Issue 10.15
For years now I have been on the inside of the health care system. I have strived to learn what I can and teach those around me what I have learned. Recently my wife had a stroke and I had the opportunity to experience the local health care system from the outside in. It was surprising to me what I learned, looking at the system from the outside in, on one of the worst days of my life.
The first thing that I learned was that despite the fact that everyone in the system works to do a great job in all cases, the way to get the best service is to know the people involved in giving the service. People will go above and beyond their normal behavior for someone they know.
The second thing I learned as one using the resources of the system was that I often had to ask for services in order to get those services. A few examples of this include: the options of in-home care, home Physical Therapy, a rehab facility, or acute rehab. I was only given one of these options initially, but when I mentioned the other options, they let me know that all were choices available to me.
The third thing that I learned was that I have a choice among the providers of these services. For example, if I decide I want home health care to provide PT for my wife, I have the choice of 13 different Home Health Care providers to provide that service, not to mention a number of different outpatient PT providers in town. My experience was that this choice is usually made for you, but if you ask for a specific vendor, they will line things up with that vendor for you.
Fourth, the health care system does a pretty good job of helping with health care but what about dealing with the reduced functionality you or your loved one has as a result of your medical condition? If you don’t have help at home, or if you need additional help at home, this is where In-Home Personal Care comes in, and we at Kind Hearts Senior Care can help with everything from showers, ambulation and dressing to housekeeping, transportation to doctors, and shopping.
In conclusion, you might consider, getting to know those in the system before you need their help. Decide who you’re going to use for what, before you need them. If you have any questions, as one who has been on the outside and on the inside, I’d be happy to answer your questions: Roland: Kind Hearts Senior Care 435-216-9404