Question:
I have been treating a very frail lady of 85 with reflexology every week for some time now.
She is waiting for a place in a care home, possibly going into an elderly patients hospital as a halfway house until a bed in a home becomes available. She is adamant that she still wants to continue with treatments when she is in the home/hospital and I have told her that I will come and see her when she goes in and we can talk about it then.
Out of courtesy, I will speak to the Home Manager or Nurse in charge of the ward, but from experience, know that these people are not always available when you want to see them.
As this is a private ongoing arrangement, do I have to get permission from the home or hospital to treat this lady? The other issue, of course, is payment, as I think usual practice is for her money to be kept on account, so I will have to sort this out also.
Lesley
Hiya. Haven't been in this position. Important that you keep in contact me thinks. Can you speak to a relative if there is one who is responsible for her and clear it with them and maybe get it in writing and arrange for payment too?
No, she has no-one - two elderly sisters who don't live near her, so she's on her own, poor soul.
Have found out she's going in next Monday, so will go and see her when I would normally treat her on Wednesday and see if I can have a chat with anyone. My only concern is that she will want a treatment and I won't be able to find anyone to speak to there and then.
To be honest, she weighs about six stone and is bent double with osteoporosis, etc, so all her organs are compressed and she has bad neck and head pain, etc. and although I know the reflexology helps her, obviously it is ilimited as to how much relief I can give her. She has also become very confused.
I always say to her that if she doesn't want me to treat her, she only has to say, but she has implied that she likes the company (as she is housebound now).
So I do sometimes feel uncomfortable taking her money for reflexology (although I charge her a reduced rate), but don't know if there are any implications as she does get easily confused.
I do speak to a neigbour of hers occasionally, who is helping her, but she is trying to stand back a bit, because if social services think she is getting help, they won't give her the care she needs.
Lesley
she must have a case worker of some sorts... my FIL had one. that person probably has been making the arrangements for the move. OR maybe you could ask the lady to sign a consent form that you can start with.
in general, care homes allow visitors, of course. i am sure if you speak to the person in charge of her case, and either the lady should have a contact number or the home will have one, you can hopefully get it sorted.
hey, you may even pick up one or two other clients!
She has a Social Worker who is unfortunately not terribly efficient, doesn't know the lady very well and as my client doesn't have a lot of time for social services, or doctors for that matter, but sees them as a necessary must (and she hasn't been treated terribly well by them), she would hate me to have to ask their 'permission' so to speak, to treat her.
She already feels like she has lost control of her life and I think it is very important that she feels that I am 'on her side' as it were and not part of 'the powers that be', if that makes sense.
Lesley
ooooooh i know! ring help the aged or age concern. they will be able to advise you and are really helpful.
i think, the trouble is, when these folk do go into care, without family around, they almost do lose their identity and their *in charge of themselves-ness*. sad but true... especially if it is a state run care home and not private.
i reckon thats the best place for advice... let us know how you go!
Thanks Rosie, may just try that.
Lesley
lesley,
do tell us how you got on... future reference and all that!
Well she rang me last week to tell me she was going into the hospital on Monday (yesterday). As I normally see her on a Wednesday afternoon, I will call her and her neigbour, to find out for sure and then go and see her in the hospital and suss out what's what.
I do feel sorry for these people when they get taken somewhere as it isn't really easy for her to contact anyone from there. Then I've got to make sure that someone lets me know when she gets moved into a home...
Will let you know how I get on on Wednesday.
Lesley
I called the hospital this morning and the sister agreed that I could treat my client.
We found a corner in her small ward and I treated her on a chair. She was really thrilled to see me and said she would spend tomorrow wallowing in the fact that I had come.
The only problem was, she said she didn't have any money to pay me and that I should contact her solicitor as he is dealing with her finances. I do feel very uncomfortable with this, so called her neighbour this evening who has just told me that she has got some cash on her and two cheque books (she is so confused that she had forgotten). Her neighbour has said that I should get her to sign a cheque in front of a member of the nursing staff, so I will feel happier about that.
All in all it went well.
Lesley
She is waiting for a place in a care home, possibly going into an elderly patients hospital as a halfway house until a bed in a home becomes available. She is adamant that she still wants to continue with treatments when she is in the home/hospital and I have told her that I will come and see her when she goes in and we can talk about it then.
Out of courtesy, I will speak to the Home Manager or Nurse in charge of the ward, but from experience, know that these people are not always available when you want to see them.
As this is a private ongoing arrangement, do I have to get permission from the home or hospital to treat this lady? The other issue, of course, is payment, as I think usual practice is for her money to be kept on account, so I will have to sort this out also.
Lesley
Answers:
Hiya. Haven't been in this position. Important that you keep in contact me thinks. Can you speak to a relative if there is one who is responsible for her and clear it with them and maybe get it in writing and arrange for payment too?
Answers:
No, she has no-one - two elderly sisters who don't live near her, so she's on her own, poor soul.
Have found out she's going in next Monday, so will go and see her when I would normally treat her on Wednesday and see if I can have a chat with anyone. My only concern is that she will want a treatment and I won't be able to find anyone to speak to there and then.
To be honest, she weighs about six stone and is bent double with osteoporosis, etc, so all her organs are compressed and she has bad neck and head pain, etc. and although I know the reflexology helps her, obviously it is ilimited as to how much relief I can give her. She has also become very confused.
I always say to her that if she doesn't want me to treat her, she only has to say, but she has implied that she likes the company (as she is housebound now).
So I do sometimes feel uncomfortable taking her money for reflexology (although I charge her a reduced rate), but don't know if there are any implications as she does get easily confused.
I do speak to a neigbour of hers occasionally, who is helping her, but she is trying to stand back a bit, because if social services think she is getting help, they won't give her the care she needs.
Lesley
Answers:
she must have a case worker of some sorts... my FIL had one. that person probably has been making the arrangements for the move. OR maybe you could ask the lady to sign a consent form that you can start with.
in general, care homes allow visitors, of course. i am sure if you speak to the person in charge of her case, and either the lady should have a contact number or the home will have one, you can hopefully get it sorted.
hey, you may even pick up one or two other clients!
Answers:
She has a Social Worker who is unfortunately not terribly efficient, doesn't know the lady very well and as my client doesn't have a lot of time for social services, or doctors for that matter, but sees them as a necessary must (and she hasn't been treated terribly well by them), she would hate me to have to ask their 'permission' so to speak, to treat her.
She already feels like she has lost control of her life and I think it is very important that she feels that I am 'on her side' as it were and not part of 'the powers that be', if that makes sense.
Lesley
Answers:
ooooooh i know! ring help the aged or age concern. they will be able to advise you and are really helpful.
i think, the trouble is, when these folk do go into care, without family around, they almost do lose their identity and their *in charge of themselves-ness*. sad but true... especially if it is a state run care home and not private.
i reckon thats the best place for advice... let us know how you go!
Answers:
Thanks Rosie, may just try that.
Lesley
Answers:
lesley,
do tell us how you got on... future reference and all that!
Answers:
Well she rang me last week to tell me she was going into the hospital on Monday (yesterday). As I normally see her on a Wednesday afternoon, I will call her and her neigbour, to find out for sure and then go and see her in the hospital and suss out what's what.
I do feel sorry for these people when they get taken somewhere as it isn't really easy for her to contact anyone from there. Then I've got to make sure that someone lets me know when she gets moved into a home...
Will let you know how I get on on Wednesday.
Lesley
Answers:
I called the hospital this morning and the sister agreed that I could treat my client.
We found a corner in her small ward and I treated her on a chair. She was really thrilled to see me and said she would spend tomorrow wallowing in the fact that I had come.
The only problem was, she said she didn't have any money to pay me and that I should contact her solicitor as he is dealing with her finances. I do feel very uncomfortable with this, so called her neighbour this evening who has just told me that she has got some cash on her and two cheque books (she is so confused that she had forgotten). Her neighbour has said that I should get her to sign a cheque in front of a member of the nursing staff, so I will feel happier about that.
All in all it went well.
Lesley
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