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- Member
Fri Aug 31, 2012 3:31 pm
Our Bunny!!!!!
So now it is six years since we wrote about our situation with our Bunny. His age was then approaching 46 yrs. He is now fast approaching 53 yrs. He is now also diabetic. Thank goodness he is only type 2 and therefore we can control it with diet and tablets, which we do. He is getting older and we find that his needs are accumulating fast. We continue to be alone with our problems and over the past six years I have had both hips replaced, a second myocardial infarction which required angioplasty with three stents and a right eye cataract removal. She, my wife, has had one hip replaced and has also had a myocardial infarction with resultant angioplasty etc.
As our personal problems developed, we approached the Social Services, both voluntary and NHS locally and County, for some limited support during our hospitalisation and immediate convalescing, just to cover us whilst we were incapacitated. We got a response in the end, which was that we received a large envelope containing brochures from private firms giving their hourly rates for services, but then we were lucky because our youngest son and his wife were able to take time off work and took it in turns to help us out until we were mobile and back in the routine, even if somewhat decrepit.
Oh! Yes! Towards the end of 2011 we did get some attention from the NHS. Our Medical Centre sent a letter asking for us to bring our Bunny in for a Medical Assessment? Thinking that it was a medical review of his medication we attended to find two complete strangers, very young, who talked to us, but not to Bunny, whom they ignored. They asked many basic questions about him and then virtually dismissed us without any explanation. I wrote to the Medical Centre manager complaining that we had gone to a medical assessment and found that we were talked down to by two people, who appeared to be inexperienced and had no idea about disabled people and their needs. The response was that a senior smiley person, full of bounce and self-important efficiency, visited us at home and informed us that the reason for their department’s interest was that they had to produce a ‘Passport’ for Bunny and everyone like him, so that where ever he went and whoever he met, he could produce the ‘Passport’ and that everyone would know who he was, what he was and what were his needs. So this process went on for numerous visits and eventually we were presented with a ‘Beano’ type document outlining all the points we had discussed regarding Bunny, his needs, his likes and what upset him etc. At no time did this senior ‘jobs worth’ talk our discuss anything with our Bunny. He did, after one visit, say to us that he was worried that the person was making arrangements to take him away. So the document was compiled from our words and not Bunny’s. When we were alone and studied the document, we found that they had misspelt my wife’s name and that there were grammatical errors.
Considering that the document was for Bunny, he was left unaware of its function and purpose. In addition, the costs incurred by the people, visiting us, interviewing and the printing of the illustrated document, leaves me wondering just what these departments are there for? Certainly not to come out to support carers like us when we have a need? All anyone has to do is sit and talk to Bunny and he would tell them everything about himself, including dates and situations. My wife insisted that I let the matter drop, because we would only get more and more agitated.
Where was I on the 16th September 2006? Oh Yes! We are lonely and completely isolated in a world containing so many so called understanding societies, but now we are approaching 75 years of age and getting deeper into a state of infirmity and wondering about Bunny’s future.
So now it is six years since we wrote about our situation with our Bunny. His age was then approaching 46 yrs. He is now fast approaching 53 yrs. He is now also diabetic. Thank goodness he is only type 2 and therefore we can control it with diet and tablets, which we do. He is getting older and we find that his needs are accumulating fast. We continue to be alone with our problems and over the past six years I have had both hips replaced, a second myocardial infarction which required angioplasty with three stents and a right eye cataract removal. She, my wife, has had one hip replaced and has also had a myocardial infarction with resultant angioplasty etc.
As our personal problems developed, we approached the Social Services, both voluntary and NHS locally and County, for some limited support during our hospitalisation and immediate convalescing, just to cover us whilst we were incapacitated. We got a response in the end, which was that we received a large envelope containing brochures from private firms giving their hourly rates for services, but then we were lucky because our youngest son and his wife were able to take time off work and took it in turns to help us out until we were mobile and back in the routine, even if somewhat decrepit.
Oh! Yes! Towards the end of 2011 we did get some attention from the NHS. Our Medical Centre sent a letter asking for us to bring our Bunny in for a Medical Assessment? Thinking that it was a medical review of his medication we attended to find two complete strangers, very young, who talked to us, but not to Bunny, whom they ignored. They asked many basic questions about him and then virtually dismissed us without any explanation. I wrote to the Medical Centre manager complaining that we had gone to a medical assessment and found that we were talked down to by two people, who appeared to be inexperienced and had no idea about disabled people and their needs. The response was that a senior smiley person, full of bounce and self-important efficiency, visited us at home and informed us that the reason for their department’s interest was that they had to produce a ‘Passport’ for Bunny and everyone like him, so that where ever he went and whoever he met, he could produce the ‘Passport’ and that everyone would know who he was, what he was and what were his needs. So this process went on for numerous visits and eventually we were presented with a ‘Beano’ type document outlining all the points we had discussed regarding Bunny, his needs, his likes and what upset him etc. At no time did this senior ‘jobs worth’ talk our discuss anything with our Bunny. He did, after one visit, say to us that he was worried that the person was making arrangements to take him away. So the document was compiled from our words and not Bunny’s. When we were alone and studied the document, we found that they had misspelt my wife’s name and that there were grammatical errors.
Considering that the document was for Bunny, he was left unaware of its function and purpose. In addition, the costs incurred by the people, visiting us, interviewing and the printing of the illustrated document, leaves me wondering just what these departments are there for? Certainly not to come out to support carers like us when we have a need? All anyone has to do is sit and talk to Bunny and he would tell them everything about himself, including dates and situations. My wife insisted that I let the matter drop, because we would only get more and more agitated.
Where was I on the 16th September 2006? Oh Yes! We are lonely and completely isolated in a world containing so many so called understanding societies, but now we are approaching 75 years of age and getting deeper into a state of infirmity and wondering about Bunny’s future.
