We need urgent help

Context:

• Help me save Jay.

Updated list:

• To Do – Urgent Needs

More details:

• URGENT Request for help – still no contact from NDIS planner to date

In Home Safety Issues:

1. Raised by RN
2. Raised by Support Worker
3. Raised by Jay
4. Verified by Occupational Therapist – pending

Current Status:

I need 2 staff 24/7 with Jay and there is nowhere in the present home for them to sleep, and no separate spaces for them to have downtime. Due to severe sensory issues they also need to be able eat away from Jay, as most food smells are highly distressing and many cause meltdown/shutdowns.

An occupational therapist visited yesterday morning for staff training with safe use of hoist. Could not proceed,  Jay was in too much pain and then went into meltdown due to overwhelm. OT has shut down use of hoist, shower chair, and commode because of the severe pain Jay is experiencing. Given we don’t know the cause of the pain, we are risking potential severe injury to them if we mobilize them with the hoist.

Jay spent the weekend in the local public hospital ED. We called an ambulance for them when their pain escalated into crisis with symptoms mimicing a heart attack. Jay has no ambulance cover – we have promised we will cover it with our donations fund. (THANKYOU ALL!) Edit – wow it turns out NSW has different rules around ambulances to SA and there will be no cost. Awesome! We really need to do something about that here where I live.

Jay was unable to get proper care or assessment in the ED despite everything their entire tried over the whole stay. And I mean EVERYTHING we tried – but that’s a story for another time.

His GP was booked for an urgent telehealth appt over 2 weeks ago but has never called. This is the GP who has not followed up on a highly vulnerable trans client who’s hormone shot is over a month overdue. Apparently this is pretty common for them – can’t even blame COVID19.

Trapped in bed

Trapped in bed at present without capacity to get into their wheelchair. Jay now needs 2 staff available 24/7 to enact pressure sore protocols (need to roll them every 4 hours and apply cream to skin) – we think – we can’t yet get anyone into the house to tell us! Jay’s skin has already thinned badly due to a long time trapped in bed while abandoned in their home – also a story for another time, but I can tell you it’s been a really bad year for Jay.

We urgently need a GP for a wide range of assessments and referrals related to chronic and severe neglect.

We also have immediate medical questions we are not qualified to answer and we need a GP or someone trained to guide us!

We need from a GP: Immediate:

• We need covid tests for Jay and all staff. The ED Jay spent the weekend in was a hotspot for covid but refused to refer or administer tests or medically assess the support workers. This means we can’t take them into places where high risk residents are in lockdown. We need clearance to open housing options or to know housing options closed because we are now infected and risk killing the rest of the residents. 
• We need medical assessment and advice of the risks of using the hoist to mobilize into the chair, vs feeding someone with severe dysphagia while lying down in bed. 
• We need to assess, diagnose and treat the pain crisis or provide referrals to those who can.

We have managed to arrange:

• 9 April disability specific physiotherapist for telehealth assessment.
• 14th April we have booked trans friendly GP: should be able to provide script for hormone, we can then hire a nurse to administer. 

Jay reports a bad sore throat today and has been feeling constantly very hot then very cold for the last two days despite no fever on the thermometer. This lack of temperature regulation is very concerning given other health conditions. Jay reports severe neck and back pain, radiating down both arms, which is especially concerning because Jay is usually unable to feel pain even if it’s a really bad injury. We are all afraid something very bad is happening medically. We desperately need a disability GP with experience in spasticity – we are making calls and waiting to hear back. If you know anyone – please get in touch with us urgently, my phone is on 24/7.

How to Stand with Jay

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