Posted on Thursday, 10th December 2009 by Patrick Dorwin
Because of today’s weather, I am reposting this information I posted almost exactly one year ago.
As most of you know, my I work with the transportation of the elderly and disabled population in Milwaukee, and I have really got to get something off my chest. A huge percentage of our elderly and disabled population live in group home type settings, at home with nursing assistance or in assisted living/nursing homes. Most are staffed by wonderful, caring people, but often times they are pressed for time and cut corners. Something that I see that really frustrates me, since I deal with it personally, is a lot of time, people are sent out of the homes improperly dressed, and this time of the year, that can be dangerous, even deadly.
Case in point, today I picked up an elderly man from his home, he has an aid that comes in to help him every morning, then goes to a V.A. “day care” program. The aid was rushing, because she wanted to leave, either to go home, or often times move to another client location. She had a light weight jacket (unzipped) and thin pants that were so high on his legs that he had exposed skin between his socks and pants, no gloves or hat… At the time, it was 3 above zero. I asked if she thought he was dressed properly and offered to wait until she got him something warmer, she (in her parka, mittens, scarf and complaining about the cold) refused. So I loaded him on my van to get him out of the wind. Fortunately, I carry a small blanket and was able to bundle him up a little, but since our vans don’t get real warm, it was still a cold ride for him. I usually carry a few pairs of gloves that I buy from the dollar store (those little knit stretch gloves), they aren’t much, but people do appreciate those little things, but today, I was out, but that blanket I carry helped.
That was just one example, I could give a laundry list of others in similar situations that I see every day.
What I ask, is that if you work with these vulnerable people, please take the time to dress them properly in this bitter cold. If you have loved ones living under the care of someone else, make sure they have the proper clothing, and make sure that it is used! Many of these folks go to day programs, consider giving them a call to ask if they arrived properly dressed. This also lets them know that you are paying attention, and they themselves will take care to properly dress them for the ride home. Older folks don’t retain body heat well to begin with, and if you are cold, they are much more susceptible to it, and many of them can’t or won’t complain about the cold.
Hypothermia, a dangerous lowering of the body temperature, can effect people with special needs very quickly, they depend on you to take care of them.
Consider passing this information along to anyone that might benefit from this. I am not “out to get” anyone, it just saddens me to see someone suffer for lack of a few moments taken to zip a jacket and slip a hat and gloves on someone that can’t do it themselves.
I would also like to repost the response I received from one of our friends.
I want to send a special shout-out to Wendy, the much better half of Boots & Sabers blogger Owen (I’m sure he would agree with me).
A few weeks ago, I wrote about how frustrated I was that some of the elderly and disabled folks I work with are being sent out in the cold without proper winter clothing. These are vulnerable people living in group home settings or have home health aids that just aren’t taking the extra few moments to bundle people up before sending them into the bitter cold we have had already this winter. In the posting, I mentioned that buy a bunch of gloves and carry a small blanket in the van so people can have a little something to put across their laps to fend off the cold. In response to this, Wendy has given me some of those great fleece blankets that are just the right size to spread across the lap of someone in a wheel chair and some gloves, to pass out to my clients that need a little extra protection from the cold.
I bumped into my boss last night and he mentioned the post I made on the 15th, I then told him about Wendy’s thoughtful gift and we both agree that Wendy is just awesome! On behalf of those soon to be warm elderly and disabled people of Milwaukee, I send you our thanks Wendy, and I hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas.
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4 Responses to “The elderly & disabled in this cold weather (A timely repost)”
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December 10th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Wendy had another great idea for those of you attending this years Drinking Right Christmas Party (you are all invited by the way!). If anyone would like to donate one of these small fleece blankets or a pair of knit gloves or mittens, I would be happy to see that they end up warming an elderly or disabled person in Milwaukee.
December 10th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I have an 82 year old mother and if I tried to tell her that you can’t wear a swimming suit to go shopping in 0 degree weather she would argue with me. (exaggeration but you get the point).
Sometimes you just have to let it go. Old farts can be some of the most stubborn people you have ever met. ” Well back in my day.. we wore swimming suits to shop all the time” …. ” you sure about that ma”… ” ya, don’t question me”.
Otay
January 3rd, 2010 at 7:57 pm
[...] special thank you to those of you brought small lap blankets, gloves, hats & scarves for me to hand out to our elderly and disabled clients at [...]
January 3rd, 2010 at 7:57 pm
[...] special thank you to those of you brought small lap blankets, gloves, hats & scarves for me to hand out to our elderly and disabled clients at [...]