Clarifications

Regarding my previous post, I probably ought to clarify a few points bout this blog so as to keep me focused onto my greater ambition, which is the ultimate independence, which is working for myself.

• Being involved with people in nursing homes, I am bound to pay attention to HIPAA privacy rules (the acronym stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). I do not use any names, nursing homes, or medical conditions regarding any individual consumers I work with. So I keep the subject of nursing homes and residents quite bland  
• I keep the names of state agencies unnamed, one of these a very well known acronym. As well as the individuals who act egregiously. 
• There are state employees who have worked professionally, too. So I wouldn’t want to imply that the (union) workers are in the cause of the majority of the workers. 
• Given that anonymous persons and agencies are cited, the situations change slightly in actual context, but not scope. I am not anti-union, nor against bargaining units for the employees. But things like not being able to attend meetings ‘because I couldn’t get a state car’ type excuses are vexing, even if the state car is in the contract…

So I write about what I know in the attempt to keep me focused on the next phase of my independence in career. I want to remember the incidents that will compel me to work for myself, to succeed or fail on my merits, work ethic, on what I did (or failed to do). That’s all.

If any reader remembers the Dragnet TV series (1967-1970) the stern voice on the intro would say something that I have paraphrased as follows: ‘The post you are about to read is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent guilty’  As Sgt. Friday might have intoned to the witness “Just the facts”

Smashing through any doubt...

Breaking through not so insurmountable barriers. Photo taken by Grandpa (Ralph I), ca. 1939

I do not care for much of what I do. I offer an example of how the frustration of the job affect my thinking about said part-time job. There is another state agency (lets call it unnamed II), and one employee I needed to work with who is a non-performer according to some. This person made three (3) scheduled appointments in a three week period. with a client, and didn't show up. The job (TC) I hold is the one where we are taken to task because we are more visible, the state employees who choose not to, well, not so much.

I was advised to contact the supervisor of the offending state employee. I was only able to leave a voice-mail missive, polite but to the point. I even used the term 'unprofessional' (I was advised later to keep opinion out of it. A fine thought, but as I had had it by then, I'll try better next time. It would be nice if all government employees worked as required). A day later without a reply, I contacted the employee and left that person a voice mail missive, polite but pointed. I received a Arrrugh message later that she "didn't appreciate my tone". So be it. This is what I have tired of, the state employee sense of entitlement. Yet I have to work with them - without the authority to make them work...

The baseball shatters the glass with ease. I need to be hitting my own line drives to move beyond my own limitations. I posted two different contractor positions on the local craigslist (here and here), but I need to sell my own abilities - to myself!

Skill Sets

I have missed a few weeks on this blog – and I really missed it! I have such a skill set, yet I am unable to see it in real time. Yet sometimes something clicks and I am amazed that I don’t always recognize it. Could I be a resume writer and/or career counselor? I’d normally say no…

A neighbor friend of ours stopped in yesterday. She had been on the wait staff of a local outlet of a nationally known breakfast chain and was terminated, ostensibly due to age. She needed a resume and had lots of handwritten notes about her career in retail, and she would pay for it. Not to worry, I wouldn’t charge a friend. I asked for Saturday to present a rough draft.

She had to talk, and she said that she was going to go for age discrimination. I said, with your experience, why?

·       Let it go, it will consume you when all you want to do is work

·       I have been through CHRO (Ct. Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities) and I don’t feel that you would get redress anyway

·       The restaurant is having a cash problem and were going to eliminate this position

In fact, I said that when questioned about why you left your job, just say: “the average transaction at the restaurant has fallen due to the economy, and they had to reduce their head count”

Was that me?? It all sounds like sage advice, and I said all this without notes or without memorizing anything. I amazed me, yet should I be? I know a thing or two about jobs, having had a few…

I completed a draft of the resume in about 45 minutes. She wants to go back to retail, where she was years ago pre-kids. It reads well, too. I started with her skill set, written like this:

·       The ability to lead, not merely in the supervision of staff but in the effective motivation and training of new and existing staff.

·       Attentive customer service in a variety of food and retail establishments.

·       Knowledge of restaurant operations either independent or chain operations.

·       A proven increase in departmental sales, enhancing in company growth as well as meriting individual promotions.

·       A thorough knowledge of retail advertising and display merchandising that lead to increased traffic and sales.

·       Complete involvement in proper merchandise ordering, correct inventory levels and reorder points.

·       Setting budgets, with the ability to work at or under these budgets ensuring profitable operations.

·       Managing customer bills and receipts and the proper reconciliation.

Why do I doubt my abilities? This was good, and I do want to work for myself. Could I?

Which yellow brick road to take?

The directions can be opaque, and never crystal clear. I am sure about not wanting to continue with the work that I do, yet I do continue to do so. 

The transition coordinating has its oddities and share of complications. You might think that I relish the challenge and have just enough ego to rise to said challenge - a conquering hero of sorts (a well-worn cliché). But it all seems tiring and a never ending challenge.

The cone as sundial - or is it a compass needle I am to follow?? Photo by Ralph

I am working with a person who was discharged recently. She has the PCA waiver, in which (unnamed) pays for the services of the assistants, while the discharged client acts as an employer. This is a tough task for many persons as in a nursing home, a dependency is fostered where someone shows up to do this or that for you. The longer one stays in a skilled nursing facility (the formal term in use that I would never use to describe these places...), the more dependent one becomes.

So this person has five PCAs in her schedule. Contrary to Independent Living preferred practice, I did a lot of the work for the consumer - advertising and locating potential, arranged for the interviews by the client and when approved, I created a schedule. Independent living really dictates that the client really do all the work - although the client needed help. so supergimp Ralph jumped into the hiring fray. 

The client can be demanding after being provided all services in the home. So far, one PCA has resigned, one more (I hear this in third person) may. Yet, I have to spring into action, the other day checking by geography potential recruits. Based on a phone call, and an e-mail of documents, there may be hope for another PCA. I hope...

Discharged clients who end up back in these facilities can make things difficult for the coordinators. As I work for a contractor the state (unnamed) cannot dictate  what constitutes an offense that can lead to dismissal. Yet, terminating my position could have a happy ending. I say could, because there is a lot of downside to being asked to leave, especially in a society that views the disabled as failures of sorts anyway. So failure is not an option. Yet, from many directions, outcomes are not guaranteed. So I ask as I have been, am I bold enough to resign and take my chances on income on my terms?

It’s not who you know, It’s what...

It has been a week since my last post. Yet I remain committed to a change while events keep me on the track I have been on and missing the switches that offer a spur line into change. The train metaphor is apt as the heavy locomotive moves along with inertia, and thus keeps on going despite the application of the brakes - what I need to at least consider.

Yet, during the past week , I see a bit of confidence in my approach, perhaps there is hope that I can use the bit of intellect that I possess. In this case, perhaps it is as (noted before) a disability consultant.

The non-profit I work for had its fund raiser this morning. Referred to as the 2010 Wheel-a-Thon, there were two obstacle courses whereby teams mounted manual wheelchairs, and team pledges were added up and team elapsed times were tallied for winners, and a cook-out lunch was provided. A fun time near Long Island Sound on a beautiful day.

Yet I had no real responsibilities for the day. I didn’t even receive the loud yellow Staff Member tee-shirt. So an observer I was. Yet there were two women who corralled me, perhaps as they had a few questions that a wheelchair driver could answer. Which was the case. It was an older mother and her younger daughter. The questions at first had to do with the power wheelchair for the husband of mom:

Q - How much did your (wheelchair) cost?

A - A basic power chair (Pride Jet) like mine is about $4000 new. I bought this chair like new through my company for $700

Q - Can you take your apart for travel

A - No, and I don’t think the units that can be broken down are ideal - you would probably get tired of trying to lift the heavy batteries every time you travel.

So, I asked a couple of questions that were pertinent: Does your husband have Medicare? If approved, it would be a 20% co-pay, so the $4000 would be a co-pay of $800

Next I asked if he could walk. Apparently he can stand and move for short distances with a walker - he needs a wheelchair. So then I mentioned that a van would be optimal. Would you like to see mine to get an idea? They would. I was able to explain how the wheelchair works well with this type of modified minivan. Except these are expensive. 

Q - Is there anybody that can help in getting one?

A - I suggested that Social Security maybe through Medicare, although I don’t think so. What about a used one? His wheelchair can be easily tied down in the van, so no battery lifting would be needed.

I suggested that they contact the place where my van was modified, Advanced Wheels in East Granby near the Hartford Airport. All they do is modify wheelchair vans, and ask for John, Christian or Jason to see if they have anything used or any ideas. I have their phone number committed to memory and the daughter took all the info down on her I-Phone (I am merely a satisfied customer of this company, not a paid shill. My 2008 Grand Caravan is the third vehicle I own that was modified by them, and they will get answers for you). They left satisfied with the answers.

The point I am trying to make is that I know these issues. Two people were apprehensive about their plight, and by my knowledge, experience and manner, I was able to take the edge off the women’s fears. Perhaps I was able to erase the answer we so often see - the easy to say words ‘No' or ‘Never' are often what we say. Hopefully I was able to allow them to see the possibilities, the harder to say ‘Maybe' or even ‘Yes' just might be the outcome. I spoke as naturally as I do, with a command of the facts and possibilities that were not considered. This is the third time in the past week where my knowledge of wheelchairs and egress answered questions that seemed daunting at first. I know what I speaketh, and can present it well.

A disability consultant? Why not??