Re: Re: Health Aides making beds.

[Guest guest]

 I agree with you 1000%. It's their job to assist us and it doesn't matter who

else we have in our lives, unless we tell them not to do certain things.

________________________________

From: Patti Healey <pidgie508@...>

" " < >

Sent: Thursday, March 1, 2012 10:56 AM

Subject: Re: Health Aides making beds.

 

It all depends on where you get your PCAs. Agencies are very institutional in

their thinking. They do not understand that nobody lives in a vacuum. I am on a

self directed program in Massachusetts where I hire and manage my own PCA's. I

believe my PCA should do all the things I would do if I was not disabled. They

are my hands. When I interview PCA's I tell them I am married and they help me

do household things such as all the laundry, making the bed where we both sleep,

and helping me make breakfast and dinner, etc. When I have a friend over they

help me in the kitchen making coffee and serving dessert with me (remember, not

as a maid, but doing it with me as my hands). I make it clear to them that they

enable me to be as independent as possible and have the same opportunities and

relationships as everyone else. If you are on a self-directed program and your

PCA says she does not have to make the bed because of you and your husband sleep

in it, I would

tell her to find another job. If we all stand firm on these things the world

will move closer to the independent living model and away from the medical

model.

 

Regards,

Patti

www.facebook.com/olypsys

www.reverbnation.com/olypsys

[Guest guest]

Thank you Patti for your post, you are spot on in what you said. In Canada

we have PSW (Personal Support Worker) and like yourself we have direct

funding as well. I am married have children and I have always come across

those same issues but at equal times its not necessarily the PSW's fault it

starts from when they take the course to become a PSW and depending who

teaches it, yes they think like they're in a vacuum and that life as a

disable person is not with choice but with aid. I think this teachings of

becoming a PSW or a PCA should be taught and emphasize what living

independently is, I don't believe that all people with disabilities think

they are hiring maids and definitely the people that helping should not feel

that way, I believe this topic will take a long time before it is

understood.

Living independently,

Silvana