5 replies to this topic

[Pookieswife]

Hi~ I am looking for some advice/help. I recently relocated to SW Florida (Ft. Myers) for a job. My fiance currently lives in Kansas City, MO and has a T1 injury. He currently lives with his mother and she does most of his nursing care, but he is planning on moving down here with me in August. Our issue is this: I travel for my job (am usually gone Monday-Thursday). We contacted the SW Florida Center for Independent Living to inquire about getting a nurse to come in and assist him a few days a week and they advised us that there is a 5 year waiting list. They even told him NOT to move here. I am really frustrated. He is pretty mobile and very independent and the care we need isn't very extensive (for instance he changes out his own catheters. He needs help transporting himself into the shower, etc.). Does anyone have any suggestions of organizations we could contact that could provide us with a list or suggestions of where we can find out about what benefits/organizations are available for disabled people in our area? Any help is really appreciated. Thanks!

[mellowgator]

check craigslist. i just checked it for your area and there's a couple of cna's wanting work from the last couple of days alone. you may want to post your own ad there as well.
i wouldn't give up because of the independent living group in your area can't help.
i also live in fl and was just in the process of finding care for my mother-n-law.

good luck,

mellowgator

[hooplady]

Hi and welcome to the forum, Pookieswife.

I'm not sure I have any better advice for you than mellowgator. When I was researching agencies for my b/f's initial post-rehab care, I was very frustrated. People from other states kept telling me that it should be paid for by insurance/Medicaid (it's not) and to look for a Visiting Nurses Association (couldn't find one in NE FL). I found that most agencies here are oriented towards eldercare. - keep them company, prepare light meals, help them remember to take their medications, etc. Most are not permitted to do any weight-bearing contact with the client! It was awhile before I found anyone who was even allowed to touch him, much less help him turn over.

I finally found one that has since gone out of business; luckily one of the CNA's has stayed on with him privately on an as-needed basis and she's wonderful.

I'd try craigslist or perhaps contact one of the local schools; maybe you can find a Physio or Nursing student who needs some extra cash. Depending on his needs it might not even matter if they have a medical background. Let's face it, most in the medical profession don't know all that much about SCI anyway; I'd say reliabilty, personality, and common sense are more important.

[Pookieswife]

deb4604, on May 19 2010, 10:28 PM, said:

I work for PSA Healthcare in Buffalo, and I know we have locations in FL. We adult as well as pediatric homecare. I don't know if they have any nurses/aides available, but it's a place to start. If they don't have anyone available, they might be able to refer you elsewhere for help.

Good luck!

Thanks everyone for all your advice. We will definately check all these suggestions out! Any little bit helps.

Pookieswife

[Bob C]

It does not sound like he needs any skilled care. A lot of us hire untrained people and train them to do what ever we need. I have a lady who used to be a flower arranger who helps with the toilet stuff, showering, etc. I use 3 different people who come in for an hour or so a few evenings a week.