soooooo…..it’s not going to be easy to get help for my Dad since things are now even worse at AHS.
On the bright side, it took only 6 minutes on hold to get through! But that’s just for tiny hoop #1.
HOOP #1 – call 811 to get the number for AHS self referral which they refer to as “intake” so you need to know that term or they will pretend they don’t understand what you’re talking about. nice.
HOOP #2 – call AHS to convince them (which I did by using my new approach – see blog #35) to send someone to do an assessment without which, he cannot be placed on a wait list for a publicly funded care home.
HOOP #3 – wait anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks for a nurse to call you back and do a pre-assessment over the phone. BUT, there are caveats attached:
caveat #1 – if you cannot return their call within 24 hours, they may decide to close your file but they also may decide to try calling you again….you just never know…
caveat #2 – since AHS is currently backlogged and short staffed, we will likely only get a call around the 6 week mark
HOOP #4 – the assessment visit will take place anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months after the call that we are currently waiting on
HOOP #5 – if my Dad says “no” at any time during that assessment, they will pack up and leave immediately….because apparently, they have no clue about how dementia actually works (sorry, that’s me speaking in a not so nice way)
.
HOOP #6 – if Dad presents too well, they will not continue since it will be a “waste of resources”
HOOP #7 – if they agree that Dad needs help, it will take anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months to get someone to start helping
HOOP #8 – if by some miracle they agree to send help, then we wait for further assessment re: waitlisting him for a care home (no clue how long this takes)
HOOP #9 – And finally, the wait list is currently at 1 year at the very least. But that’s right now. Again, do the math. If all ticks along with the lowest amounts of wait time per hoop, we’re looking at almost 3 months from now. And who knows how long the wait list will be by then.
