Mr. Rogers is Full of Shit

 

There I said it.  Mr. Rogers is full of shit.  You know that famous quote of his… the one about the helpers?  “Look for the helpers.  You can always find people who are helping.”  Bullshit.

 

I mean, I suppose there are always people who are helping but you know who isn’t helping?  Hospice.  And isn’t that their only job?

 

It’s hard enough to hear “hospice” but then to enroll and find that they are not the helpers Mr. Rogers speaks of, well that would be disappointing enough.  But in our case, they not only aren’t helping but they are actually making things worse.  We’ve had them for only a few days but a lot sure has gone wrong in a few days.  Sometimes it’s been minor annoyances (like the nurse spending the first hour of the intake talking about her marital problems and her step-son’s mental health issues).  Sometimes it’s major inconveniences (dropping off equipment, including a lift, but leaving it on the first floor when my husband is on the 2^nd floor and suggesting I hire movers to get it upstairs).  Sometimes it’s been mind-numbingly unethical (forgetting that she left paperwork at my house and saying her dog ate it).  Sometimes it’s been negligent (I would say almost criminally so) like giving us medication that is contraindicated for Lewy Body Dementia. 

 

So, my exhaustion and frustration have made exponentially worse by the helpers.  And where do you turn when the helpers don’t help? 

 

So how about it, Mr. Rogers?  Where are these mythical helpers you spoke of, because they sure as hell aren’t in my neighborhood.