Respite Care is on the Critical List.

                                                                           

                The whole idea of Respite Care is to provide accommodation for clients whose spouse or carers are unable to care for them during short periods of time, due to holiday, medical or other reasons. I would think that it is also required to provide a reasonable standard of care for the client.

                A few weeks ago I stayed for two weeks in a Disabled Care Residential Establishment. This facility provides Residential Care for the disabled as well as Respite Care.

                The two weeks I spent there were quite horrendous. The facility, although seeming to cater for everyone, quite simple does not. This particular establishment caters to a large degree on providing care for those disabled who have very limited mobility and extremely limited communication skills.

                These people do however seem to be treated well and from what I saw were looked after in a friendly caring environment. So far, so good.

                The issue which I have however, is a problem with could be interpreted as slightly controversial but that is not my intention. The problem is that despite the capacity of the establishment or physiotherapy facilities provided, I think that the actual standard of care and other facilities should match the needs of all service users.

                  There seems to be a misconception that people who are disabled are also two sandwiches short of a picnic.  In the minds of many there seems to be a direct correlation between one’s physical mobility and one’s mental agility. Of course, this is simply not the case but the scary thing is that a vast Care System seems to have been built up around this misconception.

                  In practice, what this generally means is that the majority of clients are left sitting quietly while those who are mentally proficient are bored ridged with nothing to do. What would help is the realisation that disabled people with unimpaired cognitive function need mental stimulation as much as the people who care for them. I raise this point as there seems to be a mistaken belief that provided the Respite Care Establishment has some sort of bed and a toilet then it is – Job Done – if you get my drift!

                    The very fact that the ‘library’ consists almost solely of Mills & Boon, power sockets are completely out of reach and the very mention of a computer amounts to an act of treason punishable by being force fed fish fingers for days on end, seems to have escaped the notice of our illustrious leaders.

                     Another problem which is all too evident is the prickly one concerning staffing levels. In an attempt to cut costs one of the first things to be cut is the number of staff.  The downside of this of course, is that the less staff there is, the greater the possibility of staff not being around if something goes horribly wrong. One example of this was when yours truly made a speedy journey to a toilet only to find that some numbskull had placed a large heavy immovable hoist next to where I desperately needed to go. With the staffing levels so low, my pressing of the ‘assistance bell’ went unheeded. Needless to say it was a damp experience!

                     This establishment in which I was incarcerated for a fortnight was the proud owner of a computer system whose broadband signal was so slow it didn’t come by fibre optic, it was delivered by carrier pigeon. It wasn’t a case of ‘clicking on’, more of a case of enduring the onset of interminable boredom while waiting for the wi-fi signal to decide if it wanted to make an appearance.

                      I have been informed that my wish to be placed on Respite at another Care Facility located next to a glorious beach, promenade and coffee shop, not to mention a very desirable pub, will not be granted by the powers that be. It appears that while pre-paid beds in the formerly mentioned facility remain available then no other Establishment will be used.

                      It doesn’t seem to have occurred to the holders of the purse strings and the pen-pushers that the reason there are vacant rooms in this institution is that no bugger wants to stay there! The phrase ‘Over my dead body’ springs to mind but hey! Let’s not tempt fate!

Copyright © Ian m Allan 2013