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Monday, May 6, 2013

CARER IN TRAINING



Me and Lilian 2010, photo by Laurette's photography

After a recent fiasco when the nursing services forgot to organise a substitute carer for me, we decided to look at other options.

A local service, Strand Dienssentrum, was recommended to us and Karin went to investigate.  This service centre is situated around the corner from us and is run without profit for the community.  Karin came back very impressed with what they had to offer; a tea garden, daily meals which can be delivered, a hairdresser, foot care, transport to shops, and a nursing/caring service. 

We made an appointment and the nurse who runs the service came to see us to discuss my current needs and what the options were to run my caring more seamless.  The option we all liked best was to send my current housekeeper/cook/unofficial carer on a carer training course.  During the time she is in training one or two other carers can then be trained to take care of me.  They can then serve as substitutes when Lilian is ill or on leave.

Lilian the cook in action

Lilian, who is very proud of her newly acquired cooking skills (taught my moi), was very keen to further her education to be trained as a carer.  I was very lucky to get Angie, who cared for a local MSA patient for 3 years, as a substitute.  She was shown the ropes by Lilian before her course started to make the transition as easy and stress free as possible for me.

Lilian, who still helps out on Saturday mornings, came in beaming with pride with the good results of her first test.  The course is in English, which is a bit of a problem for this dominantly Afrikaans speaking lady, so she left armed with my Afrikaans/English dictionary to help with translations.  Her uniforms are hanging ready for when she starts the practical side of her training at a retirement home soon.  In a couple of weeks I'll catch her pride smile on camera when she walks in here fully trained and in uniform.

Although Angie is taking good care of me, her cooking skills are not so hot.  Because of my back problem I am no longer able to sit for long stretches in the kitchen to train and supervise her.  Until Lilian’s return we’ll have to make do with ready cooked meals from Woolies, depend on the occasional pizza delivered by Mr Delivery, meals cooked by our son on weekends, and braais (barbecues) by hubby and friends.  I think we’ll manage!

9 comments:

  1. Way to go Lilian!! Congrats, and best wishes for a rewarding futureXO Kathy

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  2. Lilian you are a star! Marlene

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  3. Sonja you and Karin are a blessing to each other. And you continue to make a difference with those who live's you touch. Lilian is one of these. God Bless, Bob Summers

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  4. Thank you all for your comments to encourage Lilian. Bob God has blessed me with some very special angels :)

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  5. Wonderlike om so saam te groei! Sy gaan so trots wees op daardie sertifikaat en haar nuut verworwe kennis gaan ook die lewe vir jou makliker maak. Mooi wense vir die pad wat julle saam stap.

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  6. Magriet, she's struggling because the lectures and notes are in english, but despite that achieved full marks in a recent test.

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  7. Sonja, I wanted to tell you that I had changed my address to http://pdplusme.blogspot.com/ (former "we will go on")

    Forgive me if you already had known that information. Just making sure we remain connected. Thank you! Dan

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  8. Dear Sonja and Karin,
    My Mother in law has MSA / Dystonia, she actually lives in Somerset West
    could you perhaps ping my wife an email andrea_ankers@hotmail.com or andreacamillaankers@gmai.com I think she would like to contact you both for some advice her Mum does have a carer coming in 6 days a week.
    Thanks and Regards
    David and Andrea Ankers

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  9. Dear David and Andrea, you can expect an email from me soon. Kind regards, Sonja

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