Concentrate On Enjoying Life Now.

Marleen, Cyril, Tina

        

 Here it is another grey day, the weather in England is dreadful, they are experiencing high winds and torrential rain.

We are getting some high winds and rain, plus it is cool enough to have the heating on in the mornings and evenings.

Last night I got woken up several times each time finding my arms clenched tight over my chest and my fingernails digging into the palms of my hands.

No wonder that I woke up, and each time it took ages to get my arms back down by my side.

My spine is getting more deformed, it is more difficult to get me sitting straight; I did not notice it is as much in the wheelchair.

That’s due to the excellent support I get in the wheelchair, which I don't have in bed so I need regular adjustments.

I've been enjoying the football; it has taken my mind off my situation and given me something else to focus on.

Which is good as the stress of having to fight for everything has been getting to me.

I'm constantly either pushing for something to happen or I'm waiting for it to finally happen.

For example I've been waiting for Kees van Roekel, from Welzorg to come back since the beginning of March.

Plus I'm waiting to hear how the new application for the eye operated software is faring at the health insurers Agis.

It was made after an appointment with Dr. Janneke Stolwijk and my occupational therapist, Maurits, to discuss why the first application did so badly.

The advice they had previously included with the first application for Seetech was not up to date so they promised another.

They wrote a new advice, that I needed to be able to operate the IPaq with Seetech, as I could no longer use either the touch screen or the button.

My health insurers do not see the necessity of my having three dictionaries included, I will have to buy the German one myself.

I was amazed to be informed by the salesman from RTD Het Dorp that the German language dictionary only cost €158.

I thought it was going to be more, strange that my health insurers objected so strongly to this, major expenditure.

What is especially strange about the objections is the fact that they say they will assist people to maintain their quality-of-life.

In my case this means being able to communicate in three languages, as I was brought up speaking German and English, and I taught myself Dutch when I moved here in 1981.

In my case this did not count, all they were interested in was spending as little as possible.

They also objected to voice recognition, I guess this is also too expensive for them, strange as voice recognition only costs just €150.

They were quibbling about €308 which is why they turned down the application ‘from HES, last November.

I still haven't heard from the council when they will install air conditioning that I need so desperately.

The best thing I can do is to try and put it all out of my mind and concentrate on enjoying the here and now.

A Positive Appointment.

Zdzislaw Beksiski

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zdzis%C5%82aw_Beksi%C5%84ski 

This afternoon has gone quickly after the long appointment with Maurits, my occupational therapist and Werner, an advisor from RTD Het Dorp was over.

It started late because Werner could not find a parking space, however once he got here it was well worth waiting.

We discussed with him my problems with using the gadget that allowed me a small modicum of freedom to control some of my environment.

The iPAQ let me operate the bed, turn on the light, switch on the TV as well as open the front door and our apartment door, once I have checked with the intercom who is at the door.

I explained that I could no longer use the gadget as well as I could before my hand function got worse.

Richie backed me up totally saying that he was the one to operate the bed, turn the light on now that my hands were too weak.

 Also nine times out of 10 he also turns on the television and brings me the telephone on which he activates the loudspeaker so I don't have to hold the phone which I can't do anymore. 

Werner listened carefully to everything we said, he asked questions and made suggestions.

After a short time it was clear to him that I needed to have the functionality of the iPAQ on the computer that Icould operate operate by using the Seetech software.

Before the end of the appointment Maurits and Werner started getting the application organised.

When I asked, they both said that they would complete the application and would get it sent next week.

It was a very good appointment, Werner was a nice person, and most importantly he was a good listener and communicated very well with us.

I think that this application for the long awaited Seetech will be successful; hopefully it won't take too long, although there always is a wait of up to 2 months.

Hopefully this time it will be quicker, as the application is from the same company just updated to include the iPAQ functions.

Today's appointment has left me feeling optimistic, it was good to be listened to and feel that finally I would be getting what I need which is very important for me now, so that I can carry on doing the things I enjoy.

A Good Start To The New Week.

Pierre Roy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Roy_%28painter%29

Today I got the new wheelchair seat, it is very good, it makes a big difference, nice to be sitting straighter and higher in the wheelchair. 

Lovely to feel I am more stretched out, I no longer have a potbelly, actually I never had one, it looked like I did because I couldn’t sit up straight enough.

Shame Johanneke, my previous occupational therapist, had not noticed that I needed more support, which a new seat would have provided.

Other things should also have happened last year, such as trying out the electric arm support, it supports your arm so you can eat, read, type.

The IPaq gadget I have that opens the doors, adjusts the bed, turns on light, TV, operates the telephone I should have got in 2008 not November 2010.

Johanneke it seems did not research the support cushions well; she did not look for another better solution then Quattron who don’t have suitable support for me.

I spent months waiting from January until July to get the support cushions; since I have them they have been ok but not as useful as I had hoped.

Maurits does not think the cushion supports me; he suggested a couple things we can do to help me maintain a sitting position, while he finds a better solution.

Edith, my council mobility advisor was here too, she noted that the wheelchair arm supports are too high, neck support needs adjusting; she will see they get done, a good start to the new week.

Damp Thursday.

 


La Donna Impudica.
Angel Planells.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Planells

Today has been another wet, grey and unpleasant day which we brightened up by talking and laughing, enjoying each others company.

Our 10.00 appointment with RTD Het Dorp was re-routed to 13.00; he got here at 14.10 and was gone at 14.20.

While he was here he did a couple of quick things for me, he added the bell function to the IPaq, so I can call Richie easily, when I need him.

They previously, added that function to a button, that I had to hold down for at least three minutes, that I could not do because of lack of strength.

He explained how the telephone book function worked, which he did not do,

when he put it on the IPaq in January.

Then he was gone before I could remind him to either drill another hole in the Perspex table so the IPaq is closer which I need as I can hardly reach it where it is

Or come up with something to bring the IPaq closer so using it is not the struggle that it is right now.

He also did not do anything to check why the front door keeps opening without us pressing the button to open it; we think he hadn’t a clue.

Oh well, just as I thought another company that supplies aids for the handicapped who do not seem to listen to them or have their needs in mind

    

Keeping It Brief.

 

Fiona Rae. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiona_Rae

Today was very busy; we were awake at 08.00 so that Richie could shower me at 08.30 to be ready for 10.00 when the IPaq Home Servant people were due.

They got here at 09.45 instead of 10.00 which were ok as we were just ready, they were here until 15.00.

By which time we were both very tired from watching them work, luckily they did sort out several problems so that is good stuff indeed.

They will come back as soon as my new bed will be here which should be quite soon now, as I got the confirmation today that my health insurance has agreed.

Halfway through we had to go quickly to the bathroom as the catheter had slipped into the wrong position.

Happened again after Richie put me back into bed, lifting my legs to put the straps from the hoist under me seems to cause the catheter to pop out.                          

Tomorrow I should hear from my doctor whom I have asked to phone the hospital and explain my situation and the urgency.

Am rather tired this evening so will keep this very brief and post after I have found a picture.    

Today Was A Lovely Day.

Billy Childish.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Childish

Got up at 10.00 this morning and was showered and dressed by my darling Richie for 11.30 and did my 30 minutes on the Motomed, was ready for the appointment at 12.15 with Johanneke, my occupational therapist.

She was here at 12.15 and was very apologetic about the miscommunications and the resulting delays; she promised it would not happen again.

She also promised to send me a cc on all correspondence relating to me, which she did today, seems she already got several things sorted today.

Such as my new bed which goes up at the head end which should allow me to sit up better, that is something of a bonus for me especially if it works well.

I will also get another appointment for the IPaq, the Home Servant; this lets me switch on lights and turn on the TV and DVD player, makes the bed go up and down and sits me up.

There are some teething troubles so they need to return, Johanneke has organised the next appointment for 13 October.

She will be here for an hour to check that all will be well installed and adjusted, think this is a great idea.

As at the first appointment two software nerds came here who could only install but not communicate and inform us as to what they would do.

The result was a few things I/we did not want and which did not work very well, such as two lights in the kitchen area which do not work at all anymore.

And doors I can only open if I am right in front of them and other bits and pieces, am very optimistic that with Johanneke here on the 13 October, it should all go better.

After the appointment we had a nice tasty brunch and then went out at about 15.00 for a walk/roll around the neighbourhood.

It was lovely and sunny weather with a slight cool breeze which did not bother me as I was wearing my new red fleece jacket.

We had a really good time; it was brilliant going out this afternoon and enjoying the sun on my face, my darling Richie bought a few pretty plants, all in all a very good afternoon.