Part of the Problem...or...Part of the Solution

This is an expression I learned early in life, everyone is either part of the problem or a part of the solution. I truly hope that I am on the solution side of the majority of situations that I have encountered.

By now most of you will have heard of John "Jackie" Williams and his last few weeks spent in the Aberdeen Hospital 'waiting'... There was no long term care bed available in a facility in Pictou County, so he spent his last days bruised and bullied in an inappropriate situation. The security guard/commissionaire who allegedly mistreated him, to my knowledge, did not have training or the skills required to care for a patient with Alzheimer's Disease. How many other "Mr. Williams" are out there? People who no longer have the mind and body of their youth, people who are at the mercy of the 'system', people who have no voice.

The first thing that must happen: Protect patients from contact with anyone not trained to work with the ill, physical and mental. If you have not already done so, I would ask you to take a few minutes to write your MLA, MP, Leader of the Opposition and anyone in the health care system that you feel might be able to make this happen. We cannot have patients with dementia in the care of a security guard. This is not acceptable.

The second thing that must happen: We must have adequate care facilities to accommodate the present requirements. Let's not talk about what the situation will be like in 5 or 10 years...let's deal with today. We need more long term health care beds for the aging, for those who cannot, through no fault of their own, look after themselves. There will be more information in the upcoming blogs about the statistics and about what you can do.

For more information on Alzheimer's Disease and their advocacy platform please visit http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/society/advocacy_intro.htm

Security Guards are not Appropriate Care Givers

I am appalled by the treatment that Mr John Williams received at the Aberdeen Hospital. I would like to think that it is an isolated case and that it hasn't happened to others and that no-one else needs fear what treatment they will receive. But the question is there and it won't go away. Who is protecting the patients from the bullies and the badgers? How many failures in the system have never been disclosed? Scary thoughts.

I know that individuals who have not received the training required to do a job competently will usually fail, and in the case of caring for the ill, the elderly and the disadvantaged that failure can have serious consequences. Mr. Williams is the case in point. Tomorrow I will post the draft form of the first letter that I will be asking friends, family and acquaintances to complete and forward to their MLA and MP, as well as the Minister of Health and the premier. We need a strong letter writing campaign to voice concerns, demand action and improve communications.