Home Care

     For the last 18 months I have resided in a personal care home.  Over that time people have come and gone leaving five of us a permanent core group.  At present there are seven residents.  I had negotiated a monthly payment based on my income.  I don't know how much anyone else pays except that most are helped by Medicaid since most are mentally disabled.  I am the only person here with a physical problem that is covered only by Social Security and Medicare and supplementary insurance.  I pay every month out of my SSA check and keep the rest to help my son in his last year in college and the co-pays on my medication.  In mid-year, I had an increase in income so I raised my care payment voluntarily by a proportionate amount.  I've been happy and satisfied until this last month when everything changed so drastically,  I have been looking for another place to go.

     Last year when it got hot they installed a new central air unit outside and kept it on coming  through vents in the bedrooms making it comfortable all over the house.  This year the only air is two small units in the living room where our 24 hour solitary caregiver sleeps.  I have asked to no avail to turn on the air at least at night.  I have just resigned to changing out of my wet night clothes every morning.  By day I stay in my room where it reaches 85 degrees at the hottest part of the day.  Up to last month. I used my laptop at the dining room table where I eat.  It was fine with every one for 18 months until the new CG decided it had to be moved to my hot room.  Previously there were three caregivers on 8 hour shifts.  One of them usually fixed coffee in a pot.  Most of them started breakfast at a little past 4:30.  I would turn on my laptop to watch news summaries at 5:00.  We used to have fried or scrambled eggs, French toast or buttered toast or pancakes.  We got sausage or ham, syrup or jelly and often orange juice.  We used to keep our personal food in the refrigerator.  I had bagels and English muffins.  Marmalade and fruit like pomegranates.  Now the refrigerator is tied shut and padlocked when it isn't guarded  like the TV remote which stays hidden in her desk drawer

     I'll write more tomorrow when it's bright enough without the overhead light with it's missing third low watt bulb.  I will then discuss the dietary changes, seating arrangements and time restrictions, etc.
Also what I'm looking for in a place to go.