Carers?

Carers play a very large part in my life,

I have them 7days a week, usually three times a day.

Apart from feeding me my meals and taking me out,

they do all the intimate things that other people do for themselves.

Yesterday I read an article on the DeVine web site,

it was written by a young guy who wants more say,

in the care he receives.

He mentioned that he would like to choose who wipes his bottom

and takes him out.

It made me think about how things are changing,

or perhaps I am changing, and becoming more assertive.

I have been a wheelie for almost ten years,

my first "care" was for 3 hours a week, 

this gave me two bed baths in seven days!!

Not much, my Jessika did all the rest!

Now I have a lot more hours, and a lot more say

about my care and who gives it to me.

Most of the money comes from DHS, 

they have strict rules which change frequently, 

not always for the best, 

but they are improving.

At one stage, I had to leave an agency that I was very happy with,

just because I was given more hours.

I was given a choice of specific agencies,

none of which I was happy using, so I will not mention names.

I am very lucky, I have some wonderful carers,

who moved from agency to agency with me,

it has been an interesting experience, to put it mildly.

Now I have an Individual Support Package that I look after my self.

This means each month a sum of money magically appears 

in a special bank account, 

it is used to buy care for me, from what ever agency I wish to use.

Now I choose who I want to look after me,when I want them,

and for how long. 

I do have to budget very carefully, to make the money last for the whole month.

I have come a full circle, 

I started my journey with Moira Family Services, 

and now I am back!

We have an interesting relationship, 

my care requirements change from week to week, even more frequently some times. 

If I have a talk to give, or a meeting to attend, 

things get moved around.

It works because I have my dedicated carers

and an agency that is willing to meet the challenges 

of disabled people who want to be  full members of society.

Things are changing at last,

well at least for some of us!!

I am lucky to have a family that cares about me

and a great support group, who want the best for me,

and are willing to push the boundaries with me.

If you are interested to see what a disability agency

can do, have a look at Moira's site --

                              http://www.moira.org.au/

If you have followed my blog,

you will know there is another

service provider?? that looks after the other part of my life,

if you can't remember who

go search  :-)  ;-))

More about care later!!!