$180 an hour for a shower?

Oh yes the government "changed the way it works" recently, "it" being the assistance package some elderly people get to remain in their own homes. Prices were supposed to be "fairer" under this. They have gone through the roof to the stratosphere.

The late Senior Cat had a "package" which entitled him to three showers a week. It was all the assistance we were able to get. Yes, we paid for it... when we could get it. We accepted it because we were told it was "safer" for a "trained person" to do the job of assisting him and it was one less thing I needed to do.

The reality was very different. For a start we never knew who would be coming, if they came at all. They might be male or female, old or young, experienced or inexperienced, capable or incapable. They might, if we were fortunate, speak English. On one occasion I actually had to hastily print off a communication board I had written for another purpose so I could try and explain that something could not get wet (or we would need to change the bandage). The very young lad who came that day took the piece of paper away with him and told me "asante" (thank you) over and over again. We never saw him again. He had no idea what to do and his English really was minimal. I don't think his Swahili was that great either as he really spoke a related language. 

We had a Chinese woman come for several months. She was lovely, had some medical training and her English was good but she had to bring her young daughter with her during school holidays - and expected me to watch her. 

The Senior Cat was able to explain, to tell people how to help. He was however growing hard of hearing and, add in some heavy accents, he had problems understanding people. It worried him that he would upset them.

In the end we simply gave up. Middle Cat and I took it in turns. We also made sure he had a shower every day in very hot summer weather. It worried the Senior Cat that we were doing it but Middle Cat knew how to do things and taught me how to do it safely. 

Yes, I suppose it also saved some money but we were not being charged anything like the equivalent of $180 when other people came to do it. We could do a more thorough job in about half an hour - undress, shower, dress. (He could still shave himself with an electric razor.) People said we were "lucky" we could do it. No, we were not lucky at all. It was hard work but we felt infinitely happier about doing it ourselves because we knew it would be done in a way that made the man we adored feel safe and comfortable. 

This is the problem with the "in home care" system. There is no chance to build relationships, to understand how someone's needs can be best met. Despite claims to the contrary those doing the job are not well trained, if they are trained at all. They might get as little as fifteen percent of that $180 and are unlikely to get more than twenty percent even if they have a certificate. It is poorly paid work. 

There is someone I know working in the administration office of an organisation which provides some of this "care". She tells me the boss has just bought a new car and she will be in charge while he has an overseas holiday.