Another
sunshine day. Our lovely friend Cara (who as well as a Methodist minister is
also a Care-Home Worker – with patients with dementia) posted an incredibly
powerful piece on facebook about her work situation. I’m going to copy
it here, because I think what she says highlights a massively important issue
(which isn’t being addressed by the government):
“I write this as a
care-home worker, knowing that I'm contravening very strict rules about social
media posting (but what are my employers going to do, right? I have the
confidence that comes with knowing that in the current climate, they probably
need me more than I need them).
The commentators are right. Care homes are a 'perfect storm' when it comes to Covid-19 transmission. We have inadequate PPE to cope with an outbreak. We care for vulnerable people, all of whom have dementia, many of whom would be impossible to isolate in their rooms without physically locking them in (which of course we would/could never do).
The past few weeks have been tough. Most of our residents don't understand why their freedom is even more restricted than usual, why their families can't visit, why many of us are wearing masks, why we hesitate when they want to give us a hug. End-of-life care in particular is heart-breaking. Families can't keep vigil in the ways that they should and would wish to.
Most of our staff are low-paid workers. Many have no option but to journey to work on public transport. Still, they come to work every day knowing that in doing so they put themselves and their families at risk. They are heroes.
But worse than all of these things are our fears about what the future holds. A paramedic who attended the home this week told me that they were not supposed to be taking any care home residents into hospital. There is no testing available, for staff or residents. Our GPs are not visiting. It feels like we are all on our own, doing our best but beyond outside help, and that our residents are more forgotten than ever, sacrificed for some kind of greater good.
We will not desert them. We will do our best to be friends, family and carers for them for as long as we can.
God help us.”
UK coronavirus deaths currently total 12,107; this article from today’s Guardian gives an indication of the true figure if deaths in Care Homes and at home were included.
The commentators are right. Care homes are a 'perfect storm' when it comes to Covid-19 transmission. We have inadequate PPE to cope with an outbreak. We care for vulnerable people, all of whom have dementia, many of whom would be impossible to isolate in their rooms without physically locking them in (which of course we would/could never do).
The past few weeks have been tough. Most of our residents don't understand why their freedom is even more restricted than usual, why their families can't visit, why many of us are wearing masks, why we hesitate when they want to give us a hug. End-of-life care in particular is heart-breaking. Families can't keep vigil in the ways that they should and would wish to.
Most of our staff are low-paid workers. Many have no option but to journey to work on public transport. Still, they come to work every day knowing that in doing so they put themselves and their families at risk. They are heroes.
But worse than all of these things are our fears about what the future holds. A paramedic who attended the home this week told me that they were not supposed to be taking any care home residents into hospital. There is no testing available, for staff or residents. Our GPs are not visiting. It feels like we are all on our own, doing our best but beyond outside help, and that our residents are more forgotten than ever, sacrificed for some kind of greater good.
We will not desert them. We will do our best to be friends, family and carers for them for as long as we can.
God help us.”
UK coronavirus deaths currently total 12,107; this article from today’s Guardian gives an indication of the true figure if deaths in Care Homes and at home were included.
Back to my diary… Moira+I walked to the harbourside mid-morning and then, when we returned home, I produced a couple of sketches (my Drawing Group set a brief-for-the-day with a sketch theme of “Open” – I drew an open door… not particularly inspiring!).
Spent some time reading another section
(“The Brain”) from Bill Bryson’s “Body” book – he writes so well and manages to
cram the pages with countless facts and yet retains an ability to ‘entertain’
and be very readable!
Image: the ceanothus has begun to
flower in our local neighbourhood!
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