Saturday 21 June 2008

Saturday 21 June 2008

I am having a go at writing a few lines of my own again to this blog. It is not that I I am unappreciative of the work that Leanne is putting in the opposite in fact. By staring at a screen of data and then trying to emulate the erudite and witty contents I realise how much effort this now requires what with muscles that I actually tried to look up the other day doing a translation from a text book and a mirror image of what I was seeing. It is truly frightening when the differences are in seeing more puny musculature in the mirror image and NOT the text book.

I have not dared to step onto a set of scales but would not be surprised if the weight is down to the 50 -55 kilo range. For those of you who have known me - think abut it - that was usually the size of the conference papers an then there were the working papers and clothes PLUS the bulk of the attendee.

I notice that Leanne waxes lyrical abut those attending to to our needs here at home and I have to say I am empathic to this. However let us not forget those who work at the hospital directly and actually have the permissions to make the visits there as well. These doctors share rounds and patients and are equally dazzling and legendary a fact that they will have to prove again I suspect when the places into which subcut needles can be placed with which a syringe driver can be used. What IS truly amazing is what takes place in the home - I mean seriously folks whatever your fantasies about a former public servant it should not extend to the notion that without attending work there is an income stream available to pay for incurred bills for treattment. Medical supplies are not cheap. Take a few of the 'essentials Leanne has referred to:

a walker,
a wheel chair,
an oxyen concentrator,
a shower chair,
a high back motorized chair to get you into and out of positions of comfort;
wedge for the bed to emulate a hosptial elecrtonic bed;
the real thing if you need one,
pic line;
peg tube;
Injector;
not to mention the costs of visits for the personnel to use all this stuff stuff professionally in your own home and of course their costs (transport etc) as well as medication

If you want to horrify yourself check out prices and costs at Weston creek at the Independent Living Centre - don;t bother with the smalls just check the bigger ticket items only

Then ask your self how ANYONE can afford all this?

The reality is different your Doctor's fees and the medications are a little like death and taxes, there to be paid - and if you have been clever enough to DIRGREGARD the propaganda and take out private health insurance cover when you were in receipt of an income you're laughing now as bills are turned over to them and magic happens - they get paid by the insurance company and you are no worse off.

Explore then the unreal world of leasing the equipment as distinct from BUYING it. The costs will surprise you. They completely left me high and dry with admiration. THEN when you contemplate the overall service and its connectivity if will leave you with a sense of resolve to preserve all that you find intact as you have found it (minimalist position) or ADD value where you can find some (eg donations of your own) or Opimal value position where (assuming you get the chance) you volunteer YOUR TIME to the cause.

Not many things bring grown men to cry but these services up there with the better motivators.