Interesting & Odd?

As I delve more into the pompous way we serve our needy, I find myself more and more awed!

Has our local society & culture been newly tagged by a demon like force, hell-bent on scraping away at the sweat on the backs of our poor, disabled, seniors and such communities unable to defend themselves?

Are we still at peace with our globally marketed loving and caring style, unique to Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans, or have that once was truth all but died? Have we all gone wayward and maybe gotten lost in a carefree, careless virtual world, that we no longer have time to even notice our neighbor, friend or brother needs help.

I say we, because it is us that allow continued soul and skin stripping off those that can’t afford to lose one more strip. I was at a business this week, at the counter was a gentleman in an old power chair, it had obvious problems. The motors were cracking, upholstery broken, frame rusted, overall it looked unsafe. The gentleman was telling his friend, (the cashier) that he was in line for a new used chair. His friend remarked “used”, yes he said, “it’s the new way. Recycled parts, build new chairs”.

I found myself not being able to just leave that there, I made myself brazen enough to ask this gentleman to elaborate, he politely agreed to speak with me outside.

Not seeming to concerned , as if was just an acceptable part of his life, he described how one time a “Special Assistance Program”, SAP he used as its acronym would purchase new power or manual chairs for qualifying benefactors every five years. “It’s not like that now though he said”. “For the past few years, anyone granted a new (different) chair, will get a rebuilt he said”, but that do puzzle me, for the most part chair seating is custom made to meet the need of the user he added. Outside of that, there is a frame, usually rusted, weakened welding, and electronics that if not already, is on its last leg, he excused the pun as he smiled.

Well needless to say, I was flabbergasted with this knowledge, and of course, I did inquire about it further. It seems, budgetary restraints all throughout healthcare are dire. A closer view however fairly well explains the departments hardest hit by claw backs are those dealing with services as equipment provision, home care, income supports, seniors, personal care item supply, home oxygen etc.

A recently unemployed social worker I spoke with today, eluded, they have to penny pinch somewhere, too bad it will or is causing so much human suffering for those who need us most. Their hands are tied she said, speaking of friends still working the field, they are not supposed to question or argue the black and white, for those of us who did are enjoying the fruits of Alberta. “It’s too bad really, I often pitied my clients, most are already ill, they do not need this.

Powerful; but sad, you cannot fight the machine, or can we?

Brudder