Dear Editor:
As we go through life we never hope and dream to one day be living in a long term care facility, but for many of us, that becomes our reality. Some of us have become captive in our own bodies; our minds are well but we are bound to a wheelchair or to a bed. Some of us are taken away by Alzheimer's, dementia, strokes and cancer. Our bodies and minds are still here but we no longer have a voice. But for all of us the journey is the same: we must face the fact that we are no longer able to care for ourselves. We must give up our homes, leave our families, and become dependent on others to provide us with the help we need on a daily basis.
We must also leave behind what and when we want to eat, when we go to bed or get up, when we want to bath, and who will be helping us. If we are fortunate we may have a few personal belongings, depending on the size of the room. Most often, we must give up and leave behind our family heirlooms and most of the treasures we have collected over our lifetime. We know that this is our last home; we do not want to be here, we are upset, we are scared, and we are vulnerable. All that has been our life - no longer is.
We put our trust and our lives into the hands of complete strangers; we hope and pray that we will be treated with dignity and respect, for they tell us this will now be our "home." Our world now becomes a small room with a few meager possessions that adorn the walls or sit on the floor in the corner... and our memories. We must now conform to a world that is policy, procedures, job descriptions, safety codes, shift changes and budget cuts.
Lately, things have changed in our "home." We are feeling as human beings we no longer matter, that "policy" has now become more important than we are.
We have some problems with those who make the policies and implement them.
So far our concerns seem to fall on deaf ears and we don't know where to turn.
Our first major concern is to do with our food. Who has decided that the food we, as residents, prepare and bake is contaminated and cannot go into the kitchen? Who has made the decision that food for our meals must come in through the back door, off a truck, or it is deemed contaminated? Do those policy makers have a truck pull up to their back door, unload their weekly groceries and eat only what items are allowed on that particular week's menu?
At one time we were allowed to snap beans, peel onions, clean rhubarb and strawberries, etc., most of which was graciously donated to us by the community or grown in our own gardens. We felt useful and took pride in our little jobs; we felt we were contributing in some small way. But then they changed the policy. Those of us that are still able, love to assist in baking and sharing it with staff, family, and the other residents who were unable to help. We are still allowed to bake, but only if it is eaten right away and kept in a separate fridge; it is not allowed to go into the kitchen and shared with everyone, lest it be contaminated. Do they think we are contaminated? Most of us are in our 70's, 80's and 90's; a great deal of our lives has revolved around gardening, baking, and canning. Contaminated food going into a kitchen has not been a problem for us so far - we are still here! Have the policy makers ever lived in a long term care facility? Have they ever lived on the pre-made prepared food that comes off the truck?
Our second major concern has to do with the scented or low-scented products. Some time ago, the Sunrise Health Region decided that we must pay $20.00 a month for some of our personal hygiene products. We get toothpaste and toothbrushes, Kleenex, Efferedent, combs, generic soap, shampoo, body lotion and powder. We have no choice or option to pay this fee, it is their policy.
Again, we question the policy makers. Have they ever used the shampoo and soap that leaves our skin dried out or the lotion that does not moisturize?
The majority of us have family or friends that will bring us our own shampoo, body wash, powders and lotions. Many items come as gifts, and we feel very fortunate to have these items. We understand that there is a policy that regulates the scents and we abide by that, but who decides if the scent is too strong or acceptable?
These days, bath day is the highlight of the week. Once a week. Whether we need it or not, at least we have one day when we can feel totally refreshed, get our hair done, and feel good about ourselves. But that, too, is coming to an end. One day, without warning, the manager came and took Mary's lotion away. She has used that same lotion since the day she came into this home.
Every night at bedtime the staff would put the lotion on her and not once had she ever heard a comment about it being scented or unscented; there had never been any issue whatsoever. She was now being told that it was scented and that all scented products would need to be removed from the building.
Mary was in tears for she had bought that lotion with what little money she had left from her pension cheque. But that really didn't seem to matter to management as this was now the "policy." Mary was told she could keep her powder for now, although the scent of the powder was stronger than that of the lotion. She had many other products taken away as well. She had a meeting with the manager four days later and was able to get the medicated lotion back. She has many allergies and very sensitive skin, and that lotion worked for her. She had three painful, sleepness nights because she couldn't convince him that the lotion worked for her. Does she need more pain? That same day, without warning, the manager went into Ethyl's room and took her powder. Ethyl too was very upset, but she was afraid to ruffle any feathers in case there was some kind of reprimand. Ethyl was allowed to keep the same kind of lotion that had been taken away from Mary.
Gina says she has no scented products, but we know they just haven't told her or tried to take them away... yet. Millie hasn't lost anything yet either, but she is very aware of what's going on, and her family lives very close and they have ensured her that nothing will be taken away from her.
And then there is John. John has dementia and does not know that he has body wash or that for several months someone has been taking it from his room.
Who defends what happens to John, just because he cannot speak for himself?
Does it give someone the right to take his items out of his room?
If we were still able to be in our own homes, and someone came in and took our belongings, would it not be called "theft?" Have we now lost the right to smell good and use products that keep our skin healthy? Those people that sat down and made this policy, were they unscented? Did they go to the meeting that day having used unscented shampoo, deodorant, and soap before they brought this policy into effect? Is it possible that the policy makers have their own personal standard of living, yet think it is okay to diminish ours? We are beginning to feel like prisoners, yet we have committed no crimes. Because we are old, our bodies worn out, and our mind's not as sharp, are we lesser human beings? How do you think that makes us feel? How do think we feel that at any given moment, without warning, someone could walk into our rooms and start taking our belongings every time they change a "policy?"
Some of us feel very fortunate. Fortunate that we still have a voice and we are not afraid to speak out. We know that behind us is the support of our families, friends, and many of the workers who work at this facility. But what about our fellow residents that no longer have a voice? What about Rosie who lives down the hall. You see, Rosie hasn't been out of bed or spoken for many years, but her family always makes sure she has a beautiful bouquet of flowers and nice body wash and lotion - that is all Rosie has these days. Her family tells us that she was always surrounded by and loved her flowers when she was still at home. We are beginning to wonder if soon the flowers will have to stop coming... because it is "policy."
The names are fictitious, the events are real. The views and concerns are from the Residents whose lives are being effected by policy changes in the Sunrise Health Region. Many people contributed to this article for they too can see the residents quality of life being eroded by policies that seem to have little compassion for those living in our facility.
Submitted by Katherine Stychyshyn, Vice President, Resident Council Lakeside Manor Care Home, Saltcoats, SK
