There are reviews - and reviews. The one we had today was the internal one we have regularly with the two charities who share care with us. Needless to say Social Services were invited as usual - but as usual, didn't turn up. This is the review where we talk about the real care issues - how we're going to manage his chest over the next year, what we're going to change with his nursing, how the current continence equipment is or isn't working etc.. If this isn't Social Work I'm not sure what is.
They're happy enough to set up their own review to see if they can cut anything and insist we jump through their hoops and tick their boxes for it, but attending the regular ones that cover the real work doesn't seem important to them. Mind you, our reviews aren't about money (unless it's the iniquity of how much it costs him to go to the pictures because the cinema insists he pays for his nurse and driver - he can hardly leave one in the car for the length of a film.). The only interest Social Services seem to have in his care these days is how much it costs and whether they can reduce it to save a bit more - now that's what they call a review, and we've got one of those going on in parallel.
They don't know him, they don't really care about him, they're not involved - as long as they can tick the boxes and knock a few pounds off - job done. (That's probably a bit unfair to the individual doing it - but it's not unfair to the system she's feeding.)
P.S. NHS did attend for once. They sent one of the few people who's actually fought our corner in the past. She'll do it again for us this time - unfortunately the cuts mean she's having to take early retirement next month.
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Does son have a CEA card? Single-page form, photocopy proof of DLA, cheque for £5.50, done. Pays for itself the first time you use it!
ReplyDeleteThe driver - does s/he really need to go into the cinema with them? Most films are round about 90 minutes, that sounds like a pretty reasonable chunk of time to sit and read/write/knit/do a crossword/have a leisurely cuppa, maybe even pop home if it's close.
If it's truly the best bet then I'd be wanting to sort a meeting with cinema manager to negotiate a bit
Hope the sore bits are better!
He does have a card - it gets one carer in free, sometimes - depends on the person on duty whether they decide to accept it. Cinema is on out of town estate, and these people, although employed are the few friends he has. It's easier to pay. He uses our Orange Tuesday when he can.
ReplyDeleteBut all this is minor. The real issue is that it really is more expensive to be disabled. The wheelchair adaptations to his van cost as much as the van - and he loses his Mobility Allowance next year that helped to run it.