Wrote this back in the winter, seeing it sitting in draft. It’s warm and sunny today, half term, a day to be out but worth a little time reflecting on what might have changed…
On the way home from collecting my daughter from school after a pupil tested positive for covid, I passed someone who’d been life boat crew from my childhood. I wonder how they’re getting on. People didn’t get the support they needed years ago. Hopefully that’s changed now. Thinking of those deeply effected by what they saw during the 53′ flood and obviously more recently with the drownings we hear about every year. I know for the rescuers it will deeply effect the way some of them see death and dying and would undoubtedly have a deep impact on their view of dying. The thing we know is that talking to others helps us through the stormy waters of grief. Another good reason for us to look out for each other and ask for support if we need it. We also know that Covid has and is a psychologically traumatic event, because of this it can trigger old psychological traumas so we need to be extra mindful of looking after ourselves. I’m saying this to myself as much as you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It9TXepTMWAhttps://www.sthelena.org.uk/how-we-can-help-you/bereavement-support
In these covid days, loss of schooling disproportionally effects those with learning disabilities and those from marginalised backgrounds, and the deaths?
“the evidence suggested cognitive impairment was disproportionately over-represented in homeless populations. Cognitive impairment was found to be both a risk factor to and perpetuator of homelessness. Risk factors for homelessness were similar to those of the general population, though exaggerated by sequalae of certain cognitive impairments.”
“All electrical installations in a rented property must comply with the 2018 edition of the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2018), the electrical test will be valid 5 years before having to be renewed”. Having just chased this up after a notification in October it makes me wonder about people who may be cognitively impaired, will they be chasing it up to ensure their home is safe? Busy carers? Those cognitively impaired due to what life throws at them?
Many of the people I met in my volunteering described themselves as having learning disabilities, some found reading difficult. Even if safely housed now with a history of homelessness they are at greater risk of homelessness in the future. I wonder how they are getting on.
http://www.essex-fire.gov.uk/Home_Fire_Safety/Home_Safety_Advice_for_Carers/
I wrote that ages ago. Today was a breakthrough my cousin had a bath. It’s taken ages to get her to agree. We had help from a re enablement team when the self neglect got really bad last time. It’s funny isn’t it how people will agree to things with one person but not another. That support was withdrawn when the allotted time was up. It’s a shame, we were seeing good progress, slowly picking up life. – I wrote this back in the winter, it shocks me how little has changed, how the last bath was weeks ago, the self neglect unchanged.
I fear our daily meet ups, creating a dependency that I can’t maintain, I’m fearful for the future as infirmity becomes more difficult. Each leaving getting more difficult. The promised call hasn’t come yet, still it’s still early I guess. – Not so early now but no meaningful change, still no input from mental health. The social worker from yesterday said he’d chase up…presumably like the GP tried to, like I have…
I’m torn between her needs and those of the rest of the family, impacting all as these constant demands are. – No change there.
Mum tried to support when she was a child, nothing helped then either. How can we be all these years on bumbling about in the dark, not getting what might help. Everything declined, just sucking everyone into misery. It’s just so sad to see.
It’s not always like that. Sometimes it’s ok, a glimpse of the person who might dare to be but then back into those demands, that feels like a screaming child, a spiral of helplessness. Was decision making ever possible? Bed always the default? Never interested in anything, unwilling to try? What happened to this dear child, then adult? What might help now? We just need some advice. Would CBT even be possible? – the advise never came, we muddled along on our own. That screaming baby not always evident now.
Phone call from the surgery, have I arranged my covid vaccination. Yes I have, could you check if …. plans to call me back. No sorry, I’m only working on covid vaccination…. and that is how it goes. This was then. Different now? One shot done, email to advise I could have the second one sooner. Contemplating what next. The tablets aren’t working, should we dip back into those torrid waters? The limitations of medication? What next?