Just needed to be heard for a little while

Waves_and_Smiles

Really interesting post, JM (and thank you for saying I am lovely). I will need to think about that one, it's tricky! I shall post one in a while after I watch the thread for a bit, it is a tad scary out there!

elsien

No, not a penguin JM. I just think it's important to put the information out there for anyone who is interested so that they know how things work for the more vulnerable members of society.

WaS - sadly it's all going full circle again, which is why my place closed. County council policy of not using residential care if they can possible help it. Residential care comes from county council funds. Supported living (which can be 24 hour care), a larger part of the money comes from housing and other benefits, so from central government rather than local coffers. So everyone's been turfed into supported living under the ideology of it giving people more choice and control. Which done and funded properly, it does. But it's not done and funded properly in many cases, it's purely a cost cutting exercise.
So the latest brainwave is huge clusters of small flats with communal areas. People have identified 1/1 time to help with basic tasks such as personal care, cooking etc. Then there's staff floating around the communal bits to be on hand for everyone when they don't have the 1/1 time. Which is probably not so bad for people with the skills and initiative to come out of their flats, socialise, and get involved/ask for help. But it's also being identified as suitable for people with severe learning disabilities, and very little in the way of communication or ability to occupy themselves and who cannot leave the premises unaccompanied for safety reasons. (And probably for people with various mental and physical health problems as well, but that's not my area so I can't really comment on how that might work.)
To make it cheaper, you're looking at a minimum of 10 flats per cluster with maybe one or two floating support staff. One I am aware of will have 44 flats when it is finished.
Seems to me (given the very limited 1/1 time I know people are being allocated) to be more of a holding area/ghetto rather than anything to do with increased quality of life. And a recipe for more challenging behaviour and increased mental health problems in some cases.
Another idea that done properly could help a lot of people, but at the moment seems to be another way of cramming more people into one space so they can get away with cheaper care. One sleep in for 4 people, or one sleep in for 10, I think I know which way the financial bods will jump.

Waves_and_Smiles

That's terrible, elsien! It seems that they learnt nothing from the care in the community disaster. I have no idea how they expect people to cope, where is the mental stimulation for starters? A lot of people will be left staring at the walls for days on end. It sounds hideously understaffed, there is no way people will get the support that they need. Living a full life isn't just about showering and having assistance cooking a meal, they desperately need 1/1 interaction for socialising and activities. We always had a staffing level of 2-3 carers for 6 clients and it was just enough, it doesn't sound like that the new approach will have anywhere near that. Simply awful.

elsien

Haybel, hoping you're starting to recuperate after your stressful child and dog care. Have a relaxing bank holiday, if such a thing exists!

I was brave today and ventured off to Kenilworth castle with Gitdog. A mix of leaving him safely in the car while we climbed ramparts etc, letting him bounce around in the emptier bits of the grounds, and having him around people and children on the safety of a short lead. The dog trainer has recommended taking him to as many new places as possible, for short stints so I don't reach the point of wanting to wring his neck before we leave. He actually wasn't too bad. One doggy tantrum but just pulling, not hurling himself against the lead and howling which was his modus operandi a couple of months back
As in all things, baby steps.

He's currently lying on my feet barking in his sleep and doing a vertical take off and landing with the force of his dream bounces. It does make me smile when dogs dream and their legs and tails are going like the clappers.

elsien

I think our local council has stopped calling it supported living on the grounds it gives people aspirations.

Waves_and_Smiles

It does sound like supported living is something of a misnomer, it is so frustrating that they seem to have learnt nothing from last restructuring.

Yay! Go Gitdog! He always sounds so full of life and excitement, even if you do want to wring his neck at times I bet he manages to win you over in the end with his antics. Does he like children? I have visions of him becoming even bouncier around them!

elsien

He looovvvess children. He desperately wants to be with them. He bounces off the walls and the ceilings at the prospect of playing with them. The more hyper the child, the more hyper the Gitdog.
Unfortunately he never learned to inhibit his bite response when he gets excited so he nips. And although it's sheer exuberance, not aggression, he can easily draw blood - a bull terrier nip blooming hurts. So I just can't risk him being around unfamiliar children. He can be with my nieces and nephews in the house on the lead for short periods because they understand the importance of staying calm and not making sudden movements ie not behaving like children!

Edit - gratuitious photo warning.


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whitewing

Well done, dibuzz, for being able to say goodbye to your neighbour, and being able to go to the club. I am sure it will mean a lot to his family that you were there. Of course, they would have known that they were in your thoughts anyway.

When my grandparents died, we sent copies of their eulogies to people who couldn't make the funerals, and we got lovely letters back as most people had done their own ritual to say goodbye, even if it were only one person in their own house.

Waves_and_Smiles

I guessed he would love children, elsien! Poor Gitdog, he just wants to play. He is such a handsome boy, he actually looks so friendly! You can see it in his expression, I wouldn't mind him being bouncy with me! Playful animal bites don't phase me very much, cats have attacked me, dogs have nipped me, I had a hamster that took chunks out of my fingers and we won't even mention the amount of human bites I got at work. I would probably ruin all of his training actually bouncing off walls with him!

haybel19

*Waves* Hi everyone- missed you!

Thank you for the prompts Elsien and Whitewing I couldnt get in till next week as my Dr off and prefer to go with familiarity =but I absolutely promise to report back straight after as as few bits too discuss struggling a little with severe tiredness/exhaustion part and parcel with two autoimmune illness but seems much worse...not sure if linked to my pernicious anaemia recent events of a bit of both. When little one has her afternoon nap I have been snuggling on sofa with Max and having a nap with him. We both love our cuddly naps.

WaS Course sounds fascinating.

JobbingMusican CBP sounds painful I hope I don't get one!!!

I have been making a sugar lilly today- its my first attempt and needs work but I am quite pleased with how it turned out. I cannot wait for my cake class to start again in December.

I treated myself to the new Peggy Porchsen Cakes in Bloom a few weeks ago and think I am going to try and make some flowers this weekend.