Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Care

Here in the UK social care services are massively underfunded, resulting in huge reliance on informal carers, usually family members.

But when you read about the situation in some other countries, you start to realise how far we have come. It is not so many decades ago that, even here, parents of severely disabled children were encouraged to place them in large institutions at an early age and disabled people were considered ineducable. Nowadays there are many other options, including residential school or foster care, when parents do need help, but most are cared for at home and all receive a tailored education.

This article on caged beds in the Czech Republic is just too upsetting. I shan't be watching the TV news report tonight, because I can all too easily imagine how, in another time or place, it could have been son 2 in that situation. Instead we have a happy, loving and smart child who, despite all his challenges, is learning fast. He will always need care, of course, but that care must and will be respectful of his needs, not treat him like an animal.

Three notable things:

1. Dentist today. Again. I am suffering from a sore mouth and poverty.

2. I got wet walking to the dentist and wet again walking back...

3. I should have been doing Open University work this afternoon but didn't. Ho hum.

7 comments:

Anne Brooke said...

That's truly terrible. Inhumane.

Am also sorry about the teeth. Hope all better soon

Hugs

A
xxx

Zinnia Cyclamen said...

Sounds like a droopy day in Cathyland - hope life perks up soon.

Boatwoman said...

I watched the piece on the news and it is really inhumane that in this day and age this is going on.

Sorry to hear you are suffering, I am not a dentist lover hahaha.

Cathy said...

Thanks Anne. I'm sure my mouth will fee better tomorrow.

LOL Zinnia. What a great description of my day!

Cx

Cathy said...

Yes it is, Boatwoman. I'm sure that is not the only country either. It is also upsetting when you hear that in some cultures families shut their disabled relatives away at home and virtually deny their existence.

Cx

Casdok said...

I also saw the clip and also wont be watching it tonight.
Even when things go wrong at my sons school, and they do, it is still a far cry from what happends else where.
For that at least i am thankful.
Hope you are feeling better tomorrow. (H)

Anonymous said...

It is disgraceful how disabled children are treated. We are lucky that we have the support and care. Each case is of course individual and unique in its own way but every child deserves a chance to flourish in life and lead a happy existence.

Crystal xx