Home aide issue

My apologies if I shared this story before.   Year's ago I had a co-worker who needed extra income and thought about working as a home attendant.  She was told that all you had to do was feed the patient and put them to bed.  At the time I knew what my family was going through and I quickly corrected her.  I let my friend know that of you are lucky that is all you may have to do.    Elderly have so many issues you may have to clean them and assist in many other ways.   I told her to go into the job expecting to do a lot and hopefully you will get an easy one.

After my uncle died around 2008 and before my aunt recently passed a LOT of home attendants were hired.  Because we didn't have money were didn't hire through an agency where you would pay at least $14  an hour.  We hired private, meaning we got folks outside of the agency and negotiated out own price.   Back then it was about $9 an hour.

Almost everything today is about money which is why experiences with home attendants vary.  A lot of people take the job for money but can't qualify to work at a legitimate agency. 

I always felt that if the service came from the city or state government the service would be better.  You run into problems when you care for people for profits.   We have had a number of people no show for my aunt.  Mind you she couldn't walk on her own or even get out of bed.  So when people got tired of having to do more than feed her and putting her to bed they would just fail to show up. Thankfully a neighbor who chipped in with her services would assist.  But there were quite a few times the person who was supposed to show up at 9 in the morning no-showed. 

After a while some folks like us run out money like my mother.  She needs total care and can't afford it.  Private total care would cost $240 A day.  We can afford that for ten days without Mom eating or having supplies.  Best we can do now is pray for Medicaid spend down

I just wish all of this inforation was available statewide with ease.  My generation is not ready for the next 10 years. 

New Year's Eve

This will be my 11th or 12th consecutive New Year's Eve night in Daytona Beach.  This one will be a lot different since my aunt passed away on the 19th of December.  Even though I am glad to no longer have to see her with not only the cancer but her other ailments I will miss her.  You get used to certain traditions.

I am stl praying to get Mom to New York and into a nursing home.    Each step will be a challenge.   Getting the forms filled out and getting her accepted is the first major challenge.   Getting her to New York is the second major challenge.  Getting this paid for is another.  Getting Mom situated there is yet another challenge.   By no means does it end there but those are the major hurdles for now.

I will be glad to leave Florida.  I will be glad to not have to travel here every few months.  I hate the politics here.    I know not to move to a state that has no state taxes in the future.

Note to Self

Official Note to Self:

I have a lot of things going on in my life so I have to get into WRITING notes and ideas on paper then getting on the laptop and typing it.  Right now I try to keep the idea in my head then type as I write.  Can't work anymore. With each thing in my life I generate a different mood and a definite shift in ideas.  I will have momentum for elder care then do something and get ideas for something else. On my way to the library this morning I just knew what I wanted to write about for this blog.  I sat down, write out some bills and before I knew it I am yawning and now forgot what I was even going to write about.

Fine lines...why I haven't blogged

12/28

I am in the library again at Ormond Beach.  I am still researching information for the nursing homes as well as taking a quick break..  Writing can be therapeutic. 

So far no real movement getting Mom placed in a nursing home in New York.  I have to work out some serious issues with Medicaid as well as the medical.  Other than that I am actually looking forward to bringing her home.  I won't have to worry about home attendant issues anymore.

Getting a home attendant is always a hard issue.  The obvious issue is bringing a stranger into your home.  There are plenty of stories about people stealing.  I never worried too much about that.  Mom doesn't have much at the house to steal.  Everyone does have to worry about the quality of care and this will vary from person to person.  Fr a number of reasons I cannot even begin to advise anyone on how to choose a person to care for your loved one.

During the last 11 years my aunt and my mother  dealt with a LOT of home aides.  A lot meaning I cannot count them all.  We had to deal with every issue you can think of.    We dealt with money issues, people not showing up, egos.  You name it and we dealt with it.  Most of them were helpful to some degree and because of that I won't get deep into specifics.

One lady would come and not even sit in the same room as my mother and aunt.  Another would come, smoke cigarettes outside and cough the whole time she was inside.   Some wouldn't wash their hands as often as they should have.  One lady brought her child to the house.  Another had no transportation and expected my aunt to reimburse her for a cab.

Most of those people worked privately.  We couldn't afford an agency  Agencies generally charge $14 an hour and up while private folks will generally work for $10 an hour.  Quite often there is no difference in the quality of care.  The big difference is that the agency gets a cut.

My issues were intent.  I have no faith in people.   Not all of the time but generally people do things to get paid and not to assist anyone.     Our society has been groomed to not do anything unless you can make a dollar off it.  Not all of the time.  I have a therapist.  He is pretty good and does get paid for his services.  But you can tell he is trying to assist.  I have nothing against a person getting paid for his craft.    I feel a certain way when you you are trying to get rich off it.  And not that I have a problem with a person getting rich, but I don't think people should become millionaires of children, the elderly, the hungry and the homeless.  With some of the people we hired you could tell they did it mostly for the money.

I am not going anywhere with this entry.  I guess I never really intended to.  If anyone is reading this I PRAY that you never need to use home attendants or have to go to a facility.  It is really bad when you have to depend on someone to care for you or a loved one.  Sad thing you rarely know ahead of time if that service would be needed.  I always say that I hope I live to be about 70 and die with the majority of my faculties.    What I have lived through with my mother (and to some degree my Dad) I don't want to live through it again.

Moving on....

Having an interesting time getting Mom back to New York.  One of the five facilities I inquired about emailed me yesterday and informed me that I needed a doctor's for FROM New York.  I asked if that particular form could be done by a Florida doctor since we are not in New York yet and she needs to be placed when she gets to New York.  No answer yet.  They also mentioned that the facility is a little more than $400 a day so we have to discuss the payment arrangements of paying privately.  They would help us with Medicaid if we go that route.  For now I am more concerned about the doctor form.  Well that and actually transporting her back to New York.  I don't know if she can handle a flight.

Mom is also not handling the death of her sister well.  She is not falling apart as I thought she would.  She isn't fully acknowledging the death though.  From time to time she keeps referring to her sister as if she were still in the next room.

Believe it or not though I am actually looking forward to this move back to New York

Why I haven't blogged Part 2

12/26/2017

I am at the library in Ormond Beach.  We have no internet at either my mother or my aunt..AND the library in Daytona Beach got flooded during the hurrican this past September.

I am sending out inquiry emails to perspective nursing homes for mom. As I mentioned she definitely can't stay here in Florida and I can't move down here.

Last week I googled some names and somehow got connected to care.com.  Today I went directly to the websites of the facilities and sent inquiry emails.  The biggest thing is getting help with the Medicaid.  It seems like everyone has an angle to get paid.  A referral site I went to asked for $300 fee.  Makes me think about why I haven't blogged much about this situation.  There is no way I can help or give advice.  Things are geared for someone to get paid.  Sort of like years ago you could google a name to get an address and phone number.  Now there are so many links to lure you in to money for information that used to be free.   If they don't outright charge you then thy make getting the information so complicated you give up or go to a site and get hooked into some type of payment.

So far I am seeking information on five places:

Jewish Home in Westchester
Jewish Home in Harlem
St. Patrick's in the Bronx
Beth Abraham in the Bronx
Hebrew Home in Riverdale

All of these facilities came with recommendations.  Won't mean they will be perfect. And unfortunately I don't have the luxury of checking them out physically beforehand.  I have to go on faith.

Christmas blahs

Today is Christmas and I hardly feel like celebrating.   I am not really sad but I am just not in a celebrating mood sinc e my aunt passed and I have the adventure of placing my mother on the horizon.  I did manage to cook the spare ribs and Cornish hens. 

I had the most ridiculous argument with my mother last night.  I put her to bed and she wanted me to close and lock her door.  Her bedroom door.   She is still at her sister's house and her niece is there.   Mom occasionally has bad dreams.   If she screams or gets sick and the door is closed she may not be heard.  So of course I left the door wide open.  What pissed me off is that she wouldn't listen to any reason and tried to get emotional.   I just kissed her good night and left.

I need that nursing home but I am scared of how she will act at the same time.

Why I haven't blogged in awhile

Part 1

There are a lot of reasons I haven't blogged in a while.    I will tackle this over a period of time. 

For now I will touch on the distractions.  I have discovered that I don't do well with distractions whether it be from work or home.  I need to be able to focus on the subject matter and feel it then write about it.    It doesn't take much for me to get a writer's block.   Unfortunately I haven't had that luxury.    When I get an idea and try to write I get a distraction.   Even with this entry.  Not only did I have ideas for this entry but I have some for others surrounding my current situation.  Before I even write them down there is an issue with Mom that comes up.
I also write with momentum.  I get an idea and start writing.  One distraction throws off that momentum.

Subject matter
I originally chose to write about elder care and homeless issues.   Didn't realize at the time I was still growing and learning about  this .     Had I know then what I know now I would have tackled this differently.    What have I learned in the past seven or eight years regarding the homeless and eldercare?  There is nothing we can do about them.  Trust me.

Being real
In order to write about elder care you have to occasionally be brutally honest about people close to the matter.  This means occasionally ruffling feathers and wounding egos.  Not necessarily maliciously.   People do not always do things to be nasty.  During my journey as a caregiver I have come to realize that money is the biggest factor but not everyone who needs money is greedy.   It is hard to tell the greedy from the non greedy.  I am paying $10 an hour out of pocket for Mom's care but she needs more than that.  The care she is getting isn't perfect but is is adequate and I am very grateful for it.

I will elaborate more in the future.

CHANGES

Life for my mother has officially changed.  On December 19 my aunt passed away after a short bout with pancreatic cancer.   Myrtle Isaacs was my mother's last surviving sister and was 82.  At another time I will get a little more into her life but she was definitely blessed.   And as I said life for us has changed.

Long time again

I am a bad blogger again.  Since I got back from Florida from the hurricane I haven't done much posting.  Looking to change that this week when I go back to Daytona Beach for my mother's birthday, Christmas and New Years.  Hopefully Mom will stay out of the hospital this year.

I also have to start really looking into a facility for her in case my aunt passes away.

IRMA DAY 17

Actually Irma Day 17 is actually Atlanta Day one.  

In Florida, Mom and I endured five full powerless days in Irma's aftermath.  We made it off prayers, and for mom peanut butter sandwiches.  For breakfast she would have a nutrigrain, lunch would be peanut butter on crackers and dinner was a peanut Butter sandwich.  I had a little tuna fish and that was it.  By Friday my mother ha enough as her behavior started to shift.  The heat was starting to get to her even though she was drinking water.  But then again, how much water can an 89 year old drink in one day?  Even though I was able to get a fish sandwich from McDonald's for Mom we were both thankful to God the power came back for us Friday evening.  I then had to stay around and do some food shopping and get that power of attorney form filled out and filed.  Now I can go home and earn a few dollars.  The first check I have showing my family leave hours is for a little more than $400.  My next one will be for about $500.

Currently I am in Atlanta.  The way it was supposed to go was on September 17th I was to go to Florida to check mom out  as well as celebrate my aunt's birthday.  But Irma happened and I had to get to Florida a week earlier.  I just connected the trips.  I will be taking the rain back Sunday.

No more hurricanes I hope

IRMA Day 5

Day 5, Monday September 11, 2017
Last night I rode out Hurricane Irma with my mother.  Unnerving but not as scary as I thought it would be.  It helped that the hurricane was to our west and was downgraded to a category 1 or 2.  Lots of wind and rain and we lost power just after 1:00 in the morning.  The experience has taught me that I do not want to live in Florida.  I never did, but since Mom moved here I figured I would consider living in the house down here.  I can’t see that happening.
It is after 9 in the morning and as I mentioned there is no power.  That means no television, which is not a huge problem.  Cell phones are slow and because there is no power I had to decrease the capacity of it.  Quite a few of the local radio stations are out.  That is the scary thing.  One hurricane could have wiped out all of the communication in the state.  So now in addition to wondering about how to pay for Mom’s care I have to figure out how to get her out of Florida and back to New York with Medicaid.  From what I have observed Mom definitely can use a nursing home.  She is doing ok at home but her mornings and nights are rough.  Eventually she won’t have any care at home.

IRMA Day 4

Day 4, Sunday September 10, 2017,
9:00 AM
Up early but really couldn’t sleep last night.  As of 9 AM the storm hit the Florida Keys and will eventually make a second landfall in southwest Florida.  Have to admit I am a little nervous, mostly for my mother.  Not too concerned for myself or I would have gone to a shelter.

NOON
Maureen got Mom up around 11 this morning.  We let her sleep later than usual.  She was actually awake at about 9.  When she originally woke up she was calm and cooperative. However, when Maureen got her up she was feisty and giving a hard time.  She kept saying “I am not with this program”.
We have had multiple alerts regarding tornado warnings.  Nerve wrecking.

4:15
Watching a ballgame with my mother.  I love sitting with her and watching a baseball game.  It reminds me of old times.  I am concerned about my aunt though.  She and my cousin are riding out the storm at the nursing home.
The eye of the storm is now at Naples.

9:00 PM
Horrible evening.  Mom is going through her dementia.  I am being told  it is “sun downing”.  Totally uncooperative.  She has to use the bathroom but won’t get up to let me take her.

IRMA Day 3

DAY 3 (Saturday September 9, 2017)
I spent  the night at my aunt’s house with my mother.  I will be here until at least Tuesday night.  My aunt gets back from the nursing home on Wednesday.
Because my mother is 89 and has recurring kidney stones and urinary tract infections she suffers from dementia at times.  Sometimes she is fine and other times she is feisty.  So far things have been smooth.  She is listening to music and an occasional baseball game.
We have food in place in case there is a power outage.   Batteries are fresh and the phone chargers are fully charged.
Right now it is just a waiting game.

IRMA Day 2

Day 2
 Friday, September 8, 2017
I spent the morning paying a late water bill.   Daytona Beach overcharges for water and they are quick to shut your utilities off.  Traffic was a little congested yesterday when my shuttle drove in but in the Daytona Beach area it wasn’t very bad.  A few stores closed but the CVS and even Popeye’s were still open.
I decided to ride out the storm with my mother at my aunt’s house.  While I was going to pay the water bill I got a call from Good Samaritan, the shelter Mom would have gone to.  Her insurance would not cover the emergency visit unless my mother spent three days in the hospital prior.  The price would have been about $1250 if Mom stayed five days and $780 if she stayed three days.  And they wanted the money up front which was almost impossible.  It should be noted again that at least in Volusia County there are shelters for the general public and even those with some special needs.  However if you are truly service needy like those with medical issues and those needing hospital beds, you are on your own.  The emergency website suggests that you contact a home care person.  I contacted a nursing home because we don’t belong to a home care agency.  Good Samaritan was the closest and the first I contacted.  Solaris, the rehab facility Mom used back in April never called back.  So on one hand I appreciate Good Samaritan actually taking the time to call me.  On the other, who has $800 sitting around to burn.  It is my problem with Florida and even with elder care in the United States.

IRMA day 1

DAY 1 (Thursday September 7, 2017)
I have never liked Florida.    Too many thunderstorms.  Too much humidity.   Too many insects.
I got off work last night at 9, almost three hours later than usual.  Because batteries are either scarce in Daytona or overpriced due to the upcoming storm I had to get some in New York before I left.  I got almost $90 worth of batteries.  Also got no sleep because my flight left LaGuardia Airport at 7 in the morning.  Ever since Jet Blue started flying to Daytona Beach I have been flying there, but because they made the flight earlier I left from LaGuardia and flew into Orlando.  To get to Kennedy from my apartment would cost me about $70.  Why not pay less to go to LGA then spend $50 to get to Daytona Beach?
Flight was great.  I had a seat to myself.  In fact I had two rows to myself.  People are trying to leave Florida and not fly into the storm.
I had made arrangements with a nursing home a day or two earlier for mom to stay during the hurricane.  At the time I figured that she and my aunt would have professional care during Hurricane Irma.  After I landed I found out the paperwork hadn’t arrived at the nursing home.  I had to spend close to an hour navigating with the doctor’s office and the nursing home since I didn’t want the last bed to go to someone else.  That caused me to miss the shuttle to Daytona Beach.  I eventually arrived home at 5:00.

PRE DAY 1

The days before hurricane Irene had a name I noticed and monitored it.  I don’t remember the exact date but it was a day or two off the West African coast.    It was still just a tropical disturbance.  I watched for a few days on weather.com and weather.gov (weather.gov is better btw) and I eventually brought it up with my cousin since both of our parents had to deal with it.  I knew from then that the storm would be a problem for Florida.  Over the Labor Day weekend I realized I would have to go to Florida.    Irma was forecast to hit Florida 9/10.  Originally I thought I would be able to go down the 8th or 9th but common sense and prices changed that .  I aimed for September 7.

My mother and my aunt stay together in Florida.  But as I may have mentioned in the past they are both disabled.  My mother has severe arthritis and scoliosis.  My aunt has almost no use of her arms or legs and is now battling pancreatic cancer.  They both have caregivers, however my aunt’s caregivers were vacating.  My cousin and I had to act.  The plan was to go to Florida and try and get out parents placed at a nursing facility.

Irma

Looks like Hurricane Irma may hit Florida.  Still watching closely.    As of right now it looks like it may brush Miami then go into the Gulf of Mexico.  As of fight now it doesn't look like it is going to directly hit Daytona Beach.  My cousin is going to Florida for her mother.  I am praying that I do not have to go out there earlier than scheduled.

Watching the tropics

Watching Hurricane Irma right now.  So far the authorities are saying it is too early to know if the impact to the United States and specifically Florida.  Right now though it looks like it will slam into Florida's east coast.

I have already contacted elder authorities to see what can be done for my mother and my aunt being that they are disabled and need hospital beds, etc.  Believe it or not there is nothing for them.  There are shelters in place but they are for people with minimal disabilities.  Nothing for the bedridden.

JOURNAL ENTRY #97 Where have I been part 5

I don't come across too many blogs dedicated to the elderly. I have looked but maybe I am not using the right search words.  I wonder about the validity of some of the blogs I have seen. There are so many components to care-giving.  One aspect is home care.  How do do you write about that honestly?  How do you share your home attendant stories, especially if you are like a lot of folks who can't afford the agencies?  Since my mother has been living with her sister for the past 11 years I have seen a lot of home attendants.  Some have dealt with my mother directly but most have worked for my aunt, solely.  It is difficult for me to communicate current experiences regarding them so I stay quiet.  Not because the experiences are bad.  For the most part they are good.  However, dealing with human beings things get weird.    And actually there are not a lot of differences between agency folks and non agency folks after the background checks.  One day I will share specifics.

I have nothing against anyone who earns a living in the medical field or in social services even though I feel it is distasteful to try to get rich off someone else's illness or misfortune.  I just feel that there should be a better way for a person to access services who cannot afford them.

JOURNAL ENTRY #96 Where have I been (part 4)

This is another rant

I have been interested in homeless affairs since the late 1990s.  I have been very interested in elder affairs since roughly 2005.  I have found that both issues are similar.  We will never solve the problems in either issue.

I am slow.  It took me over 20 years to completely realize that this country could eradicate those problems but we are not in the business of helping people.  We are in the business of making money.

I have come to realize that both issues need private and public support.  To assist the homeless, hungry and/or elderly the focus cannot be about profit.  It has to be a joint effort from private industry and the government.  When it comes to the homeless these joint efforts must cover the mentally ill and the unfortunate as well as those who are just unemployable.    It has to be acknowledged that the solution is not a one size fits all answer.

For elder issues we have to come up with an affordable way to assist seniors who are middle-class bracket.  People who make a little more than the requirements for Medicaid.  Maybe granting some automatic discounts for medication and food might help people over 60.   We also have to keep in mind assistance for those with dementia This assistance has to be available on a federal level.

It is about assisting people and not about entitlements.

JOURNAL ENTRY #95 Where have I been (part 3)

August 28

So mom had to get a scope done at the neurologist this afternoon.  She had kidney stones and the doctor wanted to see how bad.  The CAT scan she took last week showed it was a large stone.  As soon as I was told that it involved numbing the area and giving er a needle I knew it wasn't going to happen.  I just got word that she refused it.  This is what happens when you have an alpha female for a mother.  Incidentally months ago the neurologist wanted to keep track of her when she first had the recurrence of the urinary tract infection and she refused..  That was January.    Unfortunately this will not be the end of the story.

JOURNAL ENTRY #94 Where have I been (part 2)

Mom has been good today so far.  I called her for the first time this afternoon  at 3:00 and she didn't sound weird.  She was cooperative and when I reminded her to take her medications she asked questions but she didn't object.  Last night for the second night in a row she gave resistance in taking her medication and didn't want to get ready for bed.  It's probably the urinary tract infection that is making her act difficult and giving her dementia.  No matter what we all are having a hard time.

A lot has happened since Mom started getting these infections more frequently.  The had part about writing blogs involving elder care from a personal experience is that at times it is too personal.  You sometimes have to write about doctors and home attendants and I am not ready to write about that yet.  I am not ready to do that yet.  In time.

JOURNAL ENTRY 93: Where have I been?

My last entry was in April.  I had to take my mother to a rehab after her second stint in the hospital for a urinary tract infection.  To be honest I wasn't much in the mood to write about that experience.  Since then I was busy.  Mom had a third infection a month ago and actually may still have one now according to the doctor.  He set an appointment for her to see a urologist.

Just had to put Mom into a rehab center following a hospital visit.  Will probably have to be there for the 20 days.  Not happy.

Hospital data base needed

We need early instructions for dementia.  Some people already have instructions how to handle hospital visits with "do not resuscitate " instructions.  We should have instructions that go to a world-wide hospitsl website which gives instructions as how to handle dementia cases based on the social security number. 

My mother is now going through dementia, possibly because of a Urinary Tract Infection but her life was made easier because I  was there for most of her visit.

There really needs to be a hospital data base which collects patient information which all hospitals can access.  It would help with resuscitate orders and even allergy information.  I remember my hospital visit last year and it would have been helpful if the dietitian knew I had food allergies.

JOURNAL ENTRY 92: Easter Sunday ranting

Still at the hospital.  It's been close to 48 hours straight.  And it is Easter Sunday.  Sometime today I have to make my way to my mother's house and wash up, change clothes and come back.  Odd thing is now I feel like writing again.  Actually the feeling comes and goes depending on what is on my mind.   I am not particularly good at multitasking.

Also, I would like to find a different way to relay my message.  There doesn't seem to be a good way to assist people who have issues with elder care, hunger or homelessness.  There are limited resources.  It's like the "system" is not there to help anyone.  There should be information readily available on how Medicaid can work for people who are not dirt poor.  There should be ways for people to get groceries or a meal but it is not put out there.

JOURNAL ENTRY 91: Back in Daytona Beach

I got back here Friday afternoon.  Mom was behaving strangely again.  From the time I left a couple of weeks ago actually.  However, she picked up what I believe is a sinus infection earlier on during the week .  I say sinus infection because it had her usual signs:  sneeze, runny nose, dry cough, cough.  Of course Mom started sleeping more during the day, something she does when she is fighting an infection.  I thought using the nasal spray and taking Zyrtec would help but it was too late.  Then the dementia started kicking in.   I thought it was from the sinus infection but it was from another urinary tract infection.  Wednesday and Thursday nights she gave the home attendant a hard time at night going to bed.  Friday she went to the bathroom and couldn't get up so the EMS was called.

Even though I am in New York I was in the loop the entire time.  Good thing because Mom got to Halifax Hospital and put on a performance.  She wouldn't let them give her the IV..  I was on the phone with my cousin and I heard her screaming.  Eventually one of the home attendants got there and managed to get her to put the IV in.

Sidebar:  It was always hard for nurses to get blood from my mother so they would repeatedly stick her.  Now, at 89 she has a morbid fear of needles and will fight you tooth and nail.

Like I said I arrived the day after she got to the hospital.  She still has mild to moderate dementia, but I am not sure if this is because of the infections or if it is the beginning of a different issue.  She has not been fully cooperative though and her mind come and goes.  I have been at Halifax Hospital from about 2:00 Friday afternoon and it is now 8:00 Sunday morning.

When you deal with an elderly parent and especially one with possible cognitive issues it is important for somebody familiar to be there with her.  For example, my mother doesn't hear very well and she doesn't see that well.  This is in addition to the possible dementia she may be suffering from.  She will not take some medication unless you explain it the way she understands it.  For example the doctor wanted to give her the thyroid medication (I can't remember the long name of it) and she didn't want to take it because she is not fond of taking medications.  I had to tell her that it is the little pill she takes in the morning.  That helped.  I am dreading when they will have to change the IV though.

Journal entry #90

Went to Florida the last week in March . During that one week I found out one of my cousins passed away, my aunt had to go to tbe hospital, and  that we have problem with the caregiving.  Mom is also showing signs of early to mid level dementia.

4/9 Quick thought

After viewing the state of eldercare for the past few years I wonder if the younger generation is better off living unhealthy nowso they can drop dead of heart attacks and stroke before they reach 60

Quick thought 1: Geriatric care

Geriatric care is a money making business.  Unfortunately nobody told people that years ago when people were trying to stay healthy at the younger age.  The focus was on getting folks to live longer.  No one took into account how to pay for them once they go old

Journal Entry 89

Flying to Florida.  Trip already a journey from hell.  Flight full to the max.  Some clown gets on the plane and moves my bag from the corner whwre I left it to the middle without asking me.  I almost flipped.   Instead of arguung I just got up and moved my bag back.  The clown then sits down and hand sanitized the seat and table.

I prefer the trains

Journal Entry 88

I am on the express bus and somehow and for some reason Donald Trump and his followers came to my mind regarding health care.   I got a little concerned because for a moment I thought my thinking is like theirs.

When it comes to social services I think the United States should be a little more selfish.  Every citizen born in this country should be entitled so some form of food, clothing and shelter.  It shouldn't have to be grade A bit it should be standard.    People should be encouraged of course to have their own but some type of safety net would be there for those who don't.    Once again nothing extravagant or nothing the average person would aspire to have.  Just some place clean and free from the elements.  Not steak but the basics.

For legal immigrants something similar would be offeres.  Not on the level of what a US citizen would get but something substantial.   it would reflct the difference between a citizen and non citizen with status.

For illegals or undocumented aliens the bare essentials would be provided.  They wouldn't be homeless but any handout wouldn't be more substantial than a citizen or non citizen with status.

I know.  Pipe dreams.

JOURNAL ENTRY #87- One of those days

It's President's Day so I am off.  It's one of those days though where I don't feel like talking to anyone.

People handle being a caregiver in many different ways.  Unlike Dad I am not my mother's primary caregiver.  I talk to her every day and I visit as often as I can.  With Dad I lived with him.  It's not much less stressful though whether you live with your parent or not.  Some folks handle the stress by smoking, drinking or doing drugs.    A lot of people reach out to friends and family on the telephone.  I am not one of those people.  I actually avoid having conversations with people.  It doesn't hep with my focus and I find that it takes away my time.  Aside from my mother I don't speak to anyone on the phone.

JOURNAL ENTRY #86

I mentioned traveling more this year.  Here are the places I would like to visit:

1.  Sacramento, CA
2.  Atlanta, GA
3.  Providence, RI
4.  Washington DC
5.  Philadelphia, PA
6.  Portland, ME

JOURNAL ENTRY #85: Quick thought

Homelessness, Elder Care issues and hunger in this country could be eradicated if as a country we weren't so concerned about making a profit from it.

JOURNAL ENTRY #84:

Got rid of Cablevision. 

Actually got rid of it in November.  I had the combination of cable, television and internet service and paid close to $180 a month.  I only have wifi and phone service now and I just picked up Netflix.  I can stream my news.

JOURNAL ENTRY #83 RESOLUTION

I know it is late but here are my resolutions for 2017.  I tried to be realistic this year:

1.  Travel more outside of Florida

2.  Investigate more jobs

3.  Help my mother get the house

4.  Write more

5.  Take more pictures

JOURNAL ENTRY #82

A lot has happened since I last posted last year.  A lot of it stressful but none of it tragic thankfully.    I hate using the old cliche "I was busy". This is supposed to be something I actually like to do.  I will admit to not being focused  from the time I started blogging even though I have focal areas.  I guess the older you get the harder it is to focus on things outside of work and loved ones.

Admittedly, Mom has taken away a lot of my focus with her health issues.  Over the next few posts I will elaborate...somewhat.

For now I am going to focus on posting.  Writing like I said is something I enjoy.  I will handle this a little differently though.  My focus is still the same.  I would like to deal with homeless issues and elder care issues.  The difference though is that the blogs will be short.  By short I mean maybe a couple of paragraphs the most.  In time I will explain why.

Also I want to publish at least twice a month.  Same with my photography blog.  I want to publish twice a month.

Let's see what I can do.

JOURNAL ENTRY #81: BEEN SLACKING

OK, I've been slacking.....
A year ago the intention was to do photography once a month and this blog a little more frequent.  I failed.

Yeah I have been distracted, definitely from writing.  The year has been very active.  Some of the activity I won't even get into on this blog.

I still have the same ideas and focus.  I just have to sit down and dedicate time into this.  Focus is the biggest problem.  There is so much going on I cannot focus.

I am writing this from Halifax Hospital in Florida.  My mother had a Urinary Tract Infection and kidney stones so I brought her here this past Wednesday.  She didn't seem right after dinner.  She didn't seem as alert and she began shivering.    For those of you with elderly parents or parents you have to take responsibility for it is important that you pay attention.

I know my mother's body language.  She complains of being chilly but doesn't shiver.  In fact she shivered to where she couldn't speak.  SHIVERING IS OFTEN A SIGN OF AN INFECTION.  After I gave her a sweater and turned the heat on the shivering didn't stop so I called 911.  The paramedics arrived, assessed my mother and took her to Halifax Hospital.  KNOW YOUR PARENTS' MEDICAL HISTORY and BE ABLE TO GIVE PERTINENT INFORMATION LIKE DATE OF BIRTH, SS #, ETC.  I carried a list of my mother's allergies just in case.  I was also able to give behavior information to the emergency room technician.   Mom wasn't really able to to communicate.  Ultimately, she had the infection and the stones.  She arrived at the hospital Wednesday night and as of Sunday afternoon she is still here.  The fever broke, but the doctor changed her antibiotic and wanted to monitor her.

I have slept in this hospital room near my mother on a sofa.  I have multiple thoughts which I will share later.