Re: Going places Or Taking Vent Clients Places
Cindysan13(AT)aol.com
Sat, 25 Oct 1997 14:40:07 -0400 (EDT)
All of my vent clients have been very disabled. They are vent dependent
24/7 and completely paralyzed.The two vent clients that had ALS had the most
difficult time going out. Anxiety was a big Problem!! It was made worse my
the fact that these gentlemen could not talk and alternate communication was
slower. At times, their anxiety level would get so high that I would be
unable to understand them and they would go bananas!!!!!!. This is what
would scare me, because it made it so difficult to determine their problem.
It seems like if something is going to go wrong with the equipment , it is
when you are moving it about!!! Do you all agree?
Having the proper equipment and pre-planning all the tranfers in and out
relieves my anxiety. I would never go out without a back-up O2 tank in the
car if the client was on oxygen. Of course, going out gets easier the more
you practice it.
I feel like thier body guard when I take them out. I am so busy scanning
for obstacles and possible 220 plug ins that I am not much social company. So
it I always like their family or someone else to come, also.
Then, about half the time there is an Idiot Person bystander that gets
right in the way or else they say something stupid that hurts my client's
feelings.
All in all, I find it exhausting , but I love to do it when my client
successfully hasa good time or we get something important accomplished.
Gee, Jim, do you need a nurse or do you use nurses? Too bad you live
so far away!!!
I could definitely relate to your going out stories. My theory is
that the anxiety level increases with the severity of the disability, at
least at first.
Cindy
PS It is easier than it used to be, though. Twenty years ago , I remember
taking a group of folks on a service elevator accompanied by a very rude
store manager. The people just had quad canes and such and couldn't handle
the escalaters .