Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Upright again


Ron stood up, picked up his hat and looked a little stunned. He reassured Valda that he was all right and he just needed a moment. Valda was relieved, anxious and a little tired. What was going to happen next. Would they be safe?

All a bit much


As the dog moved away  Valda tried to bend down and talk to Ron. She had never seen him look so white and was feeling sick herself. Ron re-assured her that we was OK and would get up in a moment. It was all just a bit much, everything that had happened in the last day. But if the dog had moved away then maybe they could explore a bit more but also keeping an eye open for the dog in case it returned or possibly were there other animals here that they needed to watch out for?   Oh gosh!!!

Friday, October 19, 2012

Oh no!!!

 
Suddenly the dog moved and at the same time Ron fell to the ground. For a second Valda was stunned and didn't know what to do. Should she move and take her chances with the dog so she could help Ron? Should she stay where she was as she wouldn't be able to assist Ron if the dog attacked her? How could all this be happening at their age and after being sent to and rescued from the Op Shop just to have this happen now?

Thursday, October 18, 2012

O M G ..............

 
Valda was worried about Ron as he had been having heart trouble recently. He had been to the doctor and changed his diet but this was really going to be such a test for him. Valda was too scared to talk or move or even virtually breathe. What were they going to do? What was the dog going to do? She wasn't sure she could stand still much longer

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Uh....oh

 
Suddenly from nowhere a black dog appeared at the gate. Ron whispered to Valda to stand still and not move. His heart was beating wildly. They had just relaxed after their long journey to this place and now this!! What to do? What would the dog do? He wasn't even game to turn and see how Valda was. They would have to wait and see.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Going in

 
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Having found themselves at the gate, and after a little discussion about being "rescued" from the OP shop and not wanting to go back there, they decided to take a look. 


Monday, October 15, 2012

Valda and Ron



One day a Carer on my team came in to see me in the office with a recycled paper shopping bag in her hand. She stood by my desk and advised me she had a present for me - it was Ok she hadn't paid a lot of money, it was from the Op shop and she thought I would be the perfect person for what was in the bag. She had a twinkle in her eye as she said all this to me.

I was a little embarassed by her gesture but also very intrigued. Two items were wrapped in newspaper in the bag. As I unwrapped each I was met with two dolls - one an older woman and the second an older man - I found them stunning and was overcome with her gesture.

We talked together discussing their possible history. Where had they been before being taken to the Op shop and why had they ended up there.  Surely they had been loved and cared for prior ...????

This is their story as it then unfolded when I took them to my home in the country

Personal Carers

 
Personal Care Attendants, Home Carers and Community Care Workers are all names for people, both men, and women, who assist individuals to stay in their own homes rather than having to go into permanent care or make other living arrangements due to their frail condition. This frail condition can be due to a temporary or permanent health problem, a disability or ageing.

 

Generally the rostered visit is for either Homecare or Personal Care and a Carer has a regular list of clients to visit on regular days at regular times. If a Carer is on leave, the clients from that roster will be rostered to other Carers as "fill-ins" till the Carer on leave returns to work.

 

Homecare generally consists of vacuuming floors, mopping floors and cleaning the bathroom and toilet. Other duties can include dusting, washing clothes and sheets, shopping, bill paying, taking to appointments as well as respites for a client’s main live-in Carer to allow them some time for themselves.

 

Personal Care consists of assisting with showering, toileting, dressing, meal preparation, medications and doing general safety and at the end of the day, assisting with medications, undressing and getting ready for bed as well as assisting to bed and ensuring client is safe and secure for the night.

 

BUT………….. it can be so much more than that……………..