The Breather Programs that I Can Only See But Not Use

The program works in theory, but not in “application” I’m afraid, on Long-Term Care 2.0, from the Front Page Sections, translated…

The UDN Papers did a special report on the 1996 Breather Program Hotline, and I’d, wanted to share my own experience on it.

After I’d called 1996, quickly enough, came the social workers to make the assessments, and, confirmed that I’d, qualified for the “breather program” criteria too: we are a family, who’d hired the foreign nurse, our assessment ranked at a level six, and because the paper said that levels seven and eight can be approved for the breather programs as the foreign nurse went on leave or break, so we thought we couldn’t, qualify.  Six months later, the social workers came by again, to make another assessment, and she’d inquired how come I’d, not utilized the breather programs available, and told me, that in the city of Taipei, if we are a level six family, then, we’d, qualify, and told me to try to apply for it again.

the assortment of services that the program provides…image found online

I thought it wouldn’t be easy, because there’s this, lacking of homecare provider, and so, I’d, selected the 28^th as my foreign nurse was off to apply, and, I thought I’d, have a better chance.  After the first nursing home evaluated, it’d told me that they’re, full this month.  Then, as the few that I’d called up to inquire heard that I’d needed extra help on the weekends, they’d, all told me, that they’re not, supposed to, add on the staff members, because the new labor laws stated so, and suggested that I tell my foreign nurse to take her days off on the weekdays.  But the workers only goes to their religious meetings on the weekends, and their friends can only meet on weekends when they’re, all off, it’s completely, pointless, given the workers days off on the weekdays.  I’d called seven, or eight homes, and, there were, finally two, that might be able to send people by on the weekends, and only asked for my name and my number, didn’t even inquire about the elder being taken care of, and the services I’d be, requiring, then, the homes told me to call up more facilities, that way, I’d have, a better chance.  I’d waited until the eighth, there’s, no replies, and, I’d, found the help I needed, through the apps available publicly.

The second time was when the hired help’s family came over to Taiwan to travel, and, she’d, needed the days off during the workweek, I thought, that it’s not on a weekend, so there might be hope, for me, to apply for the extra help, and it was on the 23^rd of next month, and so, I’d, called up the facility on the 14^th of this month, and, the first one, after they’d asked about the needs of my elder, the person told me that they’ll know if there is someone available, a week before the 23^rd of next month, and then, told me, to inquire more facilities, I’d asked her, wouldn’t that be repeated usage of the resources?  She’d told me, I’d, have a better chance that way.

It would give me more stress, finding someone who’d, never worked in taking care of an elderly, and, I’d needed to, wait until a week before, to know if they can get me somebody, if not, I’d have to, go through the private sectors, to find someone, and, it’d, condensed the time I had.  And, maybe it was because I wasn’t, patient enough, nor adventurous enough, I’d still, use the App to find someone, at least, that way, I get to chat with the individual, to tell her/him my needs, instead, of waiting like a fool, for the government provided home care program to call me back.  And, this sort of a temporary homecare provision, is something that I see, but can’t, utilize.

and yet, this, is the reality…the workers, underpaid, the turn over rate is too quickly, among other problems, illustration found online

And so, the problem here is, still IN the systems, because, there’s, so many rules that the law makes us abide by, and, with the increased needs of caretaking, there’s, a shortage of members who will be willing, who are able to, work on the weekends, and so, this breather program, is basically, pointless and useless, devised by this government of ours.