My Life being Disabled 30/11/07

Because my weight has increased my action plan is:-

1) Drink more water, at least 2.5 litres per day

2) Meals, breakfast - bran flakes, cranberry juice and movicol
lunch - soup/main meal plus an apple NO POTATOES
dinner - main meal/soup plus an apple NO POTATOES

I started to create a web site for my home. The address is http://www.fusiveweb.co.uk/dearnevale

My Life being Disabled 29/11/07

I got weighed this morning and it was 94.4 kgms which according to my nurse is plus 5lbs. We decided ths was due to a) plenty of exercise at the Fitness Centre which is turning the fat into muscle b) I eat too much pasta. I am going to Bran Flakes for breakfast and I am going to eat less pasta.

My Life being Disabled 28/11/07

I had a bladder wash this morning and it worked !
This morning I emailed Barnsley Council:-

Just to inform you the footpath outside my home is getting worse. Yesterday I went to Grimethorpe library nearly all the footpaths have bumps or have holes in them which make it very difficult for wheelchairs.

I also emailed Grimethorpe Electronic Village Hall:-

I visited you yesterday to find out whether or not I could become a volunteer. But because I am disabled and wheelchair bound I could not get in. My wheelchair just fitted in entrance door but my carer and me decided to go no further because we thought we might get stuck in the corridor/doors.

In the afternoon I went to the Fitness Centre where I had 1 hour excersises, increased my weights and increased my number.

My Life being Disabled 27/11/07

After a boring Monday today I went to the library. It is only 500 metres but one of my carers struggled because the footpaths are really bad. At one time she lost control of my wheelchair and I went one the road. After the library we tried to visit Grimethorpe Electronic Village Hall but the doorways and corridors were to small. I was going to ask if I could be a voluteer but seeing as I couldn't get in I decide to leave it.

My Life being Disabled 25/11/07

This afternoon 3 residents including me went out shopping. We went to Nettos then to the
Co-op. Afterwards I finish off my Powerpoint presentation.

My Life being Disabled 24/11/07

This morning I was due for a bladder wash so after my shower the nurse tried to wash out my bladder. She could not do it because my catheter was by-passing. She had to change my catheter again but she was going to ask my GP if my bladder wash could become more frequent. This afternoon I went to watch my local Rugby League team Grimethorpe but they lost to New Earswick A in a cup match. After dinner I continued with my Powerpoint presentation about my life since I had a stroke.

My Life being Disabled 23/11/07

I continued with the "powerpoint" presentation for the assistant manager. I attended the residents meeting we discussed....number of residents = 15
Points raised by me
Carers - to rotate my clothes after laundry
Handyman - leaving today, computer room no calling button, cinema lounge no calling button
AOB - upgrade computers, bigger bath(I can't use the bath because of my extended leg
DONM - 1st week Jan 08

My Life being Disabled 22/11/07

I met with somebody from Remploy this afternoon to discuss my Work Preparation Referral. We agreed to delay it because her family was coming over from New Zealand for Xmas. Also there's a lot of part-time work going at the moment. She would tell my Disabled Employment Advisor from the Jobcentre. We also agreed that my hours of work were flexible.

My Life being Disabled 21/11/07

Last night at 23:00 my catheter started by-passing but my nurse gave me a bladder wash out and it worked !
I went to the Fitness Centre and through my excercises again. I AGREED WITH MY INSTUCTOR THAT NEXT HE WILL ARRANGE FOR DIFFERENT EXCERCISES.

To include in my Care Plan

A section how I use my room
All laundry to rotate so that all my clothes are used.

A section on my goals
Short term
A Care home that utilises Total Quality Management principles
A non smoking Care home
Drive a car again
Become a magistrate
Be employed
Go swimming

Long term
Independent Living
Join the London Olympics Project

My Life being Disabled 20/11/07

I worked on the Powerpoint presentation again

My Life being Disabled 19/11/07

In morning I review my Care plan with my nurse. We agreed that the plan should include:- a contolled copy of my Care plan to be kept in my bedroom.
In the afternoon we went to the National Museum of Media in Bradford to see "Beowulf". Here's a email I sent to them.

Yesterday 19/11/07, I and another disabled resident went to see Beowulf at the IMAX cinema in Bradford. I would like to thank everone for making this visit great. We parked our disabled mini-bus right outside the cinema and one of staff greeted us on entering. She arranged for our entrance tickets to be collected for us. Another of your staff took us up in the lift and showed us where the best view was. There are a lot of disabled places. The film Bewolf was screened in 3D as well as viewing it on IMAX. I thoroughly enjoyed it. THANKYOU

My Life being Disabled 18/11/07

I continued working on my Powerpoint presentation for the assistant manager. Another resident asked me to go to the National Media Museum in Bradford tomorrow because he wanted to see the film "Bewolf" in IMAX 3D. I said yes. I went to Nettos to get some shower gel.

My Life being Disabled 16/11/07

I went to the dentist this morning for a filling. The assistant manager gave me a copy of Micrososoft Office Professinal Edition 2003.

My Life being Disabled 15/11/07

The assistant manager of my Care home has asked me to produce a powerpoint presentation of my views of "A resident in a Care home plus My Life being Disabled". She's given me a list of topics she wants me to cover which are:-



1. Personal Life story

2. Needing Long Term Care

3. My Depenancy on Other People

4. A Person behind a Disability

5. How I would like to be spoken to

6. Care planning

7. Control

8. Short term/Long term goals

9. Difficulties in finding a placement

10. Shared Living

11. Other Suggestions



She would like this session to be an eye opener to Carers and Nurses ! BUT when I checked the powerpoint on my PC it was dated 2003.

My Life being Disabled 17/11/07

I continued working on the Powerpoint presentation for the assistant manager

My Life being Disabled 14/11/07

At 00:01 my catheter was by passing it been doing this all day intermittantly. I called the nurse and she thought it was my tube was positioned wrongly. She adjusted this and she would check me throught the night. I got up at 08:25 shaved, cleaned my teeth and showered. I got dressed and had my breakfast but my catheter was still by passing so I called for the nurse again who changed it assisted by a nurse from the hospital who said I should have the grit removed by some medicine ! The assistant manager asked me to help her to prepare a "powerpoint" presentation on what its like being disabled in a Care home. After lunch I went to the Fitness Centre for my excercises. I can go once per week because the contract with my Care home allowes me to have 30 minutes per day of activity time.

My Life being Disabled 13/11/07

I was going to apply to be a magistrate but I need 3 referees who I have known for 3 years but unfortunately I havn't so I emailed administor:-I would like to be a magistrate. Since my stroke in March 2003 I am paralysed in my right and wheelchair bound. I would like to be involved in the community even though I have to live in a Care home. I have just moved into the Barnsley area. My problem is I do not have any referees. I am married with two sons aged 21 and 17. Before my stroke I was the National Support Manager for Transmission Systems working for British Telecom, who I worked for 33 years. I was a manager for BT for over 20 years. I was a Rugby League coach at Dewsbury Moor club. Is there anything I could do to get round this problem of not having referees ?

My Life being Disabled 12/11/07

On Friday evening I was given an antibotic pill which I didn't know about. I took it and it was prescribed 3 tablets daily. I questioned it on Saturday and was told to see the senior nurse on Monday. She told me it was prescibed because the doctor thought I had an urine infection when he saw me last Wednesday but never told anyone.

My Life being Disabled 10/11/07

Three residents and myself went 10 pin bowling this lunchtime. We had two games of bowls plus a meal in a basket. I couldn't sit with the rest of them because they sat at a table which you had to go up one step. I was the only resident who was in a wheelchair.

My Life being Disabled 09/11/07

I had my blood pressure taken today it was 70/120

My Life being Disabled 08/11/07

I asked the computer administrator to load some new software but he said he was too busy !

My Life being Disabled 07/11/07

I went to the Fitness Centre this afternoon because I agreed with the Senior nurse that I can go every week. When I got there I arranged to go at 13:30 for 30 minutes on Wedesday every week. My instructor had a excercise plan for me which I completed and did some more excercises before 30 minutes were up. When I came back I completed a Christmas Quiz using the internet.

My Life being Disabled 06/11/07

This morning I went to the library and changed my book to "Life according to Clarkson"and runs out on the 27/11/07. The senior nurse told me that she has contacted my new dentist and they will visit me. The life skills co-ordinator has told me I can visit the Fitness Centre every Wednesday after lunch. On Saturday we are going 10-pin bowling at 11:30.

My Life being Disabled 05/11/07

This morning I asked my nurse if I could have my Care plan review. She agreed but said it would later because she's busy today. I reminded the Life Skills co-ordinator that my libary books were due back on 7/11/07. She asked me to go bowling on Saturday. The physio told me that on Wednesday & Friday we are having keep fit classes.

My Life being Disabled 04/11/07

This morning I order some speakers which were on a special offer from "savapoint" and I ordered a desk and wall calander from "vistaprint".

My Life being Disabled 03/11/07

I asked to go to the fitness centre again but I was told by the senior nurse that she would check my costings to find out if I am paying for somebody to take me to the fitness centre and if so how many days I can go. This is the second time she has said this to me but I've never seen this "costing" so I don't know what this entails. My costing is 3.5 hours per week of activities. I also reminded her that my Care plan is due for review. To include: monthly - blood pressure, weight weekly - haircut. In the afternoon my catheter started by passing and when the nurse changed it there were blood clot in my badder. This might have been when one of my carers pulled my catheter ! After she changed my catheter everything was O.K.

My Life being Disabled 02/11/07

I asked again could I go to the fitness centre but today there were only two carer on duty so I couldn't go but the nurse promised me I could go tomorrow. I got weighed I am 94 kg I've put on 4 kg in a month.

My Life being Disabled 01/11/07

Today I sent my appilcation form for The Weakest Link. I asked to go to the fitness centre but all the carers were busy.

My Life being Disabled 31/10/07

This afternoon we had a Halloween party. I was dressed as Hannibel Lecture ! All the residents were dressed up. We had a great time, we played lots of party games. I won a pumpkin toy, a box of maltesers and some bars of chocolate.

my 31/10/077