Actually it's just a continuation of comments made a while ago about the provision of social care in this country.
I feel ashamed when listening to politicians on Breakfast television trying to justify what they are doing (or in this case not doing). The whole thing is a disgrace.
I have spoken in the past about the desperation of trying to get support for my father when his health was deteriorating. How helpless I felt trying to sort out care packages etc for him. Now it's many times worse.
A few days ago, I watched actress Vicky ("Line of Duty") McClure and her dementia choir and the impassioned plea she made for more support and help for those living with dementia (not suffering from).
"I am fed up trying to get something from you lot" was the impassioned plea aimed at Government Ministers. "You have to do something," was another plea. Probably the most telling comment made was along the lines of "I am fed up that the people suffering are also left to sort this shit out."
Now I don't like swearing in my blog and usually replace the words with dashes but this is the word that Vicky used in front of the television cameras and it is something that came from the heart.
There are two parts to my thoughts on this situation and this is for anyone seriously ill and not just with dementia.
The first is the feeling of helplessness families and loved ones feel. I know of people who have been told their loved ones can come home from hospital. In other words that person can become a full-time carer irrespective of the toll this will take on their own health and that at times is considerable. I know from my own experiences the feeling of helplessness that can occur as you just want some support and some help and you get pushed from one pillar to the next. At times I feel that patients are released so that the powers that be can wash their hands of them i.e out of sight out of mind. We are getting into a situation where people for their own sanity are going to have to refuse to take a loved one home simply because 1/ they cannot cope and 2/ they know if they do the support they need will just not exist. That will lead to a terrible feeling of helplessness and even alienation.
The second is the fact that the system is not just at breaking point but is entirely broken. NHS and social care workers in the community are performing miracles without the support that THEY need. This leads to them suffering anger, disillusionment and complete burnout.
I apologise that this blog has been so dark but I just had to express certain sentiments. I promise to be a bit lighter tomorrow.