A Friend in Need....

This was my day....

It is a long story, and probably a familiar one for many who have dealt with the inadequacies of the current healthcare system. Overcrowded hospitals and emergency rooms, no beds available for new patients, understaffing and no time for compassion, caring and understanding.  

In this case, an elderly neighbour with Alzheimer's and new symptoms of pneumonia is taken by ambulance to hospital where the diagnosis is confirmed, but despite that and being unable to stand or walk by himself, he is discharged back into the care of his wife, his sole caregiver who is recovering from surgery and ordered to rest, and to not lift anything or drive. No matter how hard she argues and explains the situation, the answer is no, he is discharged. She has to come and pick him up. Now.

I offer to drive. With great difficulty, his wife and I do manage to get him into my car and home but it is obvious that this is not going to work. An hour later, she has to call 911 again, and they take him back to hospital... where for some reason, they now realize he needs to be admitted? 

Whatever...at least he is safe and hopefully well cared for, at least for the moment...even if stashed in a bed in a hallway somewhere...at least there are doctors and nurses nearby, After that, who knows? There are no respite beds available in our area, and although he is on the list for nursing homes, the waiting lists here are years long... 

Although the first post-war baby boomers of 1945 are now almost 80, the major boom has  yet to arrive. Imagine what that will be like!  Who in government did not see this coming? Who didn't realize that the baby boomers would eventually grow old and need hospitals and nursing homes? Geez...there has been lots of time to prepare....

My heart goes out to my friend. She is a real trooper even when she has her own medical issues to deal with...but 24/7 care of a loved one eventually takes a toll... I worry not just for him in his illness, but for her too.