I have an aide come once a week for two hours. I would like more
time and more help as those two hours are spent grocery shopping, so
I get no help around the house. But I can't afford more. The Home
Health Care agency charges $25 an hour for her and I was fortunate to
be granted a subsidy
from United Way, so I only have to pay half. But that's still $25 a
week additional for groceries.
They had a nurse come every six months. This I never understood, as
she either harassed my aide and made me lose part of the precious
two hours as she asked inane questions, or she came and asked me to
show her my "care plan."
The last time the nurse was here in the spring, she insulted and
threatened me. I swore she would not enter my house again and I wrote
a letter about what occurred, but decided against sending it.
Two weeks ago the nurse called me, and in her usual rude and cavalier
way,left a message telling me told me she would
be over the next day. I called and said would not be available. Then
i called the agency and said that
I did not want anymore dealings with this person and could they
please find someone else to send.
The head of the agency said they only had one person to do this. I
said i didn't understand why this had to be done... why was a nurse
necessary? I reminded her that i had used their services for 3 years
now, that i was very happy with my aide, but was not going to
voluntarily submit myself to insult
and distress. The head went on to try to persuade me/dissuade me by
telling me that their one other nurse covered another territory.
To which i had nothing to say. This was their requirement and it made
no sense to me.
This week she called me and left a message saying call her. I really
dislike messages that don't have information and when i returned the
call-- 90 minutes later, she was to be out of the office for the next
two days. I was directed to the second in command who said that i
was going to be reclassified.
Reclassified? I said i have one person, once a week, for two hours
who goes shopping.
Well i would be reclassified so that a nurse wouldn't have to come.
I said nothing. Since getting TM i find it hard to follow illogic and
agree with it. But on further reflection
I think they got money that i didn't pay for having a nurse
attributed to my account and perhaps
United Way picked up the tab, to the tune of $75/hour and they were
able to continue with this subtle
fraud until I refused to have the nurse come harass me again. But
that's 3 years of unnecessary
nonservice and easy money for that firm.
It's a dirty shame. I'm glad i didn't cave on this.
Akua
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