I love a good rant. I'm seeing a few of my blogbuds rant admirably in the last few days so thought to join them. We should have an annual award for the best one of the year.
First of all Home Care Health Assistance.
I'm at the stage where I need this. Not for everything. Maybe a couple of hours a week. It's a vast warren of web-links to get to the mechanics of doing this. Finally I get to the bottom line, and it's call a phone number. Why not put the effin number at the beginning of the pages of meaningless drivel, you bureaucratic morons?
So I call. But it's Covid Time, so I leave a message outlining my situation. I get a call a few days later. The nurse/helper/clerk asks a lot of questions, mainly focused on my body. Can I brush my hair, can I wash my hair, can I brush my teeth, how is my personal hygiene overall. I explain: I have seating to assist me everywhere: shower seat, sink seat, helpful bars. But the problem is, sez I, I can't stand for long periods so I need help with floors, sheet changing, dishes now and again, stove cleaning, fridge, my laundry. General tidying like dusting. Well then, sez she, we can't help you. What, sez I? I have mobility challenges! You're still maintaining personal hygiene, sez she, so that means you're fine. So, sez I, if I tell you I'm a filthy, flea-ridden encrusted old wreck I would qualify for some home care? Well, yes. So you'd rather spend several thousand dollars putting me in an assisted living
home than shell out a couple of hundred dollars a month to assist me to live on my own? Yes, that's right, by the way you sound very young, how old did you say you were? I'll be 77 in August, sez I. You sound so much younger! (Translation: you're articulate, old people are usually senile and believe my rubbish answers.). Needless to say, for you know me well, I am not resting quietly and going away.
Secondly Toyota. Yes again.
My car is wobbling. There's only 20Km on her so fairly new. I had the tire people check to make sure it wasn't the tires. They said it's brakes. She was left out in all sorts of weather for weeks (months?) on end, rust probably. Thank you Covid. I phoned my dealer. Appointment for August 31. What? sez I have an unsafe vehicle, under warranty, I'm supposed to lurch around the city for another 5 weeks? You could bring her in at 7.30 a.m. and wait and see if we have any gaps or cancellations. Oh, sez I, pack a lunch, bring a couple of books, my trusty George (my cane), and wait all day to see if you have the good grace to serve me at some point or not? With my mask on and my sanitizer spraying everything? And to keep coming back every day haunting the place until I get lucky enough to get my crippled car seen to? I didn't pull the age and mobility card.
Yeah, privileged to have these problems, but seriously? I'm not built for these battles anymore. Does life get easier? No, it gets more fraught with absolute effin moronic stupidity.
Hiss and spit.
ReplyDeleteI had to ring my internet provider the other day. The young woman I was speaking to asked for my DOB as part of the identifying process. Later in the call she told me that I sounded much more competent than her grandmother!!!!
Patronising cow. Her temporary fix failed, and I had to ring back again. Fortunately the second time round I got someone who WAS helpful.
I am a firm believer in give us this day our daily whinge. If I don't get it bottled up resentment/anger explodes. Never a pretty sight (or sound).
And no, despite the MS woes, I don't qualify for home assistance. As a result the house is NEVER entirely clean. I can do bits. And then rest, but cleaning the whole house is beyond me.
I know, EC, so condescending and meant to be distracting, or us the types you take pride in feeling/sounding/acting young. Bollocks to that.
DeleteThe Daily Whinge, I love it.
You don't qualify either? It's ridiculous.
XO
WWW
Rant away, I'm about due. My daughter is an OT who works with seniors so I kow that there is that gap where it's really hard to get health and I'l probably be saving my pennies.
ReplyDeleteI'm pulling a few strings, Barb as that is the MO out here apparently. I had to let Joanna go, long story but she was treating me like a friend far too much with her list of daily whinges while I was paying HER. I'll keep this site updated as to what the outcome is.
DeleteXO
WWW
All is calm in my house at the moment - everything is in working order, my aches and pains especially my lumbar stenosis are behaving themselves.
ReplyDeleteIt must be troubling for those who need extra support but must jump so many hoops to get it especially in these 'strange times'.
Your sound younger/ doing fine comment reminded me of when I was approached to take part in a trial - some medication seemingly to assist with memory loss. This was a big worry to me at the time so I was eager to take part. Lots of questions (similar to the removing things from the table- what's missing but using words) & answers over the phone ending with ' sorry you are not suitable. You sound too aware and don't have as severe a loss as you think'. Wasn't sure whether to be pleased or annoyed
Here's hoping you do get the assistance you need WWW without having to beg.
I think my doc will be on my side and he's already won me meds which are not covered - they'd rather I'd warfarin my way into the grave and multi-clinic visits to check the blood. So this new drug is fab. He's young and fighter so he'll, I hope, fight for my mini-bit of home help. I can't believe they don't do a cost analysis on this. I'll write an article when I pick up my full energy bucket again.
DeleteSo glad you passed the sanity test, but really? You're too sane? *grin*
XO
WWW
It gets easier if you no longer know or care what is going on. :) I love your spunk and spirit and attitude.
ReplyDeleteThey are seriously hoping we all curl up and die, Gemma. AND the care homes are owned by many politicians on the side which makes me so angry. Blind trust my arse.
DeleteXO
WWW
It is interesting here that companies have set up to cut through the bureaucracy to receive services and pensions etc. But of course, you have to pay. I can tell you though, they are worth the money. Whatever happened to SOCIAL SECURITY?
ReplyDeleteThat's brilliant Andrew, I wish someone would start something here.
DeleteXO
WWW
Dear WWW, my mind was spitting out the long form of effin' the whole time. It's all true, every word of what you said. We don't count any more. We don't tic the boxes on their assignment lists. There is no box for doing the right thing. There probably never will be.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing going for us Joanne is that many of us are media literate and lobby some complacency breaking bombs. When I think of the helpless around me who can't fight and just take all this crap lying down, it breaks my heart.
DeleteXO
WWW
After reading this I'm afraid now to ask for someone to come in two or three times a year to clean my oven. It's the only thing I really can't do for myself because of the awkwardness of "bend down, look up, reach in". I use it as little as possible. I am able to do everything else, I just don't want to, so things are looking a little dusty around here.
ReplyDeleteI hope you manage to find some help for the things you really need to get done, even if it isn't on a regular weekly basis, maybe instead once every month or six weeks would do?
Exactly River, but bureaucracy doesn't work on occasional service. I would be content with even once a month but I think the minimum is 9 hours per week - but get this, even for those severely handicapped, their workers don't come on the weekends - so to hell with your hygiene then. I had to laugh.
DeleteXO
WWW
I've never had a car that was under warranty, I dream about having a car so new it doesn't need repairs. Lol. The home care health assistance sounds not dissimilar to my experience trying to get help for B. They talk a good line about keeping elders in their homes but when it comes to real help, good luck on ya!
ReplyDeleteExactly Annie, like I said to River, not geared at all to occasional help for impossible tasks. I am working on an article. Any insights appreciated.
DeleteXO
WWW
There always seems to be this problem of not quite managing but not qualifying for help.
ReplyDeleteHere in Australia, people who can work 15 hours a week don't qualify for a disability benefit but who can survive on fifteen hours work a week?
I hope you can get the bit of help you're asking for
Further insanity Kylie. They have these tiny boxes and gawd forbid you operate outside of their restrictions. Her last remark to me was "Try the yellow pages" which left my sufficiently gobsmacked not to mention it in my post.
DeleteXO
WWW
Rant away! We are here to lend our broad shoulders to bear the weight!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ramana!
DeleteXO
WWW
Rants are needed. We live in a strange time where the elderly are supposed to stay in their own home as long as possible, but where the help to do just that is but grudgingly granted - if at all.
ReplyDeleteExactly Charlotte, and so little help too.
DeleteXO
WWW
Where does all the money go? The money is there for help but it goes to CEO's and the high up salaries. I truly believe this. It is not for people that need the help. Can you imagine the person that asks the questions and then tells you no...what a terrible job that would be day after day.
ReplyDeleteIt must be hard to be on the front lines, but I think they have a pile of stock answers and are immune to the pain and difficulty of so many of us who just need a little help.
DeleteXO
WWW
Oh my. That caregiver is awful. You need help, and fast. As for your car, at least you have a car. hahaha
ReplyDeleteWell she was just representing Eastern Health, our health care system, Gigi, front lines of no care for elders.
DeleteXO
WWW
A rant ... but a very, um, articulate rant. I hope they come around and prove to be some help.
ReplyDeleteMe too, but a lot more precious labour and energy on my behalf to even get a leg in the door.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
While your legs in though, at least they could shave it for you. ;)
DeleteIf I was into that kind of thing Gemma :) - I'd prefer a shaved floor so to speak :)
DeleteXO
WWW
Good I made you giggle and me too!
DeleteShaved floor, LOL. They could shave they dishes while they're at it.
DeleteXO
WWW
Yep, that’s how it is. Here too (and I’m sure N/ Ireland or Eire are no different). Here you only get help for “personal hygiene”, i.e. you get your armpits and your bottom washed and your nappy changed. Otherwise you’re on your own. Cleaners only come if you employ them yourself.
ReplyDeleteYou’re just too fit to qualify for any help, couldn’t you have pulled the helpless old woman card with your mechanic? I always do, I am not in the least ashamed to bleat on about my advanced years. It often works.
I forgot to pull it as noted at the end of my post. I'm usually pretty good at quavery also but now and again I forget because I'm trying to make a point and seriously, why do we have to?
DeleteXO
WWW
The reasons you were given for not qualifying for home care make no sense at all. Yes, maybe you should pretend to be a filthy old wreck?
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, I suppose the garage is snowed under with repair jobs after months of lockdown and cars quietly developing faults. But a wait till August 31 must be very frustrating. Hopefully you won't need it much in the meantime.
It's a safety factor with the car, Nick, and ironically, my car has never been more in demand in the last few days so I start braking miles away from lights and turns, hand on handbrake just in case.
DeleteI was just surprised they didn't have a provision for emergencies like doctors do.
XO
WWW
Also, too, if it is only rust a good session of starts and stops might cure that.
ReplyDeleteYes, I've done that Gemma in parking lots, hard braking just to see. No dice.
DeleteXO
WWW
The tire guys may have been just passing you off.:)
DeleteGood point Gemma, but I don't think so. They've been very honest in the past, like telling me there was one more winter on my studded tires rather than flog me new ones.
DeleteXO
WWW
I wanted to tell you that in the U.S. where I am. If you are homebound..not able to go anywhere , you get more help.
ReplyDeleteIf you are taking care of a patient in your house , there are volunteers who are at the ready to help you with what you need, like leaf raking. I might check if there is a volunteer group there that might help you.
Having a car and getting around that way will also be a hinderance with assistance as well.
I'm a firm believer in paid work, Gemma as I've witnessed so much unpaid female labour in my life. Often a way of life for some and open to abuse (i.e. churches, guides, community, etc. etc.) Men get paid (maninly) why not women?
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
These are both men and women in the program who are volunteers. I think it is through the hospital or the nursing at home programs.
DeleteI try to take goodness as goodness in other people.
Yes but count the male volunteers vs the female and you will be shocked and women are notoriously underpaid, etc. single mothers, etc. And taken advantage of. If one can afford goodness that is great but I don't see too many wealthy people volunteering at all. And PS I've done a huge amount of it in my life.
DeleteXO
WWW
Do you have a case worker you can ask questions to about further home help? They usually know who or what is available. Is there someone else in your building who could give you a name or service organization that they use for such things?
ReplyDeleteOr the person who is in charge of your building ask them for references for people who will assist you and other residents with things you can't manage.
There is a local building such as yours and the people there pay folks to grocery shop, clean, and whatever they need to be done extra.
Let me know if I can help with looking things up for you.
I think they figure you can count on family as long as you can for doing the smaller things . If your niece asks if there is anything she can do for you , please don't hesitate to ask her.
We aren't always aware what others need, having not been in that situation ourselves and when we ask, we do mean it, give us a task,we ask for a reason!
I sit on a stool when I wash dishes.
ReplyDeleteSorry to take up all your comments.
Thanks for being helpful Gemma. I will post a followup when I get these items sorted. :)
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW