To be insulted, to be humilitated, to be disgraced

My patience is at an end. I was just told that I am not allowed to use the toilet in Ward 1 (a Ward that is not fully utilized --). GPC is doing everything possible so that I have no contact with the residents or staff.  What is GPC trying to do.  Totally bizarre.  So far I have never been told what harm I ever committed. Trying to be friendly should be encouraged not banned. I worked twenty-five years in retail I know how to say hi to people. There are serious things wrong with VCH but who will address them. None of this would have progressed this far if I was, as promised, afforded an independent investigation of the alledged behavior I was guilty of which resulted in my banning forever from the bedside of my friend, Randy Michael Walker.  Linda Rose promised me this at the open Board Meeting June 2011.  She then just abruptly changed her mind and the Chairman of the Board won't interfere even though her decision was contrary to VCH's own policies.  I question the competency of the Board. 

GPC phoned me saying that Randy wasn't feeling well on Tuesday and he didn't want to get up as he had a fever.  So I ran down there being escorted by the head nurse who said that I could only have a few minutes.  Randy did not have a fever.  I reminded him of the appointment we had offsite to get him a new pair of glass frames and he decided to get up.  But of course that wasn't possible. I am not sure why it wasn't possible but that is the answer I got. 

I have been using that washroom for a year. What further humiliation do I have to face.

cc to Kip Woodward, Chair of VCH
cc to Bob Chapman, Risk Management of VCH

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न्न्न्नन्न्न्न

Thank You for Sharing The Randy Michael Walker Foundation

Another week has passed and it seems like an hour. So many things have happened but I do not have the energy to explain. A gentleman was very kind to me on Tuesday and he said thank you for sharing my experiences with VCH with him. It was the nicest compliment I received so far. I hope I can meet him again. Thank you for sharing. I will never forget.

I have started another blog called the Randy Michael Walker Foundation. The prime purpose of the Foundation is to create an interest group to change the BC Residential Tenancy Act and Strata Act to allow companion pets if a doctor thinks it is necessary for the well-being of a patient. I have spoken to many retired people and they all would like a pet. I know for me if I didn't have Randy's two rescued doggies, I would be a worse basket case than I am. The doggies demand attention and they control me totally. Missey is a golden retriever about 11 years old and the little dog, Owen, is about ten years old. Both of them are devils and they have taken over my apartment as their own: it is their house. They are happy. And they love each other. And they love strawberries and cantaloupe. And they keep me young and fit and sometimes focused. Both are very joyful and are always playing catch me if you can. Both of them are smart. They are trained so that at 7:00 am both of them go to the lane and on a small grass patch have a quick peepee and then they run back into the house. I have to rely on charity to pay for their maintenance; both are very healthy. I want Randy and others from George Pearson Centre to create the companion pet action initiative. I spoke to Karen a resident at GPC and she is excited to help. If any of you readers like the idea please write a letter, email or phone to say you are on board. And send $1.00 or stamps to pay for overhead, if you can. I do not want to do a petition rather I want letters/emails/phone calls with comments on topic. I want it to be a very interative experience with boxes and boxes of letters, emails, and telephone messages overflowing and we will acknowledge each of your comments. And off to the parliament buildings we will go...

Randy Michael Walker
Ward 2
George Pearson Centre,
700 West 57th Avenue,
Vancouver, BC. V6P 1S2
604-321-5911/604-321-3231

audreyjlaferriere@gmail.com
604-321-2276
75-543 Powell Street
Vancouver BC
V6A 1G8

or 5976B Cambie Street
Vancouver BC
V5Z 392

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Abuse and Neglect

When is abuse and neglect so commonplace that it isn't abuse or neglect anymore.   I suspect it is when you become so battered that you don't care any more.

Letter to Worksafe and Union December 15 2011

In my quest to have an independent investigation by an outside party into the allegations that infringed on Randy's rights to associate with me as well as my access to him, I sent the below worded letter to Work Safe and to the Employees Union to investigate the bullying which I was subjected to as it involved safe practices.  Nothing came of the two letters.  Since then the young man who incessantly rang his call bell has died and I wasn't even afforded the opportunity to attend his memorial service although I was but a few hundred feet away. I will never forgive GPC for this.



15 December 2011


Contents of email to jacqueline.dulac@worksafebc.com

Subject: George Pearson Centre

___________________________________________________________________


My name is Audrey Jane Laferriere.

For the past ten months I have been constructively banned from George Pearson Centre because I was a safety issue for the residents, staff and visitors of GPC. The hours I am allowed to see Randy are during the day from 2:00 to 4:00 sometimes to 4:30 pm from MtoF. These hours are very difficult for me and I have had to change my life to accommodate and forgo other commitments. I am not allowed to visit Randy on weekends, holidays or weekends that are the usual hours for friends and visitors. I am not allowed to see Randy in his ward (his home for the next fifteen years) so I cannot attend to his personal comfort like using his remote to find tv channels he would enjoy. I can only see him if he is feeling up to it and then it is in the piano room across from security. Randy has very little mobility and cannot speak.

Although I tried to adhere to the written policies of VCH to appeal this banning, I was not afforded the opportunity to talk to those that accused me nor was I allowed an independent investigation into the incident(s).

The tipping point for my constructive banning was when I went into a resident's room and gave him a plush toy in February 2011 and a LPN followed me into the resident's room, grabbed the plush toy from my hand, said the resident didn't need the toy, and told me that I wasn't allowed in his room. The plush toy wasn't returned to me; it landed up in the nurses’ station in full view. Up until that time I was friendly with the resident and the week prior I had given him another plush toy. Plush toys are necessary for residents so they have something soft and cuddly to touch; a substitute for human contact. And this young man had a habit of incessantly using his call bell to call nursing staff because he was lonely.

This whole incident is about bullying by a few staff, a few residents, and one visitor which bullying is still continuing. My reputation has been damaged beyond repair. Since bullying can be dangerous, it must fall under your purview.

If you could investigate the incidents I would appreciate it.


Audrey Laferriere

audreyjlaferriere@gmail.com

604-321-2276

http://voiceofgoneballistic.blogspot.com

110,314

Too Good to be true

For the past few days, everything was going okay, and this morning I awoke with a sense of foreboding around me and sure enough Marion reminded me of my unrealistic restrictions to visit Randy.  I am only allowed to visit Randy and not allowed to attend any GPC activities -- those activities that are used to normalize the residents and their significant others are invited like church, like residents council meetings, like the garden club, like the canteen, like bingo.

My presence is apparently upsetting Rod and Willy in Ward 2.  After a year I tried to be pleasant to Rod a few days ago and he like a spoilt child runs off behind my back saying I invaded his space because I stood in his doorway and asked how was he feeling as his brother recently died and Rod was in VGH for a few weeks. During the Christmas we were talking about his life so I assumed that things were okay between us.  He complained about me a year ago so he might have decided again to paint me.  If not he can get in touch with me and I will apologize because maybe someone else saw us.

And then there is Willy, the resident bully. The resident bully who buys bulk food at Costco and stores it in his resident-wife's cupboard and cooks his meals in the common kitchen although it is said in the GPC Residents Manual that visitors are allowed only tea and a cookie sometimes. I have asked that his cooking cease but no.  There is avery large cafeteria where food can be purchased reasonably from the kitchen.   Both of these caring persons are featured in the You Tube video Envisioning Home.  How can these giants be afraid of a 70 year old woman weighing 100 pounds.

This has been going on for close to two years and it is going to continue like Linda Rose said until Randy dies and even on his death bed I would not be allowed into Ward 2.  GPC does not have to have a reason to expel anyone. And what can I do: nothing. I have no money for lawyers and GPC is private property owned by the taxpayers so maybe it can. So much for the myth that GPC is a home for the incurables.

For the past few days I have been asking residents what they thought of someone cooking fresh fried food in a ward.  Would it cause a resident to become upset especially if he is on tube feed or even on hospital food.  I could not find one resident who thought it was appropriate.  One of the comments I heard was that it was torture.  And Willy is still cooking there.  Randy is a quad in a bed close to the common kitchen, he can't talk, he can't walk, he can't eat.  Even if he was in a position to object  staff would still allow Willey to cook and eat there because Willey has positioned himself to be well liked by the staff. In January when Randy was refusing his feed I asked management to stop the process as Randy only wanted real food to eat and the smell of food cooking could cause that craving.

As for Willy he lets it be known that if you say anything about him no one will believe you.  And it is true. Through the years residents have complained about Willy and he is still entrenched there. Doesn't he have a life besides becoming friendly with the nurses in Ward 2 and other female residents in plain view of his wife and everyone else. I would look at this scenario and I would become nauseous.  His wife is in the latter stages of Lou Gehrig's disease.  I remember on New Year's day I was at GPC and saw his wife being sent to VGH and rather than accompany her he went to the GPC New Years Day party. 



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Another Week also see new paragraph

It has been an interesting week.  I am totally exhausted.  I have been taking Randy home for the past few weeks and it is proving too much for me.  He can't be or he doesn't want to be alone for a minute.  For the most part he is manic as he is tries to talk to me and he can't.  He makes gestures and I do not understand him and then he gets more and more frustrated.  I am at a lose.  At the moment he wants me to buy him a walker.  He wants to walk but GPC says he is not ready but then if you depend on GPC he will never be ready.  For the past year all I have heard is he isn't ready to talk, to eat, to walk.  I still do not understand why he wasn't sent to GF Strong as he was originally destined to go. Maybe it had something to do with his later reassessment in that he was never going to be a high wage earner (taxpayer).  GPC is only a maintenance hospital (residential care facility).  No one gets better.  When you are sent to GPC you are told that the resident is as good as he will ever get and GPC makes sure that that status quo remains as stated. This is where VCH $cuts and $cuts and $cuts. We all know that money is joyful and that the lack of such must be the reason GPC is unjoyful.

more musings to follow ... re death of a resident (fond memories of and regrets), re reports of a Ward 2 visitor who is still cooking food in the common area of Ward 2; a nurse telling me that she couldn't talk to me as she was on her break as if she was afraid to be seen talking to me (this could also explain the fact when I leave a message for someone to telephone me no one returns by call: I tested this on the evening shift on Friday, Saturday and Sunday: I phoned and left a message for someone from Ward 2 to call me: no one called); no rental eviction notice but the neighbours are still vindictive as I just received a ticket for a dog not leashed on a date so long ago I do not remember, etc... a week in the life of a woman close to 70. I am near the end of my life and my time is precious and I do not have time to be confronted with these things every single day since Randy arrived at GPC.  What bullying; what craziness.  And the obvious as stated in an article about bullying I recently read: bullies always win.

109558

From being honeyed to being hated

Being honeyed has transcended to being hated.  My neighbours have decided that I am a danger to them and an email received from the landlord has agreed so it looks like an eviction will be forthcoming. I told one of my neighbours about Randy and he even went to GPC to visit Randy but only to be told that I am honeyed and the feedback I got from him was totally false like I had spent eight years locked up in a mental health facility.  Not true but he believed it and soon all the neighbours believed it.  One of the tenants here put a notice on my door that I was a safety hazard because of Randy's oxygen tank (it might explode). And when the police arrived he concurred with her. Oxygen is not combustible and more importantly an Oxygen tank must be turned ON before it can help an existing flame to burn faster and the flame has to be within five feet of the oxygen.  And I was told by one of the tenants that she was going to phone 911 as Randy was not allowed here as he did not live here and should be in a hospital (hidden from view). And please do not tell me to go to the Residential Tenancy Act.  I know of NO ONE who has gone that route that has been successful.  The RTA is a joke.  It was legislated (downloaded) so landlords  police tenants,  When you own a home no one tells you want to do but when you rent one you are faced with eviction if a tenant/neighbour doesn't want to see a handicapped person. 

I am still a danger to the vulnerable residents at GPC and now I am a danger to the tenants here.  Funny, I just realized this afternoon (Sunday) as I attended religious services (Joy Fellowship) with Randy at GPC with those residents that are totally the most vulnerable and no one is afraid of me.  They welcome me. Those that run around in $30,000 motor wheelchairs are not all vulnerable.  Most of them are quite capable of looking after themselves and creating havoc. See Paul Caine's website "Civil Rights Now." They should direct their energies to some worthwhile project like campaigning the government to give them more than $95 a month for spending money instead of panhandling or get them to campaign that all renters in BC can have pets if their doctors feel it would help them against depression and loneliness especially for seniors.  There is so much human capital at GPC wasted...Like Paul Caine said GPC is a warehouse for the incurables in BC so why give them a will to live.
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Do No Harm

Blogger has gone crazy on me.  I can't read the dashboard as it is in Spanish or some other similar language and I can't change it to English. So I do not even know if this will be published. 

The question I am pondering now is: DO NO HARM.  What harm did I do vs. what harm VCH has done.  VCH is in a position of absolute power and as a result VCH has negatively abused its powers to the point that the general population is or should be in fear of it.  VCH is so into proactive measures that they cause excessive harm to the ridiculous (eg. schools banning swings and baseball).

And now they are talking of euthanasia.  If euthanasia is illegal why is VCH even discussing the topic in their ethics (management) committees and how easy it would be to create a culture of death as who would oppose CEO Napolean. Look up Holland and its new deathmobiles....six of them. see http://www.epcc.ca/

In Oregon in 2011 only 1 of the 71 people who died by assisted suicide was referred for a psy assessment.  The slippery slope sold to the public as a safeguard to protect the depressed and others. 
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Where is my earlier blog that I wrote this morning...                                                     
The point I made was being honeyed goes hand-in-hand with being bullied. And being honeyed-bullied is not specific to me: most visitors and residents (patients) at GPC have experienced this humiliating behavior.  I am close to seventy years ago and I am not used to this behavior so when did this behavior became the norm VCH manages its properties.

Like on Sunday when I witnessed a RN tell a resident for it to leave a ward or it is going to be banned.  This resident didn't do or say anything and this resident wasn't in the way of anyone, so why such a threat. And where did this RN get such power over a person's freedom of travel or association in its own home.  I am sure the nurse then went off to write up an "objective confidential incident report."  This little exercise is going to take days to go through the system at great $cost to administration in the way of "transaction costs" (or are incident reports paid for by the federal government, I think not).  So who pays for these nonsense incident reports; they have to be costed to some ledger.

No wonder there are so few visitors in GPC, they get banned without due process and the residents doesn't even know and he thinks he has been abandoned.  All residents should be on an internet data base so everyone (an old school friend, an old lover, a lost child) can know where they are.

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उल्लिएद और होनेयेद

Honeyed by VCH

I created a new blog which I am sure will attract much attention। It is called:
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http://honeyedvoiceofgoneballistic.blogspot.com//

checking to see if this blog goes Hindi

VPD and Sharing of Info with the USA

Being labelled as suicidial has serious implications if you want to visit the USA: they won't let you in as you are emotionally unstable.  Our "privacy concerns" are so screwed up that anyone can report an untruth and he is protected.  The least the VPD can do if you are a subject of a complaint that a copy of the police report be mailed to you.  This should also be a policy of Vancouver Coastal Health: staff can write incident reports and visitors and patients are not even aware of them.

I still cannot believe what has happened to me over my concern over Randy.   VCH has written policies for everything and they sound reasonable but yet if it does not want to follow them there is nothing you can do.   It is like being a director of a non-profit who discovers that the Board is corrupt.  Is anyone going to pay $450 a hour from your personal funds to a lawyer to be stonewalled.  Of course not.  A director quits if he is unhappy and never ever gets involved with the democratic process again so this is why there is no good people in politics and in my case I will have no alternative but to walk when my health fails.

Today I attended at GPC at 12:15 pm; I interested Randy in striking a piano keyboard as his fingers are not functioning very well due to lack of use/physio.  He seems to be getting worse since December 2011.  He was able to write his initials; he was able to speak a few words; and his limbs were more flexible. He was able to focus and attempt brain empowering exercises.  Now I do not know what is happening.  When I take him off site he becomes alert from stimili but then I do not have him for long.  VCH from the beginning of his care never really provided motivation or enough physio for him to recover.  I try what I can but it isn't enough.  He took his feed after I arrived so I couldn't leave GPC until 2:30 and then we went to Oakridge and I purchased him a new watch so he could see the time in the dark.  Tomorrow he wants to see me at noon so we can spend Sunday together hanging out with the doggies.
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Privacy or Code of Silence

From the beginning of my difficulties with Vancouver Coastal Health it has always been privacy issue so that my concerns were never resolved.  It has nothing to do with privacy issues but rather it is a code of silence that hides any suspected criminality on site or breaches of their own governing policies. 

I just received a copy of a VPD's police report.  On December 25 2011 I was awaken at 3:30 am by four police officers looking for Randy as apparently he was missing from GPC.  And what was written on page 4: LAFERRIERE appeared to be suffering from mental health issues and was not there when speaking with police.  Also I was a Disturbed Person/Attempted Suicide. None of this is true. So where did the police get this information.

Tuesday February 28 2012

On Tuesday yesterday Randy and I went off site to see his dentist.  Just a nice pleasant afternoon. 

Monday February 27 2012

Audrey Laferriere Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 7:41 AM
To: louise kokotailo , kip woodward ,
Louise, could you get a message to Kip that I am very concerned about the safety of Randy and me. This cancer has been going on for over a year now and you have not done anything to resolve it. I fear for Randy's safety as well as my own. At least twenty percent or more of the residents/staff/visitors at GPC are in need of psychological help and your answser is just to target me and Randy. I will never forgive Linda Rose telling me that even if Randy was on his death bed I would not be allowed on his GPC ward and this she did when Randy was also sent to VGH in August 2011when he was on his death bed and she put on a no contact order on Randy. Why. Staff targets someone and it continues and continues without reason or due process or end.

Sunday February 26 2012 PM

I was so excited this morning when I phoned Ward 2 and NurseC said that Randy was up and ready wanting to see me. Because of my unrealistic visiting restrictions I couldn't go until noon. I was there at noon and when I saw Randy he looked very fragile. When he looks like that I am afraid that it might be the last time I will see him.

I am questioning the care Randy is getting. Again when I tried to suction Randy at 1:20 the tubing was not included with the suctioning machine. Because I am restricted I had to wait until 2:00 p.m. before a nurse gave me a replacement. What would have happened if I was off site. I had a hard time inserting the tube into Randy's trach as the mucus was so thick. The tube won't go down easily. It could get thick like cement and Randy would be no more. For a moment I panicked but Randy assured me he was okay.

We then went to Joy Fellowship. The only organization that is allowed into George Pearson that has genuine concern for its residents. Real love and compassion. I couldn't stop -- I cried and cried and cried.

At 3:00 o'clock Randy wanted to go home so here we are. Doing nothing, giving the doggies treats and listening to the radio. CKWX 11:30 And we got to listen to Napolean Ostrow talk about the changes that is going to be made at George Pearson and staff changes have been made. Well, maybe we who are intimately involved with GPC should know what he has done. Then on the other hand, there probably are no changes just something for him to say to the media. Who would follow up on it anyways.

I returned Randy to GPC at 6:00 p.m. When I left he had his television on but when I viewed his room from the parking lot, his room was dark and no tv was on. I went back and asked security to find out why the television was turned off. She checked on Randy and came back and said she did not know but she put it on for him. Letting a patient who is immobile and can't talk sit in the dark in his wheel chair is mean. Who did it.

And then to make things worse Mr. Moon starts swearing at me using vulgar loud language in front of Randy for what reason I do not know. It upset Randy, he had tears in his eyes. And then there was Ryan an angry youngman. If these adults residents/patients cannot be civil then they shouldn't be living at George Pearson Center.

I wanted to check in with Randy's nurse and I left word on the answering machine for her to call me. I called her at 7:00 p.m. I will wait and see if she calls back. It is 10:10 pm and no one has returned my call. What is one to do. Trust the system. I think not.

The above is a typical day I have to face. GPC is not helpful, friendly or happy.
-

Sunday February 26 2012 AM

Minutes from Residents Council November 8 2011.

Joy. I’m concerned about what’s going to be done about levels of staffing. I’m on Ward 2, and yesterday we were so short staffed that most people were not able to get up. They were short on both day shift and evening shift so there were just 5 people that got up in their chairs out of 22.

And to think that I am not allowed on Ward 2.
And Randy doesn't even know how to use his call bell and even if he did what good would it be...
and to think that it costs $15,000 a month (foi) to keep a resident at GPC not including overhead and other miscellaneous expenses.
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Saturday February 25 2012

I went to take Randy off site for a few hours. GPC is so boring on the weekends. I phoned at 11:50am and had to wait until noon before the nurseC quickly dropped him off in the piano room and ran. After checking the suction machine all the tubings were missing and I had to telephone from the hall and ask for a replacement. That took until 12:15 pm.(MA) who dropped off a replacement and also ran off without a comment. There was no one in the hallways not even security.

It is 1:07pm and Randy is feeding treats to the doggies. They love Randy. It is a feat to get Randy into my basement suite as it is small and I have renamed it the doggie house as the doggies seem to have control of it (except for the kitchen of course). Everytime I come home I am not sure what they had chewed up. They like rolls and rolls of toilet paper.

I am going to take Randy over to Oakridge and look at Ipads. He may be able to touch the screen as he can't type. He needs mental stimulation which he doesn't get at GPC unless the staff phones the police to have me removed. I am sure he will be able to handle the touch screen. I have to find out how to get the ipad insured as GPC has a serious thieving problem. Anything that can be sold for a $20.00 rock gets stolen.

After testing out the ipads we then went to the Oakridge Senior Centre and the president was there and he greeted Randy with a handshake. Civility. You do not see that at George Pearson. From day one residents as well as visitors at GPC are made to feel they are a burden. The first time I spoke to Tanu at GPC she told me that I wasn't allowed to speak to anyone unless someone spoke to me first. Like where did this come from. From some penal institution or a nunnery. Also read Paul Caine's webpage Civilrightsnow.ca and go to blog. He gives good examples of the dysfunctionality of GPC.

At 1:15 p.m. it was necesssary to give Randy seven suctions; the secretions were heavy. I wonder if staff give him suctions which they are suppose to before I pick him up. About 3:00 p.m. I had to suction him again twice.

I returned Randy to nurseC in good form and spirit to GPC at 6:15 p.m. And she grabbed Randy and ran off as well.
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107.076
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Another Day

I have not been able to see Randy since Tuesday. I developed a cold and it is still with me. I can't remember the last time I had a cold. No fever; just a dry cough. I was told yesterday that Randy is still eating. I never thought my life would end up in this direction. I guess it is better than going on retirement cruises and dancing the nights away.

Still the Same

Since Feburary 5 2012 nothing has changed. I am suffering from total exhaustion. All I can do is it seems is to go and see Randy for a few hours then come home to rest. At least he is eating but then for how long.

Yesterday we went on an outing which he has power over. He pointed his finger in a direction and I pushed his wheelchair. We ended up at Oakridge mall where we went shopping for doggie food. He picked out the food by grabbing it and the treats would fall to the floor which I picked up. He even paid the cashier with the $20 bill I gave him and then he hide the $5.00 change (paper bill) under his shirt. He will need an incredible amount of rehab before he is better.

This afternoon we went to Oakridge again. The improvement in him observing the world was inspiring. A 180 degree change from his behavior at George Pearson Center. I have to get him out of there more often.

There is very little stimulation at GPC. Its purpose is only to keep its residents alive It is boring, confining and depressing. You lay in bed seeing it as your coffin.

If you are in a good mood it will take only sixty seconds before someone stalks you or says something that will annoy you. The cancer that is in GPC will only grow. This will happen because of the 80% who know or refuse to know what is going on, which allows the 20% to cause chaos. Bullying. If staff worked in the real world and they showed disrespect to a customer, they would be fired. However in VCH it is the other way around.

I purchased two baseball hats for Randy from the Bay and he carefully chose them, wore one and the other one he carefully put it in his small mexican burlap bag which hangs on his wheelchair. He was just into everything that was happening. He even took a chocolate from Purdy's which I paid for. His face looked intelligent, mischieveous and he was self-assured. He was Randy again. After two years he is back. I hope he will be back tomorrow as well. (this paragraph posted at 9:00 pm Sunday).

106,182

Things Were Still Getting Worse

From my last post Randy did not start eating again although there was a day or two that I thought he was taking his units of feed again. It wasn't until 2 February 2012(Thursday) that he told me he took five units by showing me five fingers and staff confirmed it and on Friday and Saturday he also took his cans of liquid food. Prior to that for what seemed like forever he was only agreeing to one or two units. These past weeks have been torturing. I still do not understand VCH's policy which was allowing Randy to slowing starve to death. Food and water is not refusing treatment like chemotherapy; it is a necessity for life.

I feel totally beaten and demoralized.

post

Nothing will ever change at GPC

When Randy first was admitted to GPC (November 20 2010)I questioned why was a visitor allowed to cook gourmet meals in the community kitchen in Ward 2. The Residents policy guide prohibits it. Other residents and visitors including the Residents Council and CARMA also have aromatic food brought in. I was under the impression that this was not happening any more. This afternoon a pizza was delivered to Ward 2 The delivery guy said he delivers pizza nearly everyday to Ward 2.Since I am banned from entering Ward 2 I do not know what is happening there. GPC forbids fragrant flowers but yet it allows the fragrance of food to permeate the ward. The smell of freshly cooked food must be torture for Randy.

Randy has been going crazy these past few weeks as he wanted to eat real food and as a result he refused to eat. I was so scared that he would get weak and then a pneumonia. Since GPC has a policy of not forcing a patient to do anything, Randy was starving. Since Randy's accident he has been feed by tubes. I do not know what happened but yesterday he started to take his stomach feed again. And now he has to deal with the smell of a pizza tonight. GPC has a large carpeted dinning/activity room which is very comfortable with microwaves, vending machines and catered food can be eaten there or purchased from GPC's kitchen.

I also asked for a photocopy of the feed flow chart of when and how manytimes Randy refused his feed from December 15 2011 until now. Like always anything important to me, GPC just neglects to follow through. Even though Randy signed the directive, GPC just ignored it.

I thought things were going to change ... Poor Randy and the indiferrence of those who are suppose to be caring for him including the Residents Council.
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104,355

Marina Kogan

I went to see Marina this evening. I can't believe her. At 78 she is living on the edge. I couldn't do what she is doing. Putting her life on the line. She was able to get CTV to do a story about her eviction but Vancouver Native Housing still hasn't rescinded its Possession Order for her apartment. No one should get evicted from social housing. Portland Hotel Society never evicts anyone so there is no reason for Vancouver Native Housing to do so.

Randy isn't doing too well. How can I not worry.
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December 31st 2011

I have been seeing Randy every day over the Christmas weekend and week. This afternoon we did the letterboard thing (a letterboard is a sheet of paper with the alphabet on it). We hadn't done the letterboard for a long time. It is very time consuming as Randy's motor ability to focus his finger on a letter is difficult. It is like playing charades without action. I was able to slowly put together what he wanted to say: I have bad memories. I am afraid. I want food.

During the week there was one incident and one situation. Both are stressful. The one incident is so stupid I do not want to discuss it and the situation I am working on for it to be resolved. I always say to myself things cannot get any worse and then they do.

During the week I was able to observe in the hallway the poster children of GPC who passed by (those who documented on You Tube how wonderful GPC was). They had the freedom of GPC (24/7) and I had only my allotted time and allotted space and the flashbacks of what Linda Rose told me last summer: I would never be given anything further and if Randy was on his death bed I would not be allowed on Ward 2. This was the woman who promised me that VCH would do an independent investigation and then changed her mind. When Randy was returned to VGH in August of 2011 because of an unexpected life threatening infection at first I was allowed to see Randy during normal visiting hours and which I did for two weeks then Linda Rose found outI was there and then a no contact order was issued so that no one could see Randy and I could only see him for 10 minutes a day if I phoned ahead of time. I never phoned I just showed up for my ten minutes at the end of the day. I was told by a nurse that the time was restricted because I had issues. What issues?

I still do not know what terrible harm I did and VCH doesn't have to tell me. Legally Vancouver Coastal Health doesn't have to: no due process. Like an employer doesn't have to tell you why he fired you. VCH has policies that suggest due process but there is no way to enforce them. And it is hiding behind the fact that GPC is on private property and it does not have to justify its decision to prevent a trespass. The victims are everyone of us -- the one million citizens who depend on VCH but cannot trust it. VCH has no respect for individual rights only its collective will to be legally corrupt i.e. not do the right thing. The right thing is what a "reasonable man" you and I would expect and in this case due process. But then VGH can't be reasonable as it is not a thinking person.

What I do not understand is why is it thatI am a threat to the safety of the staff, residents and visitors to GPC and yet I am allowed isolated freedom to visit Randy. Would I not also be a threat to him?

Marina Kogan

I dropped by Marina Kogan's apartment (604-681-0648) yesterday evening. Charlie Smith wrote about her in the Georgia Straight last Thursday. She is being evicted because her apartment is a bit cluttered (the "bit" came from the landlord in various inspection reports). Marina is no different than other Russian immigrants who have always lived in small spaces which is what social housing is and saves everthing because of economics i.e. she may never be able to afford to buy such an item again. Everything is stacked up neat and tidy and there was no smell of decaying cardboard. All the bulk food was in extra large containers. She mentioned that at the hearing to get her evicted that Eddy the big boss of the Vancouver Native Housing Society said that he wanted her out as soon as possible. Eddy is in the business of housing difficult people and he can't handle her. I spoke to the prior manager of Pendera and he told me he couldn't see any reason why Marina should be evicted. Marina is making no effort to move as she has decided to commit suicide if she is forced out of her home. She is at an age when many retired people do. Eddy is written up on the internet that he makes sure all his tenants are rehoused if one place is not appropriate. So with all the thousands of housing units his non-profit has why hasn't he found one for a 78 year old Russian lady. Better yet negotiate with her to store her extra stuff in an offsite storage unit. A contract could be made listing the furniture items and personal items even the quanity of food Marina is allowed to keep in her small apartment. No matter what. She is not moving. As a side note the Portland Hotel Society who manages many many buildings, NEVER NEVER evicts anyone. The problem with Marina and Eddy is that thers is a clash of cultures. And I suspect he nor anyone from the RTA ever visited her apartment. A RTA Possession Order can be torn-up at anytime by a landlord.

the United Church

I find it distasteful that the United Church hierarchy has decided to close down its low barrier shelter in the DTES at Gore and Hastings. I have always advocated for the shelter as I would tell those that might need help to go there as it never turns anyone away. It was a safe haven and a tirage to services. I thought there was hope for the "others" in our society but the "good" people have destroyed another necessary "evil." Like Rick Matthews of the United Church (if he is still a member) said on CBC this morning that in today's world no stable would take Mary and Joseph.
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The Greater Vancouver Foodbank continued ...

The following is a list of the food given to a single person last week (Dec 8/11):
kit kat chocolate bar $0.69 (Dollarama)
small tin of Gold Seal tuna $2.16 (Safeway)
3 red potatoes small to medium size $1.33 (Safeway)
3 garlic clusters $2.00 (Safeway)
1 large red pepper $1.60 (Safeway)
1 package of fresh sprouts $1.50 (Safeway)
2 overripe tomatoes $1.14 (Safeway)
2 jumbo onions $0.86 (Safeway)
1/2 dozen petit eggs (so small that Safeway does not carry them) $1.00
2 packages of dried noodles $.98 (Safeway)
1 can of chicken noodle soup Campbells $1.09 (Safeway)
1 carton of Sunrype wildberry juice $1.89 (Safeway)
3 tiny apples (so small that Safeway does not carry them) $1.00
Approximate value $17.00
NO DAIRY; NO BREAD; NO BEANS; NO PASTA; NO RICE; NO CEREAL; NO TEA; NO COFFEE
Chicken given to singles for Christmas given the week prior December 1st
Turkey given to familes for Christmas given the week prior December 1st
WHY would the Foodbank give out Christmas poultry four weeks before Christmas!!!!
The foodbank depot's scheduled 1/2 hour for food distribution from 11:30 to 12:00 only on Thursdays 3X a month. On December 8 2011 the doors did not open until 12:10. The line-up at 10:30 was substantial. So it took close to two hours plus travelling time. Say, 3:00 hours. I suspecdt it is worth it if you utilize everything and have a $60.00 a month heating bill that has to be paid and you want to make friends while waiting in line in the cold.
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I haven't given up on Randy

I haven't given up on Randy. It is so overwhelming that I needed to focus on something else so here it is: we should limit the size of non-profits to neighbour councils or better yet get rid of them altogether.

As for Randy today is such a beautiful day and I am prevented from visiting Randy. The policies of VCH is getting very upsetting to me.

I was told that "the team" decided on my banning ten months ago. At Randy's Annual Review in November which I attended none of the team (some 15 responsible for his care) knew that they were part of the team that banned me in fact my banning was never discussed with them. Dr. Dunne, the medical director for GPC wasn't there, but earlier he had said that he won't ban anyone from seeing anyone in the hospital. So these decisions that affect the care (the will to live) of patients are not those of the care team. So it is back to Linda Rose, the director of Residential Care, who never met me before the banning and only once after and/or Bob Chapman the director of Risk Management who I had met the week before my banning but as I exited that meeting I remember saying that no one was even listening to what I was saying over the fact that I was being bullied by GPC. A week later I got banned because of the bullies and their targetted treatment of me. It was open season on me because Mr. Chapman did not do his job. First by not listening to me and second by not doing anything expeditiously. But then how could he do anything expeditiously when he didn't even listen to what I was saying. The day after the banning I protested at GPC with a sign on the sidewalk boulevard, the police were called and told GPC that protesting on the sidewalk was legal, and I remember telling the social worker at that time that no one listened to me at the meeting.

Things have to change with non-profits: full legal due process when it affects a person's rights of association has to happened and just to remind all Vancouver Coastal Health is a non-profit society which makes its own laws disguised as policies and there is no appeal process. If you want something to go your way, you have to suck up to not only to management but also the lowest of the low paid employees as well. No wonder bribery is rampant in third world countries. You pay or suck up.

I am off to Safeway to check out the prices that an individual got as free food from the the Food Bank on Thursday. It doesn't seem to be worth the three-four hours it takes to get the free food most of which an individual might not buy in the first place. What happened before we had the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. I remember being poor when I was young. But I do not remember any talk about food banks. This is what happens when you work for fifty years of your life, you don't know what is going on. And now when you do, you realize that no one else does either. And who do I blame, I blame the CBC.
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Greater Vancouver Food Bank

CBC Radio reported that recently the GVFB raised $425,000 in one day. That should make Cherly Carline happy as that would ensure that the GVFB has enough money to pay her unreasonable salary. According to the Canada Revenue Agency she earns in the range of $120,000 to $159,999 and I would assume considering how difficult it is for her to oversee nine managers that make close to $80,000 each a year to distribute donated food mostly by volunteers her salary is totally obscene. Since Cheryl has recently married, I am sure she could take a salary cut of $100,000 a year. But then it would be too much to ask of her as she works for a non-profit which like a corporation is a non-person. My mantra is that no one in the non-profit sector should earn more than 3X minimum wage.

I was told this morning that the GVFB does not have any members. If that is true then who elected the Board of Directors. One would expect that those who use the food bank would be members. Perhaps someone from the Board can contact me. Or is it like the Green Party wherein the Green Party only has members during an election year and the rest of the time it is the executive who are the directors. Democracy and transparency in action in British Columbia.
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Whatever It Takes

When Randy was introduced to the "letterboard" the first word he spelt was HELP.

Yesterday I phoned GPC 604-322-8370 and left messages at 11:00 am, 2:00 pm and 3:00pm for Randy's nurse to call me. In the last message I said that if staff did not telephone me I would go to GPC to check on Randy and my restriction not to enter Ward 2 be damned.

Randy is suppose to be getting 6.5 hours of care a day and I do not know what he gets. I do not think records are being kept. But one thing for sure is that a telephone can be answered.

Gray Cup day. Last year I was at GPC during Gray Cup day and it had a festive atmosphere with delivered pizzas and drinks and all the staff fixated on the game. There was only one nurse who told me she didn't like football and was looking after the residents/patients. Napolean (Ostrow) should be there to see what really is going on during sports championship events. And what about the Chairman of the Board, Kip Woodward (604-875-4719). The gentleman that assured me that he would look into my allegations of bullying by staff, visitors and residents. My concerns were brought up at the VCH open board meeting on June 8 2011 and I was assured by Linda Rose that an independent investigation would be done. This she promised in front of Kip Woodwards' assistant (Kip Woodward is the chairman of VCH). A month later, Linda Rose told me that an independent investigation was not necessay. But, Linda Rose, it is necessary because you promised me that it would happen. What about my reputation and the humiliations I have to face each day, what about denying Randy his rights to see me when he wants (none of my restrictions apply to anyone else so therefore it is baltant discrimination). Your agrument that the hospital is privately owned doesn't wash with the wrongs you have imposed. How can anyone trust Vancouver Coastal Health. The policy of Vancouver Coastal Health seems to be wait until you give up or the resident dies or better yet the caring friend dies. Linda Rose is a paid director of Vancouver Coastal Health. She oversees the management of GPC.

On Thursday the Recreation Department took Randy and I to Oakridge mall for an hour's outing. Randy seemed happy to get out of GPC even for one hour. We checked my three BC lotto tickets (no winning numbers), checked out the board games store, and ended up at Oakridge Seniors Centre. I am a member and so is Randy.

On Friday Randy was up and waiting for me. We were together for four hours. We went offsite to Dylan's coffee shop and then back to the piano room where he did lettering and then we played a simple card game. He will need a lot of therapy as he needs a lot of reinforcement to relearn. If I wasn't there who would be assigned to do this. I do not think there would be anyone. I recently spoke to one resident who told me that he doesn't know how to read or write and he has been there for twenty years. A volunteer or a student teacher could do this job for free.

Where is the commonsense, where is the leadership...where is the quality of life mantra...where is Kip Woodward and the Board (board.chair@vch.ca). Better yet where is Christy Clark (604-666-8380), the woman who is the premier of British Columbia and her government is for families. The government is only there so that VCH can do whatever it wants with impunity. Beware of the creeping powers of non-profits. VCH is a non-profit which is on par with a corporation in that it is not a living person. In 2012 a new law governing non-profits will be enacted, it is already written and it is scary. I suspect it will be passed in the middle of the night.
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Friday 18 November 2011

On Friday I was able to see Randy for two hours. He was tired and so we spent most of the time holding hands. The monopoly idea wasn't so great as I couldn't remember how to play monopoly and there were no instructions. I tried to phone Randy's nurse to make sure he was okay, left a message, stayed by the phone all evening, no one returned my call. I didn't phone on the weekend as it would only cause me upset as the scenario would be repeated of staff not talking to me. Although it is in the care plan that I can talk to Randy on the phone the staff does not honour that directive.

However, Friday afternoon presented the occasion that I talk to the union rep for the LPNs (licensed practical nurses). I was told that LPNs earn $25.00 an hour plus benefits making the cost to taxpayers a total of $33.00 an hour. Up to this time I was told that the LPN are the lowest paid nurses on the ward. At $33.00 an hour I would consider them to be more than adequately compensated. I also asked about "continuous training" that the LPNs were exposed to. I was told there was none. They are given $125.00 a year for training but since there are no courses for them they cannot further expand their knowledge even if they wanted to. The union rep felt it was up to VCH to offer these courses. How can you trust nursing staff when they do not even know what is happening in medical advances. Maybe if staff was given "professional development" then they wouldn't have cause to bully. Courses have to be offered so that they feel that they belong to a group beyond their work environment. This would ensure that ethics would be foremost.
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November 17 2011 Thursday

I am totally frustrated with GPC. I wanted to leave some flowers on the wards today and was told by the nursing staff they are not allowed to take them and security also said that it couldn't take them. What a simple thing and yet no one wants to assist. What is a person suppose to do drop them at the front door and hope no one steals them or they freeze because of the cold weather. This isn't the first time such requests were denied. I have never been in an environment where staff has been so uncooperative. Their unionized job descriptions are so strict rendering them near useless in our modern multitasking society. A job so clearly defined that one doesn't have to think or learn anything else after being hired. Just get hired and then retire with pay. This also extends to even giving Randy a chalkboard so he can scribble on it. Unless I am there apparently no stimulation is given except for the tv. I dread to know how other residents are treated or not treated. I was told that there is a shortage of volunteers at GPC. Maybe it is because the volunteers are told to see nothing and say nothing and above all do not get personal with any resident and stay away from those that can't talk or defend themselves. Isolated to the point where the residents are conditioned so even the most vocal and those treated unjustly are silenced. I ask them to speak out and am told by the residents and family members that if they do the standard of care of their caring friend or family member will be lessened. Take away stimulation; take away brain function; take away caring friends. Take away life. See You Tube: BC's Health Authorities on How to Effectively Communicate with the Public. Up to the time I came across this video I felt that I was a pawn in a script with staff orchestrating my pain until it was too much and I would go away. Too bad Randy is a fighter and an American who believes in fighting for justice. He is now the most important person in this dialogue and I am his caring friend and advocate.

I wasn't able to visit with Randy in the piano room Thursday afternoon. When I went into the ward for my allotted few minutes he said he didn't want to get out of bed because his head hurt. This is the first time he ever said his head hurt. I showed him the new AC/DC monopoly board I just purchased and could he play monopoly and he said yes. I asked him if he could go home would he get up. He said yes. I told him on Friday we could play the board game.

I told him that because I was an old lady (approaching seventy) that if I took him home without GPC's consent GPC would get the police (a restraining order) and I would never see him again. It would be evidence that I was a risk to him. I was told GPC could make sure that if I did not do whatever GPC wanted I would never see Randy again. I suspect this means that the Public Trustee would take over and make GPC his committee and GPC would totally ban me forever. Even this afternoon when I was talking to Bob Chapman I could heard him type in every word I said. In other words if I wanted a crumb I would have to suck up to each one of them (please do not kill Randy by removing his will to live) or suffer the consequences. Thank you Napolean (Ostrow). Thank you Josephine (MARY). Thank you Dr/MLA Moira Stilwell


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November 16 2011

I went to see Randy today. He was in good spirits but he still wants to come home and visit. I was told that yesterday (the reason why he looked white) was because he had pulled out his life support. He pulls out his life support because he is unhappy and it is the only way he can get attention so he can go home. I do not understand what GPC is doing. GPC doesn't give him any serious rehab, he just vegetates in his bed and watches tv provided the staff puts it on for him to watch. He can't communicate successfully. Randy is not under the Public Trustee so he has a right to go home and have me visit when he wants. Today he even said he wanted to be married as that would make him happy. I want to know why GPC is taking his freedoms away from him. All residents at GPC can leave for a day whenever they want, so why can't Randy.

I want an answer from VCH's legal department.

I called this evening as I wanted to talk to Randy's nurse Rio. She refused to return my call. Each time a nurse from GPC won't return my call, her name or his name is going to show up on this blog. I am tired of leaving messages and no one calls me back.

Tuesday November 15 2011

I went and saw Randy this afternoon. When he saw me he started to move his wheelchair a few minutes towards me. He was a bit drained "white" but I was glad he wanted to see me. Randy didn't have any warm slippers on only his socks; and he only had a short sleeve shirt. I asked the nurse for a toss blanket and she told me that Randy was only allowed in the piano room and he wasn't going anywhere else so he didn't need a blanket. Another misinformed nurse. Randy can do what he wants. It is me that has restrictions. If Randy wants to go offsite, he can. If Randy wants to go to Hawaii, he can.

Later he started to cry and I had a few tears in my eyes as well. This is crazy. GPC is suppose to be his home not a jail.

No one gave me the consents to sign. But then I do not understand why consents even exist when legislation says BC hospitals are immune from prosecution.

We did some lettering and alphabetical cards and I read to him a bit from a book on how doggies speak to humans. He was very interested in it.
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I had a sick feeling on Saturday

I had a sick feeling on Saturday and it was further confirmed when I tried to call Randy on Saturday and he won't take the phone. A resident told me this afternoon that on Saturday afternoon he/she saw Randy in his bed restrained beyond a soft restraint. He was like he was imprisoned and his arms was tried up behind his head. His television was turned off. Why was this necessary. All Randy wants is that I have more access to him or else he be allowed to come here.

When I went to GPC today I was told and shown a number of consent documents that I and Randy would have to sign before he would be allowed to leave. The health professional then ran off with the documents never to be seen again. I have taken randy off site for months now he has to sign documents. Randy I know will not sign any documents after he was tricked by VGH last year after signing documents that transferred him to GPC and for VGH not to tell me. I found this incredible and still do. Randy lost millions of brain cells because of his traumatic brain injury and yet the VGH said he had the capacity to sign documents. I asked Randy and he couldn't remember signing them. He told me at that time that he never said he didn't want to see me. I am sure he will never sign any document again. So he is being imprisoned. Poor Randy. Poor me. Poor the rest of you.
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Another Bad Day

The only thing that was agreeable today was the weather. I was worried about Randy because I had only seen him for three hours this past week. I decided to go to GPC and leave Randy a short letter and a pair of fleece pj bottoms. I phoned when I got there and no one answered the phone so I left a message for someone to come and get Randy's stuff. I waited outside. About twenty minutes later I asked a passing visitor if she would go into Ward 2 and read the letter to Randy and leave the fleece pj bottom. She came back and said that Randy was looking forward to going to my place on Monday. As I was readying myself to leave, a security guard told me to leave or else he would call the police as I wasn't allowed on the property on weekends. Not true. I am just not allowed into Ward 2. I haven't pushed the issue of my admission to Ward 2 as if there is someone there who is afraid of me I do not want to cause him or her additional fear. That isn't the whole truth though. I was told by Linda Rose that my banning was forever. Since no evidence has been given to me as to what I did I am at a loss as to why she would say tht. I asked the young security if he had viewed the You Tube video George Pearson Centre yet. Every time I see him I ask him and every time he says No. He should be aware of this most important video which was paid for by VCH. Also it is a requirement by Paladin that its security guards become integrated into GPC and its culture (see its webpage) and so they are aware of the dynamics of where they work. I then told him to call the police. I don't like being threatened when there is no reason. A few minutes later I left and when I was walking up Cambie Street sure enough two police cars came racing towards 57th and turned right. I shook my head. This is the same young security guard who tried on a previous occasion to throw me out of the GPC building when I was visiting residents not Randy and I secured bruising: all the colours of the rainbow. I showed the bruising as they changed colour to witnesses but I didn't do anything about the incident as the young security guard was only doing his job albeit with bad information and that was when I started whenever I saw him ask him did he view the You Tube Video: George Pearson Centre. Another time he also called the police on me and accused me of kidnapping Randy. I had taken Randy off site to a coffee bar across the street from GPC and I was returning him. I didn't know what to do as my instinct was to protect Randy against this unreasonable authority figure so I asked for the RN to come out and talk to me. That took about 1/2 hour in the cold and in the mean time the police showed up. These incidents are so stupid they are true. I can't make them up.

My flashback memory came back and I remember a time I was in GPC and this young security guard was motioning that the bully from Ward 2 to hide from my view. The bully from Ward 2 weighs 200 pounds and he doesn't need a 23-year old security guard to protect him. I remember shaking my head and forgot the incident. Today I looked in the parking lot and sure enough the vehicle that the bully uses was there. It is a new red Chevrolet four door cabin 4-wheel drive truck. Of course, the bully and the young security guard are colluding i.e. the bully is manipulating the security guard. It always interests me when bullies bully. I wonder if he is even paying for his wife's care. Working for a small company that he owns offers him the opportunity to pay himself a small salary so he can claim he doesn't have enough income to pay for her care while retaining profits in his company. He even cooks his meals in Ward 2 (which are against the rules see www.vch.ca George Pearsson Centre Resident and Family Handbook). I was told that his Silverado cost $62,000. You should see the inside of it. Everything is showroom perfect. All the bullies I have knowm are perfectionists. Should I be surprised.
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Friday, 11 November 2011

I wrote up this morning thinking of Randy and I felt anger. I had only three hours this week to visit. One hour on Monday; and Two hours on Wednesday. It is not enough time to reinforce his lettering and numbering. Vancouver Coastal Health must have a policy of not rehabing those in George Pearson Center.

I still do not understand why I was banned. Maybe it was when I raised my voice and accused the Ward of bullying. I still haven't gotten over the broken promise Linda Rose made that she would have an independent investigation done over what happened. And, then, one month later (July 2011) she advised me that this wasn't going to happen. Linda Rose was the manager of George Pearson Center in 2010 and I suspect she doesn't want any professional outsiders near the place. She got a promotion out of GPC with GPC still being under her authority. The bullies must have developed a close relationship with her for her to gamble her reputation and career on. I see no objectivity in how she treated me causing unnecessary restrictions and preventing Randy from his right to see me when he wants. It is easy to control Randy as he can't talk or write so he can't even ask to see me. Being poor opens up one's life to total abuse. And it was her who made sure that when Randy (after he turned blue at GPC) was sent to Vancouver General Hospital in August 2011 that I could only see Randy for ten minutes a day from eight hours. Previously I was told by Risk Management that I could visit Randy at VGH for as long as I wanted as there was no one there that was afraid of me and I did so close to two weeks. Maybe the VGH restriction was initiated by Linda Rose in the hope that I would make a scene and it could be used to ban me forever. As to my mental health, I am still open to seeing a psychiatrist. If I am someone to be afraid of then VGH should have done this ten months ago to protect its residents, its staff and its visitors. It would be very embarrassing for VCH if a psychiatrist said that I was reacting normally under the daily bulling I was facing.
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I keep remembering what Moira Stilwell, MD turned MLA, said to me that VCH has its own government and I would have to work with the abusers. Thanks Moira.
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November 5 2011

I was able to see Randy on Friday. I wasn't able to see him in the piano room on Thursday as he said he was in pain and didn't want to get out of bed. He seemed to understand that I couldn't stay at his bedside for longer than a few minutes. I do not know who belongs to the "team" who made the rules for my constructive banning but I was told many months ago that it came from the executive offices i.e. Napolean Ostrow because of this blog. If he knew what he was doing, he would welcome blogs such of mine to quickly with haste correct faults within Vancouver Coastal Health rather than spend his time speaking to the converted that we have the best care in Canada and GPC is a lighthouse for the world. I heard him speak at the open VCH board meeting in June 2011 and only sunshine came out of his mouth. See You Tube video: George Pearson Centre.

On Friday Randy and I played a simple card game called fish. He was picking up the cards and moving them so he is trying his best. Ever since I told him that because of his accident his brain is scrambled so he has to relearn everything he has been improving. I told him what he sees in his brain isn't always what is translated to me and the nurses. I remember one time giving him an educational toy and he threw it on the floor from his bed and I was able to read his lips to say "I am not a baby." I will never forget that.

Legwarmers needed ...

I am on a new project: the collection of legwarmers to be distributed to the cold and frail at hospitals provided they are knitted with soft "baby" wool and other knitted legwarmers to be distributed to the elderly and the street homeless.

I am sourcing an easy pattern to knit or crochette and will post the instructions as soon as I get them for those who know how to knit.

If you already have legwarmers that you can donate drop them off at 5976 Cambie (basement entrance) across from Safeway at Oakridge Mall or let me know and I will come and pick them up. 604-321-2276 I will distribute them if you can't.

Legwarms (sleeves) made from soft yarn is the answer to those being cold in a hospital or residential setting. Easy to put on; easy to take off; easy to knit: either rectangles or knit-in-the-round (tube). They should be seamless or have invisible handsewned seams. What a simple solution to an old age problem.

I spent the last few days seeking out legwarmers in dollarstores. There is some stock but none with the soft yarn knitted that would be close to the body to fit the legs or arms snuggly. For the frail item 16-3010054 one size fits all the one with fuzzy strips) is the best (if you live in an area that has a Dollarama)and is priced at $1.50. Buy them all up and donate them to your local residential care or hospital.

The knit has to be a rib stitch so it can stretch. At the beginning use a smaller sized needles (4-6 rows) to get more stretch to act as an elastic (not necesaary but desireable) and then go to a slightly larger needle(s) all the while doing knit one pearl one (64 stitches)) and knit about 20-inches for a one-size fits all pattern.

Although fashion sleeve legwarmers have been around forever, the use of them for the frail and the aged has not be exploited. I hope the "sleeves" become a standard in everyone's family.

In addition to knitted legwarm sleeves, I would also like to collect socks being mismatched or used. The homeless are always short of socks and I will make sure they are distributed fairly. The socks do not have to be in perfect condition; they do not even have to match or be sized.
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Monday October 31st 2011

After rushing off to the dollar store to purchase legwarmers, I came home at 7:30 p.m. to a large doggie (retriever) hiding under the table quivering (I got to start doing crossword puzzles so I can increase my vocabulary) in fear. He is trembling. This big doggie is afraid of the noises of Hallowe'en. He has serious issues: he is afraid of any large noise and bolts until he runs away from the sound with me running after him or if inside he burrows into a corner under a table. Try to move/comfort a 100 pound doggie when he is afraid. I will have to spend the evening soothing/holding him. I am close to seventy years old. Do I need this. Of course I need it...how else am I to keep active.

I was able to see Randy today. He was so "normal." We spent two full hours doing lettering, visiting with Russ, Roy, Asif and Ray, being disabled residents who dropped by, and, briefly a volunteer, GPC's carpenter in Hallowe'en dress and the nurse practioner. I am beginning to think the best thing that happened was my constructive banning.

If it wasn't for that Randy most likely would have died by now because I would just be at his bedside and he won't be forced to get up. I remember when I was saying something about me being banned someone said at least now he gets up. I can't remember who she was as there were people around and confusion and when I am under stress things fade into memory flashbacks but thank you for saving Randy's life and perhaps even my own.

I have to leave the blog as the big doggie needs me.
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Randy on Saturday

A friend of Randy's went to see him and she called me from his bedside on her cell. I spoke to Randy for a few minutes telling about seeing him on Monday and that on Saturday I was taking the doggies to the groomers for their annual grooming. Can't afford it more than once a year. The groomer chopped so much hair of them I couldn't even recognize them. To say the least both of them didn't seem happy as they ran to hide behind my legs when I went to pick them up. They have been such a comic relief for me.

Randy's friend said that he wrote out his initials in the air so she could see them. He really is keen to learn. There just is no one there to help him. I can't access him as much as he needs. She didn't stay long but I was grateful that she did go and see him.