Care Givers

The ads are great talking about all the care givers do for your loved ones. Let's take a serious look at what is going on. The patients that need the care are family, neighbors, friends, and others in our community. We should be helping each other but let's take a look at what is happening.

The Care Giver is paid the least amount of money they can get away with. Has any family member taken a look at how much this person is being paid, how many hours this person works in a two-week period. Are they able to pay for day care, do they have health benefits, and what happens when people call off and they are stuck.

Patient orientation does not exist, I remember laying in the bed and listening to the feet coming towards my door. A male voice said, "be careful what you say this one understands". Well, I have 10 children and tons of grand and great grandchildren, so my ears are sharp. Before the hospital stay my legs worked when I woke up in rehab, they had a wheelchair next to my bed. With very little Physical Therapy my gut did a lot of teaching. When I went to the larger facility, they had Physical Therapy, but my complaint was why are you teaching me to go around inside of the building? I wanted to be able to learn how to get inside cars walk around the street get on a bus etc. The Facility was non-compliant with Americas with Disability Act. Interesting when I walked around with people who knew the ADA requirements, they agreed with me on each one.

Residents learn as they go the booklets, and the commercials show the happy senior doing all types of activities. They do not show the rooms full of residents sitting alone and waiting for someone to visit. They offer games especially Bingo however what about some visiting representatives from places like the Heart Association, Parkison Association, or a dietician to help with meal planning. The reason I was given was because of HIPPA but what I am speaking about is just someone coming to speak to the group.

Once your loved one is placed have you dropped in on unusual hours? Have you inspected their room, their toilet. Are you present even with the Care Giver that comes into your home when the work is done do they spend time with your loved one? When your loved one has something to tell you do you listen and follow through to see if they are having problems. This is a new experience for everyone. Please, do not be so quick to believe all the Care Giver or the facility has to say. Your loved one must feel at home and comfortable.

Let's talk about self-care this is the time that your loved one can be made to feel their best. Everyone wants to be clean and smell good have on great clothes and have their hair done. One problem I experienced was they had me scheduled for a shower on Friday night. Very few people can shower once a week but that is just me saying this. The laundry system worked well for me since I was able to figure out who could do my laundry the best. There were residents that were not clean, and the aids would say that is their right. This is just a few of my observations.

"I once was you but now I'm old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread". Psalm 37:25