I was told by Tanu, the charge nurse in Ward 2, that the reason the call bells ring continuously is because the staff firstly assists the resident/patient and after the resident/patient is treated then the call bell is shut off. When Randy was in Vancouver General Hospital the reverse happened. Residential care facilities must have their own peculiar backward style.
Why aren't the Ward 2 bullies and Joy the Resident Council President who live on Ward 2 doing something to lessen the ringing like making sure whoever is ringing the call bell is not alone.My experience is that patients who ring call bells incessantly are just lonely and afraid.
I asked Randy if he knew where the ringing was coming from and he nodded yes and he pointed. It was coming from the open ward, not one of the private rooms. The open ward has tons of nurses running around.so why does it take more than three rings for a patient to be attended to. I asked Randy if the noise annoyed him and he replied yes.
The bizarre logic of Tanu equals the illogical logic of another RN who told me that Randy isn't allowed a land line phone near his bed (after it was installed at my expense) as he might strangle himself. Randy is in an open ward, he can barely move so how is it conceivable that he can strangle himself.
In the context of the GPC environment these bizarre justifications are reasonable. These justifications are so illogical that everyone believes them.
When Randy was put in Ward 2 no one came up to him and
introduced himself/herself to him, nor did anyone introduce themselves
to me. Willey the visitor bully didn't even know Randy's name after four
months and his wife's bed is next to Randy's and Willey lives at GPC
and has for nine years or maybe it is ten now. Willley is a poster child
in the infamous You Tube video: Envisioning Home. Everyone is family
at GPC, he says. Enough to nauseate. And there is Patricia equally as
nauseating in Ward 2 who won't let me use the toilet in Ward 1 which
Ward has been abandoned to a few offices as seeing me walk pass her to
the toilet makes her feel uncomfortable. And she is also in the
infamous video that no one views. I sure would like to know how much
Vancouver Coastal Authority paid for that three part propaganda video. The money could have been directed to hiring staff to cater to the incessant call bell ringers.
I asked two staff; two residents; two religious minister, who died last Sunday and when would be the memorial service.No one could tell me. No one knew. A person dies is stuffed in a body bag and no one knows. George Pearson Centre is suppose to be a residential facilities where everyone are friends. Some residents have been living there for 42 years. Friends should know when a friend dies especially in a group home. What logic am I going to hear on this. The dead resident didn't want anyone to know he died. Randy was never asked if he did not want anyone to know if he died or not. So who are making these crazy disrespectful rules over a resident's death. The residents should have say not staff who wants to cut additional work so they do not have to deal with questions or a relative who hasn't seen the resident for six years or worse yet the person had no relatives as he was a non-person under the Public Guardian and Trustee Act. There is something terribly wrong when a person can die and there is no public acknowledgment.of his life.
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Friday, July 20, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
A Death at GPC
When I was taking Randy from GPC I noticed a body bag being taken out of Ward 2 from a side entrance rather than the main entrance. I wonder if the deceased was the person that was incessantly using the call bell a week ago Sunday. GPC is a terrible place as when a resident/patient dies nothing is said, he/she is just baged and wheeled out. The residents/patients aren't told. What a thing to look forward when you pass at GPC: no one knowing; no announcement as to why you died, or if it could have prevented been, nothing ... even after death everything is confidential. No one asks residents/patients if they want their information secret, the big medical industrial complex wants it secret and it is isn't to protect the death person.
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Wednesday, July 11, 2012
A Safety Issue
On Monday Randy seemed so happy as I had given him a pointer so that he could extend his pointing (one means of him communicating as he cannot speak). It was like a watershed. Now he can point to specific things he wants while in his chair.He was so happy. When we go shopping to get out of the heat we go to Oakridge Mall he is always pointing at things and I do not know what specific thing he is pointing at. The pointer enabled him to communicate. I tied the pointer to a piece of yarn and attached it to his wheelchair. When I returned him to George Pearson Centre on Monday the nurse who came to get Randy without even a pleasant good evening noticed the pointer and took the pointer and said it was a safety hazard. She said she would put it in his bag hanging on the back of his wheelchair. Yesterday the pointer wasn't in the bag. Of course me being paranoid as I suspect that the pointer is now going to be used as part of the evidence VCH is collecting to attest that I am giving weapons to Randy with my explicit instruction to Randy to attack staff so that the Public Guardian and Trustee can become his sole guardian and his guardian will rely upon George Pearson Centre as to who can see Randy and I will assuredly be on the list of those not allowed to see Randy. I was once accused by Tanu of feeding Randy a Big Mac as staff found its wrapping on his wheelchair. Of course, no one showed me the evidence. But then maybe I forgot to ask for it.
The point is not my paranoia but rather the safety issue. On Sunday while waiting to get Randy so we could go to the church service at GPC, there was nothing to read while waiting, so I started to listen to the noises of the hospital. I could hear a resident's call/help bell and I started counting. It rang 110 times from the time I noticed it before it stopped. It could have rang 200 times.
The point is staff is quick to decree that a pointer is a safety hazard rather than a communicative device for someone who cannot talk or write and yet no one is quick enough to answer a call/help bell.
GPC's elaborate plan to ban me isn't really working well for them, I assume the next step will be that I won't even be allowed to wait for Randy in the piano/family/visitors room across from security so I won't be able to hear the noises of the hospital and they will be wheeling Randy out to the roadside (57th Avenue and Cambie) so I won't be able to access a blade of GPC's grass. But then the problem will be who will wheel him to the roadside as the nurses are not allowed to do this and neither is security. What a logistic problem Randy has created for GPC. And to think that all these problems can be time lined back to an interview that I had with a social worker at Vancouver General Hospital who decided that I should never see Randy again. The problem with the system is that social workers are telling doctors what to do. And the doctors to save time concur with erroraneous judgment calls of social workers justifying their approval as social workers are officers of the court and they know what is best for everyone.
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The point is not my paranoia but rather the safety issue. On Sunday while waiting to get Randy so we could go to the church service at GPC, there was nothing to read while waiting, so I started to listen to the noises of the hospital. I could hear a resident's call/help bell and I started counting. It rang 110 times from the time I noticed it before it stopped. It could have rang 200 times.
The point is staff is quick to decree that a pointer is a safety hazard rather than a communicative device for someone who cannot talk or write and yet no one is quick enough to answer a call/help bell.
GPC's elaborate plan to ban me isn't really working well for them, I assume the next step will be that I won't even be allowed to wait for Randy in the piano/family/visitors room across from security so I won't be able to hear the noises of the hospital and they will be wheeling Randy out to the roadside (57th Avenue and Cambie) so I won't be able to access a blade of GPC's grass. But then the problem will be who will wheel him to the roadside as the nurses are not allowed to do this and neither is security. What a logistic problem Randy has created for GPC. And to think that all these problems can be time lined back to an interview that I had with a social worker at Vancouver General Hospital who decided that I should never see Randy again. The problem with the system is that social workers are telling doctors what to do. And the doctors to save time concur with error
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Monday, July 9, 2012
Nothing Unexpected
Yesterday was like most days nothing unexpected happened. Nothing changes at GPC.
When I spoke to the City bus driver on my way home, as the bus before sped past me not stopping. I asked him is the reason that buses do not stop is it because the drivers are daydreaming. And he said could be.. I then explained that is the same experience I encountered with the staff at George Pearson Centre. The bus driver said that he used to work twenty years ago as a nurse on Ward 6 which is now Ward 2: high risk residents/patients. The reason the employees daydream and work as if each patient is on a timed assembly line, is because they are: there is no job satisfaction and you just work to get your pay, he explained.. That was twenty years ago and now it is even worse with narrower and narrower job descriptions for each level of nursing. A nurse can't even take a resident onto an adjacent patio to the Ward even through there are french doors and the patient can be seen from the nursing station. It has to be done by a family member or a volunteer. Volunteers are hard to come by spontaneously. Volunteers are mostly wanting to be med students and volunteering is part of their admission requirement. GPC is the last place young people want to be. So far I haven't come across one volunteer whose career plan isn't in the medical field.
When I mentioned earlier in one of the posts that LPNs who also referred to themselves as "lowest paid nurses" earn $100,000 a year I forget to mentioned the benefit of future pension money. So, they are earning $50.00 an hour if not more and the myth still exists that they are so very underpaid. But compared to an assembly line worker for Ford Canada ($100 an hour) maybe they are low paid.
115,660
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When I spoke to the City bus driver on my way home, as the bus before sped past me not stopping. I asked him is the reason that buses do not stop is it because the drivers are daydreaming. And he said could be.. I then explained that is the same experience I encountered with the staff at George Pearson Centre. The bus driver said that he used to work twenty years ago as a nurse on Ward 6 which is now Ward 2: high risk residents/patients. The reason the employees daydream and work as if each patient is on a timed assembly line, is because they are: there is no job satisfaction and you just work to get your pay, he explained.. That was twenty years ago and now it is even worse with narrower and narrower job descriptions for each level of nursing. A nurse can't even take a resident onto an adjacent patio to the Ward even through there are french doors and the patient can be seen from the nursing station. It has to be done by a family member or a volunteer. Volunteers are hard to come by spontaneously. Volunteers are mostly wanting to be med students and volunteering is part of their admission requirement. GPC is the last place young people want to be. So far I haven't come across one volunteer whose career plan isn't in the medical field.
When I mentioned earlier in one of the posts that LPNs who also referred to themselves as "lowest paid nurses" earn $100,000 a year I forget to mentioned the benefit of future pension money. So, they are earning $50.00 an hour if not more and the myth still exists that they are so very underpaid. But compared to an assembly line worker for Ford Canada ($100 an hour) maybe they are low paid.
115,660
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Sunday, July 1, 2012
Another You Tube Moment
I experienced a very interesting July 1st 2012. I went and got Randy at 2:00 pm and we went to Oakridge to buy him a new cap. While there I asked him if he just pooed and he nodded yes. I rushed him home to attend to him. The You Tube moment occurred when he put his legs on my shoulders while in his wheelchair so that he could lift up his bum a fraction of an inch so I could pull out his hospital diaper; and again when I cleaned up his liquid poo remaining on his bum; and again when I put on one of my Depends on him. That was at 3:00 and then at 5:00 p.m. he again had a bowel movement, and the process had to be repeated. I do not understand why he is pooing when he is off site is happening as the hospital is suppose to be regulating his pooing with their bowel movement days wherein residents are forced to have bowel movements. I saved the evidence so that Tanu cannot suggest that I am making it up. Both poos were substantial. One thing for sure is that his physiotherapy must be working as he can lift his bum up an inch but then I do not think physio knows he can do this. Surprise. surprise.
I am very confused over the reasoning VCH use. The patient has a right to refuse treatment and when I voiced my concern when Randy was refusing to take his tube feed or water I was told that that Randy had a right to take his own life as he was capable. However GPC has a forced policy that the residents have to be have a BM (bowel movement) day. I wish VCH would make up its mind: are they encouraging death or life.
If that wasn't bad enough I was also faced again with Randy's peepee tube wasn't on his peepee. This upset Randy as he doesn't like to have peepee into his hospital diaper. I won't either as my experience before I was banned was if Randy had a bowel movement the nursing staff would leave it for the next shift to look after.
And to top it off the suction machine I had wasn't fully suctioning. It isn't a life and death situation as Randy can breathe on his own for a few hours not being a medical person it is scary..
And then I asked Randy if the nurse from yesterday gave the book I purchased for him on Saturday so he could read it. He said the nurse did not give it to him. I want Randy to read as I am scared that if he doesn't he will lose his ability to spell and won't be able to use his letterboard to primitive communicate. How stupid of me as such a request is not part of her job description. Like no one told me last June 2011 that Randy's television fell to the floor and for a month he had nothing to watch except the ceiling. A friend who seldom visits Randy phoned and said did I know that Randy did not have a televison. Randy is a non-speaking quad and the only thing he can do is watch television. I was there everyday for my two hour visit in the a room off his ward protected by security and no staff or security cared enough to tell me but then stupid me that is not in their job description.
The only thing I resent about spending six to eight hours a day with Randy off site is that his care is now taking so much energy from me that I do not have the time to devote to go after the bullies at GPC.
I was told the reason for my banning was and is because residents/patients are afraid of me and they are vulnerable. Since I can't ask any of these residents/patients if this was true as I am banned from talking to them, I can only surmise. But I assure readers that there is no resident/patient in George Pearson Centre who is vulnerable. They may not be safe from other residents and staff but vulnerable NO. If you get close to any of the residents/patients every single one of them have the resolve of steel otherwise they would not be in George Pearson Centre, the dumping ground for the Province's disabled, they would be dead. I admire every one of them.
113,996
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I am very confused over the reasoning VCH use. The patient has a right to refuse treatment and when I voiced my concern when Randy was refusing to take his tube feed or water I was told that that Randy had a right to take his own life as he was capable. However GPC has a forced policy that the residents have to be have a BM (bowel movement) day. I wish VCH would make up its mind: are they encouraging death or life.
If that wasn't bad enough I was also faced again with Randy's peepee tube wasn't on his peepee. This upset Randy as he doesn't like to have peepee into his hospital diaper. I won't either as my experience before I was banned was if Randy had a bowel movement the nursing staff would leave it for the next shift to look after.
And to top it off the suction machine I had wasn't fully suctioning. It isn't a life and death situation as Randy can breathe on his own for a few hours not being a medical person it is scary..
And then I asked Randy if the nurse from yesterday gave the book I purchased for him on Saturday so he could read it. He said the nurse did not give it to him. I want Randy to read as I am scared that if he doesn't he will lose his ability to spell and won't be able to use his letterboard to primitive communicate. How stupid of me as such a request is not part of her job description. Like no one told me last June 2011 that Randy's television fell to the floor and for a month he had nothing to watch except the ceiling. A friend who seldom visits Randy phoned and said did I know that Randy did not have a televison. Randy is a non-speaking quad and the only thing he can do is watch television. I was there everyday for my two hour visit in the a room off his ward protected by security and no staff or security cared enough to tell me but then stupid me that is not in their job description.
The only thing I resent about spending six to eight hours a day with Randy off site is that his care is now taking so much energy from me that I do not have the time to devote to go after the bullies at GPC.
I was told the reason for my banning was and is because residents/patients are afraid of me and they are vulnerable. Since I can't ask any of these residents/patients if this was true as I am banned from talking to them, I can only surmise. But I assure readers that there is no resident/patient in George Pearson Centre who is vulnerable. They may not be safe from other residents and staff but vulnerable NO. If you get close to any of the residents/patients every single one of them have the resolve of steel otherwise they would not be in George Pearson Centre, the dumping ground for the Province's disabled, they would be dead. I admire every one of them.
113,996
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Saturday, June 23, 2012
Vancouver General Hospital vs. XXXXXX
I was sent the Oral Reasons for Judgment on appeal of an Injunction dated September 3 1998 between Vancouver General Hospital and XXXXXX by Risk Management. I can't believe Bob blanked out in black the name of the Defendant. It is a public court document so why would VGH black out the name of the Defendant. Besides it wasn't even the document I wanted I wanted the Reasons why the Injunction failed not the reasons for why the Injunction lost on appeal.
The document nevertheless says at common law VCH has the right to control access to its property in the context of that it concludes is in the best interests of its institution and the patients and staff in that institution. The only problem with that is that the common law referred to was when the common folk did not pay for hospitals or have universal health care or know the benefit of family for recovery. Hospitals are now paid by taxpayers and overseen by the legislature and the expectations of the public are different. The common law is archaic.
Randy was in GPC for over a year until I was told by other residents that residents cannot be forced to stay inside and they could go off site.
Randy was imprisoned for close to two years without him or me knowing that if Randy wanted to see me he could. His wheelchair could be transported to the sidewalk even if I was banned. And VCH although they knew they could not constructively imprison Randy chose to do so.
Randy did not feel the sun for two years. (at 1.5 years at GPC and six months at VGH). Staff is not allowed to take Randy outside to the patio. Me being subject to harsh bullying by visitors, residents and staff which has never been addressed by VCH and then being banned for trying to be friendly with residents is absurd. VCH works on the premises that it is never at fault. Banning at most should only be for a few days not forever.
And what about Randy was it ever discussed with him that he can't see me when he wants to. No the most important person and he was left out of the loop. The policy at GPC is that visiting is from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm each day and visitors have access to the common areas of the hospital without asking permission beforehand or as I have seen it visitors saying hi or good evening to residents.. But I am not allowed in the common areas or speaking to residents but the residents have to talk to me first.
VCH must have a policy not to advise what your rights are or even what services are provided. If you do not know then that is your problem. On Friday I learned that there is a massage therapist available for residents. It took me two years to learn this and then not staff but a resident told me. I also recently found out that the two short sessions Randy goes for physiotherapy per week was for respiratory only and not the whole body. How can he try to learn to walk when the therapy is only so he can breathe. He has to have hope.
It is a wonder that Randy is still alive.
I am going to make a monetary plea for the GPC Recreation Department. The equipment, supplies and outings are mostly funded by the Marpole Ladies Auxiliary and it is hard for the Ladies to raise sufficient cash. Residents should have more than one outing every three months. So send money to the Recreation Department George Pearson Centre, 700 West 57th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6P 1S1 604.321.3231. My plea is especially directed to those that are employed at George Pearson Centre. I am sure they all can afford to donate one-hour of their salary to a cause that they see everyday.
114,504
The document nevertheless says at common law VCH has the right to control access to its property in the context of that it concludes is in the best interests of its institution and the patients and staff in that institution. The only problem with that is that the common law referred to was when the common folk did not pay for hospitals or have universal health care or know the benefit of family for recovery. Hospitals are now paid by taxpayers and overseen by the legislature and the expectations of the public are different. The common law is archaic.
Randy was in GPC for over a year until I was told by other residents that residents cannot be forced to stay inside and they could go off site.
Randy was imprisoned for close to two years without him or me knowing that if Randy wanted to see me he could. His wheelchair could be transported to the sidewalk even if I was banned. And VCH although they knew they could not constructively imprison Randy chose to do so.
Randy did not feel the sun for two years. (at 1.5 years at GPC and six months at VGH). Staff is not allowed to take Randy outside to the patio. Me being subject to harsh bullying by visitors, residents and staff which has never been addressed by VCH and then being banned for trying to be friendly with residents is absurd. VCH works on the premises that it is never at fault. Banning at most should only be for a few days not forever.
And what about Randy was it ever discussed with him that he can't see me when he wants to. No the most important person and he was left out of the loop. The policy at GPC is that visiting is from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm each day and visitors have access to the common areas of the hospital without asking permission beforehand or as I have seen it visitors saying hi or good evening to residents.. But I am not allowed in the common areas or speaking to residents but the residents have to talk to me first.
VCH must have a policy not to advise what your rights are or even what services are provided. If you do not know then that is your problem. On Friday I learned that there is a massage therapist available for residents. It took me two years to learn this and then not staff but a resident told me. I also recently found out that the two short sessions Randy goes for physiotherapy per week was for respiratory only and not the whole body. How can he try to learn to walk when the therapy is only so he can breathe. He has to have hope.
It is a wonder that Randy is still alive.
I am going to make a monetary plea for the GPC Recreation Department. The equipment, supplies and outings are mostly funded by the Marpole Ladies Auxiliary and it is hard for the Ladies to raise sufficient cash. Residents should have more than one outing every three months. So send money to the Recreation Department George Pearson Centre, 700 West 57th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6P 1S1 604.321.3231. My plea is especially directed to those that are employed at George Pearson Centre. I am sure they all can afford to donate one-hour of their salary to a cause that they see everyday.
114,504
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Moira Stillwell, MLA
I just came from the Oakridge Seniors Centre where Dr.Moira Stillwell MLA for Langara was doing her quarterly get together with the seniors. Being a doctor she assured me that I wasn't crazy just frustrated. And the members who were there agreed that I should not have had to go through this frustration. Moira also agreed with me that Vancouver Coastal Health is being overly cautious re my behavior and it wasn't anything personal.And when I mentioned to the group that I could only see Randy from 2:00 to 4:00 for the most part during the day when the day is active on his ward rather than weekends, evenings and holidays, they were angry as weekends, holidays and evenings are when visiting hours should happen. And when I said even during my restrictive hours I could not visit Randy at his bedside, the anger got more intense. I am now allowed to visit him in the hot piano room on site from noon to 4:00 seven days a week but I can take him off site for as long as Randy/I want. Go figure. Randy is in a high risk ward and I am not allowed to be at his bedside. I believe that the reason for my banning from Randy's bedside is because the if I did go to Ward 2 the bullies would feel uncomfortable no other reason.
Ken D, a school board trustee was there to assure the audience that their grandchildren will be educated. He also said he would bring up my suggestion that the board provide continuing education for those in extended care facilities (volunteer lectures by student teachers on academic topics): education being a quality of life issue.
Randy is again refusing his stomach feed so according to the Smith Judgment re Assisted Suicide I am glad because now the health authority cannot use the argument that Randy is refusing treatment as he has been diagnosed as clinically depressed and under equality he has to be afforded the same protection i.e. the health authorities cannot help him to commit suicide.VCH will have to force feed him if necessary.
A good day over all.
Thank you Lynn Smith.
114,060
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Ken D, a school board trustee was there to assure the audience that their grandchildren will be educated. He also said he would bring up my suggestion that the board provide continuing education for those in extended care facilities (volunteer lectures by student teachers on academic topics): education being a quality of life issue.
Randy is again refusing his stomach feed so according to the Smith Judgment re Assisted Suicide I am glad because now the health authority cannot use the argument that Randy is refusing treatment as he has been diagnosed as clinically depressed and under equality he has to be afforded the same protection i.e. the health authorities cannot help him to commit suicide.VCH will have to force feed him if necessary.
A good day over all.
Thank you Lynn Smith.
114,060
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