Paul from Australia
12-25-2008, 08:43 AM
G'day everyone.
We are absolutely awed and humbled about what has happened. A very exciting Christmas present indeed.
As you know we have had only three holidays in 19 years where Grant has been on respite with nurses in attendance. Of those three holidays, only one was long enough for us to leave the house and have a holiday ourselves without Grant.
Early this year the Department of Human Services emphasised that we simply had to have respite. They searched and searched for suitable respite (with nurses in attendance) for Grant, but because of his very young age no such place existed.
Not giving up the Department arranged for Grant to be assessed as an aged care candidate even though he wasn't aged :)
The next step was to contact nursing homes in the State to see which ones would love to have Grant. Of all the nursing homes contacted (I believe there were dozens), only one nursing home said that they would be willing to give it a go.
So, about 9 months ago a nurse from the aged care assessment team came out and assessed Grant. Then a case worker joined the team to co-ordinate the procedures.
About 3 months ago we felt a bit uncomfortable regarding the proceedings and contacted the case worker, who said that she was about to change jobs, but not to worry!. Fortunately the case worker who took over was right on the ball. It was time to worry and get cracking as a great deal of work had to be done.
Everything then happened very quickly.
1. The nursing home manager for the nursing home and the director of nursing and the new case manager and a funding person from the Department visited for about 2 hours.
2. Eight Division One nurses from the nursing home and the manager of the nursing home visited for about 2 hours.
3. Seven Division Two nurses from the nursing home and the manager of the nursing home visited for about 2 hours.
They have never had a client like Grant stay at their nursing home. He will be, I believe the youngest person in the State to stay in an aged care nursing home. Grant continues to be the trendsetter.
WHAT LOVELY PEOPLE
When the Division One nurses were leaving they assured us that Grant would be in good hands. They were very confident. One of them gave Alison and kiss and a cuddle. The manager of the nursing home is a very strict and down to earth manager = no nonsense at all, everything prim and proper and precise. However after she had done her strict rules routine and asked all the necessary questions, she walked over to Grant and demonstrated just how loving and gentle she is underneath the tough countenance. On the way out she gave both of us a kiss and a cuddle :)
MORE RULES BROKEN FOR GRANT
When the new case worker took over she said that it was against the rules for the nursing home to put food in the fridge that is given by the family. Well, Alison and I discussed the situation and we decided that Grant simply couldn't go to the nursing home if he had to go back on the tinned muck/poison. No correspondence on that one.
So, much dialogue went on between the manager of the nursing home and the case worker. They initially decided that they would blend the meals up for Grant. When the Division One nurses visited, I demonstrated the Vitamix, but in my haste when cleaning it I put the wrong soap in resulting in the Vitamix machine having to be washed many times. We knew the demo was not going down well. However when the manager saw how we prepared the meals and froze the meals immediately she took authority of the situation and said that we could provide frozen prepared meals, provided that each meal was labelled with contents and preparation date! How about that! Isn't that unreal.
CARE PLAN VERSION 4
The manager of the nursing home has been corresponding with us almost daily and we have gone back and forth with different versions of the care plan for the nursing home. The plan is now finalised. It is 9 pages in length and very detailed.
SEIZURE PLAN
We had to prepare a specific seizure treatment/medication plan, which was signed by our family doctor. He also signed a drug sheet and nutrient sheet.
GOD'S AWESOME PROVISION
We don't for one moment think this has all happened by chance. The case worker pointed out that the nursing home didn't have to do any of this. They have a waiting list of clients.
The nursing home is only 20 minutes from where we live.
Our family doctor, who has known Grant since he was 3, visits one nursing home in the area, and of course you guessed it, the nursing home he visits is the one Grant will stay at.
ONE ON ONE DURING THE DAY
Grant will have one on one care during the day. And the person giving the one on one care will be a nurse! During the night a nurse will be in the area and will be very close to Grant indeed.
THE NURSES WILL DO SOME OF THE PROGRAM WITH GRANT :)
The nurses are more than happy to do some of Grant's super duper program with him.
OUR CARER INVITED TO THE NURSING HOME
Last week I took Grant and the carer (Kathy) unnanounced to the nursing home ;) I do these sorts of things you know :D I said to the carer before we entered the nursing home, that we have to be very cautious as the manager of the nursing home is a perfectionist and might not like a carer to visit. Well I didn't mention Kathy visiting the nursing home, but when we were leaving the manager said to Kathy that she would like Kathy to visit :) How about that! Kathy will visit twice each week.
GRANT WILL BE OFF ON HIS NURSING HOME HOLIDAY ON DECEMBER 29th FOR 14 DAYS
We drop Grant off at the nursing home on the 29th of December. We will stay around for a few days, and then we will have a 7 day holiday at Shoreham by the beach. We will be about 1 1/2 hours from the nursing home.
If the respite works well, and we assume it will, Grant will be able to go to the nursing home again next year for respite. The nursing home does not like short visits and prefers clients to stay for a minimum of 10 days, which suits us perfectly. It we can book Grant in during the school holidays, it will be simply unbelievable.
SUMMARY
God's provision for Grant having respite in the adult nursing home is simply awesome. Thank you Lord.
Good news eh :) *boogie*boogie*boogie
Best wishes and seeya,
Paul and Alison, looking forward to a week by the beach, and Grant looking forward to being spoiled rotten at the nursing home with all the lovely and caring nurses.
We are absolutely awed and humbled about what has happened. A very exciting Christmas present indeed.
As you know we have had only three holidays in 19 years where Grant has been on respite with nurses in attendance. Of those three holidays, only one was long enough for us to leave the house and have a holiday ourselves without Grant.
Early this year the Department of Human Services emphasised that we simply had to have respite. They searched and searched for suitable respite (with nurses in attendance) for Grant, but because of his very young age no such place existed.
Not giving up the Department arranged for Grant to be assessed as an aged care candidate even though he wasn't aged :)
The next step was to contact nursing homes in the State to see which ones would love to have Grant. Of all the nursing homes contacted (I believe there were dozens), only one nursing home said that they would be willing to give it a go.
So, about 9 months ago a nurse from the aged care assessment team came out and assessed Grant. Then a case worker joined the team to co-ordinate the procedures.
About 3 months ago we felt a bit uncomfortable regarding the proceedings and contacted the case worker, who said that she was about to change jobs, but not to worry!. Fortunately the case worker who took over was right on the ball. It was time to worry and get cracking as a great deal of work had to be done.
Everything then happened very quickly.
1. The nursing home manager for the nursing home and the director of nursing and the new case manager and a funding person from the Department visited for about 2 hours.
2. Eight Division One nurses from the nursing home and the manager of the nursing home visited for about 2 hours.
3. Seven Division Two nurses from the nursing home and the manager of the nursing home visited for about 2 hours.
They have never had a client like Grant stay at their nursing home. He will be, I believe the youngest person in the State to stay in an aged care nursing home. Grant continues to be the trendsetter.
WHAT LOVELY PEOPLE
When the Division One nurses were leaving they assured us that Grant would be in good hands. They were very confident. One of them gave Alison and kiss and a cuddle. The manager of the nursing home is a very strict and down to earth manager = no nonsense at all, everything prim and proper and precise. However after she had done her strict rules routine and asked all the necessary questions, she walked over to Grant and demonstrated just how loving and gentle she is underneath the tough countenance. On the way out she gave both of us a kiss and a cuddle :)
MORE RULES BROKEN FOR GRANT
When the new case worker took over she said that it was against the rules for the nursing home to put food in the fridge that is given by the family. Well, Alison and I discussed the situation and we decided that Grant simply couldn't go to the nursing home if he had to go back on the tinned muck/poison. No correspondence on that one.
So, much dialogue went on between the manager of the nursing home and the case worker. They initially decided that they would blend the meals up for Grant. When the Division One nurses visited, I demonstrated the Vitamix, but in my haste when cleaning it I put the wrong soap in resulting in the Vitamix machine having to be washed many times. We knew the demo was not going down well. However when the manager saw how we prepared the meals and froze the meals immediately she took authority of the situation and said that we could provide frozen prepared meals, provided that each meal was labelled with contents and preparation date! How about that! Isn't that unreal.
CARE PLAN VERSION 4
The manager of the nursing home has been corresponding with us almost daily and we have gone back and forth with different versions of the care plan for the nursing home. The plan is now finalised. It is 9 pages in length and very detailed.
SEIZURE PLAN
We had to prepare a specific seizure treatment/medication plan, which was signed by our family doctor. He also signed a drug sheet and nutrient sheet.
GOD'S AWESOME PROVISION
We don't for one moment think this has all happened by chance. The case worker pointed out that the nursing home didn't have to do any of this. They have a waiting list of clients.
The nursing home is only 20 minutes from where we live.
Our family doctor, who has known Grant since he was 3, visits one nursing home in the area, and of course you guessed it, the nursing home he visits is the one Grant will stay at.
ONE ON ONE DURING THE DAY
Grant will have one on one care during the day. And the person giving the one on one care will be a nurse! During the night a nurse will be in the area and will be very close to Grant indeed.
THE NURSES WILL DO SOME OF THE PROGRAM WITH GRANT :)
The nurses are more than happy to do some of Grant's super duper program with him.
OUR CARER INVITED TO THE NURSING HOME
Last week I took Grant and the carer (Kathy) unnanounced to the nursing home ;) I do these sorts of things you know :D I said to the carer before we entered the nursing home, that we have to be very cautious as the manager of the nursing home is a perfectionist and might not like a carer to visit. Well I didn't mention Kathy visiting the nursing home, but when we were leaving the manager said to Kathy that she would like Kathy to visit :) How about that! Kathy will visit twice each week.
GRANT WILL BE OFF ON HIS NURSING HOME HOLIDAY ON DECEMBER 29th FOR 14 DAYS
We drop Grant off at the nursing home on the 29th of December. We will stay around for a few days, and then we will have a 7 day holiday at Shoreham by the beach. We will be about 1 1/2 hours from the nursing home.
If the respite works well, and we assume it will, Grant will be able to go to the nursing home again next year for respite. The nursing home does not like short visits and prefers clients to stay for a minimum of 10 days, which suits us perfectly. It we can book Grant in during the school holidays, it will be simply unbelievable.
SUMMARY
God's provision for Grant having respite in the adult nursing home is simply awesome. Thank you Lord.
Good news eh :) *boogie*boogie*boogie
Best wishes and seeya,
Paul and Alison, looking forward to a week by the beach, and Grant looking forward to being spoiled rotten at the nursing home with all the lovely and caring nurses.