Are you ready for the next installment in what I call The Hospital Ordeal that plagued my cousin and me? Here’s what happened next.
Aren’t You Done Yet?
Sometime during hour 2 in the chilly Emergency holding-pen (like the public were cattle), an impatient nurse dumped a pee bottle on the bed. She demanded my out-of-it cousin produce a urine sample on command. Many folks can’t. Graphically, it is NOT helpful to hover angrily over the “organ”. Pushed to the limit, I finally retorted: “Ya, blame the family member. It’s always their fault.” The Non-Compassionate One backed off. Smart move.
YOU Are His Caregiver!
Next, her belligerent colleague imposed a huge “should” by expecting me to accompany him to the washroom throughout his stay. Last time I looked, I lack the training to singularly support a 220-pound male frame. The kicker was when she assumed I would change my cousin’s “diapers” if necessary. Oh, have you been his relative for 58 years? The man would NEVER want such humiliation. You just made a gross error, lady, in more ways than one.
Call Your MPP
Assaulted verbally throughout the 8-hour ordeal on Day 1, I deliberately avoided the hospital on Day 2. My cousin was fine and just needed to get certain pills out of his system. If I’d shown my face, I would’ve been forced to do THEIR every job for them. Early evening, they called to obtain his health plan card. I couldn’t locate it and she was practically irate. She ultimately hung up on me. Really?
Caregivers Unite!
I expressed outrage that my cousin was now in holding pen #3 and not a private bed as promised. The last straw was when this individual DARED to suggest that if I don’t like it, then I should call my Member of Parliament. Are you kidding me?? At this point, she was shouting and over-talking me. Not good.
Now, before any medical professionals reading this post jump all over my back, I commend to the hilt the terrific paramedics who attended my cousin at home. They were gifted angels. I even thank the 24/7 nurse who provided initial advice by phone.
We encountered a few lovely people along the way. Those types of examples are documented in my book, Coping with Un-cope-able Systems: ADVOCACY for Eldercare available at www.copingwithuncopeableparents.com.
However, Canadians REALLY need to find a voice to defend OUR rights in the face of impossible institutions and bureaucracies. Next time, my call to action will be to stand up and rise up!
Photo credit: Foter.com
Carol-Ann Hamilton
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