Living with disability

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Jae said:
Humor? I currently have a neurological problem plus difficulty standing and walking paradox3.
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Your use of the smiley face made me think you were joking. If you need home care assistance that is another story.

Not sure if you can self-refer these days or if you need a medical referral. . . probably worth finding out if your safety in the bath is an issue.
 
Sorry...once or twice a day! The advocate said in my circumstance I should be having someone come out daily and she is frustrated at how much the health authority is dropping the ball.
 
crazyheart said:
But it isn't a contest, is it? It isn't a contest with Kimmio either.
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And no one said otherwise crazyheart. Really, I don't sense how you came up with the "contest" feeling. I am just learning that some services are available I didn't sense before, and I'm thankful for the information some here have shared. :)
 
I agree with your advocate - be clear and stay firm. Hoping you will some support soon Kimmio.

In Ontario, it is personal support workers who are sent by homecare if needs are bathing, personal care activities, a bit of meal prep etc. Nurse is only sent if there is a specific specialized nursing task to do - like change wound dressings, administer IV meds etc. Frequency of visits depends on needs, whether others are in the home or nearby and able to help with some aspects of care. Government pays for much less than it used to ... and the needs are rising for sure as our population ages, hence the phone interviews etc.
 
It's silly though, that you are answering questions from a call centre nurse. There's a difference between making a sandwich and getting into a deep tub with CP and a broken leg. And I was answering this without really having a sense of my limitations yet, the day after I was in emergency - and without the person asking able to see me in person to have context. It's not adequate.

And it's hard to be in the middle between parents who expect the system to do more (they're upset and frustrated at the disruption but it comes down on me), but needing them in the meantime - and they are seniors and shouldn't be lifting me anyway - and a system that relies on family members. They can do a few things for me and give me rides - and somebody is usually home within earshot in case I fall again and they need to take me to emerg or call an ambulance. To have some support is why I am here but what I really need is a bath! Bath glorious bath! I want to soak in the tub and relax if I can - and to get squeaky clean. I washed my hair in the kitchen sink today - with my mom as a "spotter". That's part of the job, completed.
 
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Yes - phone questions are inadequate in so many cases, I totally agree. At one time, the hospital OT/PT/RN etc. would fill in a report stating what visits were needed by the patient & send it to homecare & then the suitable staff would be sent out. Now when the report gets sent in, but homecare sends out a case manager to make an on-site assessment - which sounds good, until you realize no services are provided until AFTER that visit takes place. And then there is often further delay until the staff can then be scheduled. It's a problem that leaves some people in unsafe situations for a while once they get home. And many fewer home visits can be made in a day. It also begs the question of why the reports of hospital professionals cannot be seen as sufficient. If an OT or PT indicates a need, and then they send a nurse case manager (as most are nurses) the opinion can be quite different. Some sort of blended system would work better IMO ... but then I don't run the world LOL . And thank goodness for that!!
 
Carolla said:
Yes - phone questions are inadequate in so many cases, I totally agree. At one time, the hospital OT/PT/RN etc. would fill in a report stating what visits were needed by the patient & send it to homecare & then the suitable staff would be sent out. Now when the report gets sent in, but homecare sends out a case manager to make an on-site assessment - which sounds good, until you realize no services are provided until AFTER that visit takes place. And then there is often further delay until the staff can then be scheduled. It's a problem that leaves some people in unsafe situations for a while once they get home. And many fewer home visits can be made in a day. It also begs the question of why the reports of hospital professionals cannot be seen as sufficient. If an OT or PT indicates a need, and then they send a nurse case manager (as most are nurses) the opinion can be quite different. Some sort of blended system would work better IMO ... but then I don't run the world LOL . And thank goodness for that!!
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Don't get me started. :)
 
Jae said:
Humor? I currently have a neurological problem plus difficulty standing and walking paradox3.
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Walk in shower would probably work like a charm - plus properly installed grab bars of course. I know people who use a plastic chair in the shower if they tire quickly. A towelling robe is great for afterwards - slip it on and air dry before dressing. People also make appointments for a supervised shower or bath at the Nursing Home if their home isn't very 'friendly' to them.

I was surprised to hear that you were finding standing and walking difficult. It doesn't seem very long ago that you were working away serving coffee. Do you have any results from your medical testing that you feel comfortable to share.?
 
KayTheCurler said:
Walk in shower would probably work like a charm - plus properly installed grab bars of course. I know people who use a plastic chair in the shower if they tire quickly. A towelling robe is great for afterwards - slip it on and air dry before dressing. People also make appointments for a supervised shower or bath at the Nursing Home if their home isn't very 'friendly' to them.
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Thank you for the advice Kay. However, showers can be pretty dangerous for people like me who have epilepsy. A seizure can come at any time and when it does, it's best not to be in a place that's slippery when wet.

KayTheCurler said:
I was surprised to hear that you were finding standing and walking difficult. It doesn't seem very long ago that you were working away serving coffee.
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I still do, on a part-time basis, four days a week.

KayTheCurler said:
Do you have any results from your medical testing that you feel comfortable to share.?
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My doctor told me my cholesterol is too high. She told me to lose some weight. As a result, I've been considering veganism.
 
Now you mention it I can see that you may be nervous about showers- my son has epilepsy and doesn't worry about the unlikely chance of having one when showering. He says he would be more worried about drowning in the bath.

I thought you were having trouble standing and walking, but it sounds like you can do that better than several of us here. I couldn't handle a job that had me standing for long.

Losing weight and lowering cholesterol are tough challenges. My nutritionist says that thinking about changing your diet is about as useful as having another doughnut!
 
KayTheCurler said:
Now you mention it I can see that you may be nervous about showers- my son has epilepsy and doesn't worry about the unlikely chance of having one when showering. He says he would be more worried about drowning in the bath.
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I feel both are legitimate concerns.

KayTheCirler said:
I thought you were having trouble standing and walking, but it sounds like you can do that better than several of us here. I couldn't handle a job that had me standing for long.
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On a good day, I can go for around six hours on my feet. Before work and after It, I walk with a cane. Sometimes here at home, I use a walker. Can I stand and walk better than some others here? I don't know, probably. However, less-well than some others too.

KayTheCurler said:
Losing weight and lowering cholesterol are tough challenges. My nutritionist says that thinking about changing your diet is about as useful as having another doughnut!
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Okay. I'm working with a dietician.
 
It might be time to start finding out some of this stuff eh. Before travelling out of country it would be wise to know what insurance you should have. FEELING won't work in a situation like international travel and health care coverage. You need to KNOW.
 
Last i heard, your OHIP ends after six months non-resident. That's one of the factors in when snowbirds come and go. Have never been away long enough to have to confirm, though. Keep in mind that OHIP will only reimburse foreign medical charges that are covered here and only up to OHIP rates. If the foreign hospital/doctor bills more you are on the hook for the balance, unless you buy supplemental insurance. That I have dealt with due to an illness when I was in Shanghai one time.
 
Jae said:
And no one said otherwise crazyheart. Really, I don't sense how you came up with the "contest" feeling. I am just learning that some services are available I didn't sense before, and I'm thankful for the information some here have shared. :)
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You do have an isle-like sense of humus! Like seagull droppings ... fertile indication to other how not to show compassion ... sometimes a hard religious lesson ... guano is good for fertilizing a grain of thought tho' ... thoughts can lead to doings ... sometimes not! NOSH-ite ... allows for that implicit naw-NG ... some get it some not as in to be or not to be tuned to metaphor ( an attribute required in a world where common sense is undesirable due to Nous folly ... we don't like to listen to the negative side of emotions ... intellect?

Works both way so a medium can be of assistance ... polar perspectives appear to be easier ... you don't have to work at the balance thing ... the entire train can skid ...
 
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