Steeling people's belongings is Theft!

I don’t know if caregivers are aware of the importance of people belongings? It always grieved me when I had to face relatives who complained that clothing or belongings were missing or I had to advise relatives that their precious belongings had been mistreated or lost. I now find myself on the receiving end of and it does not sit well with me at all. Yes, my mother’s clothing has gone missing from a residential facility.

I am not criticizing the facility she is in. Far from it. It was them that brought it too our attention.

What I am criticizing are the people who look after my mother who who have complete disregard for her belongings.

I know that some cultures view clothing as something that covers the body – nothing more. I know that some people believe first up best dressed. I know that some people just don’t care and some people don’t know how to look after a person’s clothing.

This is not so for me or my culture – Pakeha New Zealander.

Our upbringing is we care for what belongs to us. What we own is very important to us and is to be treasured. If we choose to give it away, as many of us do give clothes and belongings away, we willingly do so.

But when we feel we have our belongs stolen we feel betrayed and hurt. To take what does not belong to you is theft and theft is a crime.

My mother is on a subsidy. She doesn’t get very much money but she likes to look nice and we do our best to do this. The cost of doing this falls on our shoulders which we gladly do.

But we don’t appreciate people stealing her clothes. We don’t appreciate going in to see her dressed in well worn, tatty clothes because that is all that is left for her to wear. I consider this abuse!

On top of this my mother has macular degeneration so her vision is very poor. This does not mean that she does not like to look nice. She does.

It also means that she would not know who took her clothes either. They could be whisked out from under her nose and she wouldn’t know.

This whole thing really distresses me. I am not blaming the management but
I am distressed, and yes angry, that people have so little regard for my mother that they want what meager belongings she has left.

I do my best to get the message out how important it is to respect a person and their possessions. I will not give up.

While I can’t get it to everyone, and yes probably I am getting to the converted. The people who do care. At least I hope I am promoting some debate so we can get a better deal for those in care.

This is your day! Your on your way!

What a great mantra to start your day.

With feet in your shoes and brains in your head ...

The power of advertising.

I am with the National Bank. I also have to say there is not much I remember about advertising, that is if someone asked me to relate sayings to ads. However I have to say "This is your day! Your on your way!" has really got me.

Now I don't have much trouble getting out of bed in the morning. I love what I do. I am inspired and excited by each day and what it is going to bring forth for me. It is my purpose for being alive.

So what is your purpose? What gets you up every morning? Mine is clear.

My purpose is the bring the care back into caregiving. To help caregivers understand what a privileged role they have and how their very being can influence a person's day. They are the light that shines for the person - the cheer germ.

If you cannot get up everyday knowing you are going to make a difference in someone's life each day then I feel really sorry for you.

If you only get out of bed every morning just to get your pay cheque? Then I feel very sorry for you?

Find something that inspires your day. Inspires you as a person. Makes a difference in someone else's life. Then this IS YOUR DAY! YOUR ON YOUR WAY.

Have a great day.

Keeping Stress Free

I am not a gym junkie. I find it difficult to get myself motivated. I take the dog for a walk. That was me.

However recently I decided I needed to do something about my energy levels. I was getting tired and lethargic and of course headachy. So I made a decision.

I will join a gym.

So I went on the recommendations of a friend and I must say I haven't been disappointed. I joined a ladies only gym and it is very different to a mixed gym.

So what have been the benefits for me?

I have more energy. I sleep better. I have time for me in a different space. I meet new people. I meet up with my friend. I am relaxed. I can go on and on.

So if you are finding your energy levels dropping getting close to Christmas why not consider doing something for yourself. You may just be amazed at the results.

In the news again!

Saturdays Herald devoted a two page spread on yet another complaint about an aged care facility. I feel for the grieving family.

However it is clear that Geoff Harper has a real gripe about Aged Care as this is not the first artilce he has written or been involved in about Aged care. He is against multi-nationals coming in to New Zealand.

To a certain extent I understand his gripe but at the end of the day because I am care focused, it comes from the calibre of staff employed. The employer is superflouous. It is a training issue.

However talking about scabies. Once it gets into a facility it is extremely hard to irradicate. The itch keeps coming back and flare ups are common. I have been involved in a facility that had a scabies outbreat and it kept coming back for 3 years.

What surprises me is that scabies wasn't treated in the first instance. Whenever there is a person with a rash dermatolgy say - Treat for scabies first. Early detection and treatment is what controls such outbreaks.

Scabies is rife now in New Zealand and not only in Aged Care facilities. It is also resistant to a lot of treatment available. It, like many other infection and infestation, have mutated to ensure the survival of the species. It seems the harder humans get to eradicate bugs the smarter the bugs or mites become.

So what is the answer?

1. Infection control principles. The most important is Hand Washing.
2. Observation skills of staff - early reporting will help to control these infestations.
3. Training

In the end this is what it comes down too. Increasing knowledge improves care. This is what it boils down too.

Time for a funny

This is a true story. It was told to me last night by one of the Rotary members of the club I belong to. It actually happened to him.

This man was fishing in his little boat off the shores of Omaha. He lowered the fishing line over the side of the boat and very shortly he got a bite - an boy was it a big bite.

He reeled in this mighty catch getting very excited. OOOOOO I've got a big one here. Fish Killer strikes again.

He struggled and pulled on his rod and reeled in his catch. He was so excited but his excitement changed to amazmene whe he got it to the surface and up popped a head. He had caught a DIVER!

Yes that is right. He snagged a human and dragged it to the surface. Now I don't know about you but at this point I get some very vivid pictues in my head. I just wish I was a cartoonist!

According to the diver he wondered whatever was happening. He was minding his own business swimming along under water when suddenly he feels this tug and he cant get away from it. He had no idea what was happening.

Guess this is a novel way to make friends!

This is certainly a tall story, but it is true. One I think that will keep grandchildren amused for years. The one that didn't get away.

Knowing right from wrong

It turns out the person who stole the money off a lady with dementia was the wife of a detective. Surely she would know right from wrong. There is no grey area in this case - taking from someone else is wrong!

While I know we do not know the circumstances behind this case the mere fact of taking something from someone else without their permission is wrong.

How often do caregivers in their daily care inadvertently take from those in their care. I am talking about taking away their independence their right to choice the freedom to speak for themselves.

A person I know who is in care told me the other day that one caregiver wouldnt listen to her when she said what she wanted to wear. She told her NO something else that the caregiver chose was better. So this person had to wear something she didn't like.

This is disempowerment. A caregiver's role is to encourage a person to make decisions for themselves and accept what they choose. Not take the power of choice away from them.

Still we see people taking advantage of those less fortunate

I note in the NZ Herald that a Tauranga woman stole $10,000 from an elderly lady who had dementia. What made this worse she was actually living with this woman. To her defense she felt guilty and told a family member. Her sentence 5 months home detention

This is not an isolated case. Too often we hear of people taking advantage of the vulnerable elderly. What goes on in these people's minds?

I guess it is more of what I discussed Monday. It is the ME society. What can I get rather than what I can give.