This Is Not The Time to Worry About Your Shoes

In last week's Vancouver Sun, there was an article about a Vancouver Island couple, who were about to be separated because of differing care needs, and the Health Authority's impending actions which would have placed them in separate facilities.

Out of exasperation, the family contacted the Vancuver Sun. After one phone call to the Health Authority from a Sun reporter, a decision was made that they would be placed together.

Coincidence?
Sheer good luck?

It is hard to know what was really happening, the details were not made public, the Health Authority didn't say in the article what they had planned.

But I believe what it says, because I have seen the same problem with the results before. What does it tell you? Families need to be good advocates. Sometimes they need to be great advocates. Sometimes you have to stop worrying about what it will look like, or whether someone will like you, or whatever, and just do what you have to do.

This is not the time to worry about your shoes.

Consumers are not equal in this game--you don't know the rules ( and they keep changing), you do not know the players, you do not know the system, and most of the time, you do not know what constitutes really good care.

You do know how to ask questions. So ask them. Demand answers. If you don't get them, go higher up in the hierarchy. Look for a consumer group. Hire a Care Manager

Sometimes there really are limits--there may not be a bed available; the system will not fund you for twenty four hour care in your home; sometimes no amount of rehabilitation services will help someone walk again.

But sometiimes there is and sometimes they will.