do the same for them. 

You see, that is my obligation, that is my duty, because I am my mother’s son, and my wife’s son in law. It is what we do, it is what should be done, but you know, there are times when you need help. Our old age is screwed, because there isn’t that help now. There wasn’t when they grew up, because back then, the Government told everyone that the CPP would handle it all.   They believed their Government back then, but we know better, don’t we?

I don’t have the answers, I wish I did. I just know that we need a Government that makes some effort to understand our needs. Not the needs of some Corporate Executive, who has two or three houses, who drives a new Lexus every six months. I want a Government that will look at Social Security, and strengthen it, not dismantle it like Mr Harper wants to do.

I want a Government that will support our social programs, not tear them apart.

It is why I know that on May 2nd, I will  VOTE FOR ANYONE BUT HARPER

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Why Fight So Hard?

  • Posted on March 27, 2011 at 7:07 pm
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This entry is part 5 of 8 in the series Follow The Money

Because, it is my Mother.

A few people have asked, why do I let all the crap bother me so much. Why do I go off the deep end with BCS, after all they are doing their best.  But are they?

Right now we are beginning a Federal Election, and it is now, when our voices can be heard the loudest. Right now, is when we can actually make a difference to what is accepted, what isn’t. Things like Health Care, like Supplementing the income for Seniors.

Narrow Minded?

I don’t think so, because other than death & taxes, growing old is right up there as being almost a certainty. Everyone, from my 34 year old wife David, to the newest born baby in the Nation, being old is in their future.

How we care for our elderly, says a lot about our values, our ethics, our morality.  Ignoring them, treating them like just excess baggage says we are cruel, callous, and indifferent. Yet, that is exactly how we do treat our Elderly.  YES, there are some very good people out there, like Yvette, Tracy, and our Doctor, Ted Rosenberg.  Problem is, there aren’t enough of them.

And it comes from the top.  If we have a government that fails to care about the needs of our elderly, why should anyone beneath them care? Why should BCS attempt to hire qualified personnel, insure they are doing their job, if Governments refuse to monitor them, or fund them properly? Why should companies like BCS worry about the quality of care, when Governments give them carte blanch contracts, without setting any standards, or insuring that those standards set, are actually followed?

This is why choosing our next Prime Minister is important. IF Stephen Harper is more willing to bankroll over priced Jets than a proper Guaranteed Income Supplement for the Aged, then what does that say about our compassion, our values?

We need a Government that cares about its people, not its corporate entities.

We need a Government that is about protecting our social programs, not selling them off to Private Interests, because it is easier than insuring those programs are properly funded and staffed.

That is why it has to be… Anyone But Harper

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