FRESH AIR BREAKS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE EARNED IN THE "LEVEL" SYSTEM.FRESH AIR BREAKS SHOULD BE AN OBVIOUS PART OF DAILY LIVING WHILE INPATIENT.
REMOVING, OR NOT ALLOWING PATIENTS TO GO OUTDOORS AS REWARD/PUNISHMENT/ IS UNACCEPTABLE.
FOR MENTAL WELLNESS, OUTDOOR TIME SHOULD BE MANDATORY FOR ALL PATIENTS.
Due to the fact that numerous DSHS (wa government) readers see this post and others, for the record as of 1.14.10 Lindsay has not been outside of the locked hospital since her arrival on Monday, December 21, 2009.
The day of the transfer by the previous locked psych ward. total time locked up: since August 2009 in 2 psych hospitals.
Though this afternoon when I visited, there was a 'fresh air' break call, she was not part of that, and for the record let's remind readers its a smoke break.
4 yrs ago, I went outside to the basketball court with her because apparently there were not enough staff to cover 'smoke break at 5pm'.
Simply put, let's just say discrimination toward a non smoker, but let's not.
WHY has this been such an issue? and why does it continue?
What's the reason now?
So far there has been 5 reasons for not going outside, let me guess now it's the weather?
1. not enough staff --every discussion
2. not enough funding 12-30-09 every discussion
3. medication change 1-06-10
4. can earn a walk outside w mom if attends group 1-06-10
5. day of ward change : (telephone call) 1-11-10 (reason for major change in care)
"moving her to new ward so she can go outside and play and have the access to the basketball (closed area) court, the higher ups approved it". "flight risk".
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THIS photograph is of the ball that she bounced in the hallways and the outside area in March 2006 at WSH. When someone does not clean house for company the first time, the 2nd time they visit the house is usually clean.
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Addendum:
Further reading of interest
From the UK , Schizophrenia, a Carer's Journal authored by a father of his son's plight while navigating a locked psych ward visiting times and care.
in this together.
Another blog author writes about Lindsay from the heart
the love that can bring down old stone walls-Lindsay's Journey.
Also
Lindsay needs to go outdoors, journalist Philip Dawdy
Posts
21 comments:
Lord, my heart breaks for you and for your daughter, Stephanie.
This is just a sad sad situation.
I suggest you counter with five reasons why she *should* be allowed out.
a) You can volunteer, which renders 1., above, irrelevant.
b) Ditto 2., above.
c) A walk would be massively beneficial. A change of scenery - something else to look at - can sometimes help people. Jeez, that's why we go on holiday (vacation), after all.
d) She's not a prisoner.
e) They're making excuses, because they've been caught in a lie.
f) If there was the will, they could hold their groups outside and in that way they'd whatever they wanted from the patients whilst giving the patients something back.
OK, that's 6, but what the hell?
Matt
What the hell, Stephany? Even prisoners get time outside. Isn't this a constitutional rights violation? She is being treated worse than a prisoner that has committed a terrible crime. Why does she have to earn time outside? It should work the opposite. She should get time outside simply to help her heal. What is wrong with these people? I feel so bad for both of you. I really thought things would improve on the new ward.
Yeah, the only time we could go outside was for a smoke break. I went out with the smokers even though I don't smoke. It was really one of the only bright spots in a pretty miserable stay.
When a person is admitted to a psych ward, the patient is stripped of everything - clothing, belongings, dignity. So, those 15 minute smoke breaks mean the world to people. It was truly the only time I felt human.
The shoe needs to be on the other foot!
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I agree with all of you.
I've been outside with her on that basketball court in 2006.
I accompanied her with other patients to that out door area, walked under the floor in the tunnels to get out there, and I'm willing to do it again, as a matter of fact I'd like that to be a place we can use for a visiting time, so it can mimic real life...in real life world we went on walks all of the time, went to the river, connected w nature, played catch and that is actually HOW many ppl if they would pay attention could connect w her too and build trust and she might even talk to them. If doctors or others would take that small effort they would be surprised, imagine having a meeting while walking through the beautiful countryside right across the street, where patients used to go in the OLD days.
I was told the reason for the move was the ability to go in a locked enclosed out door area, so they now need to 1. tell the truth 2. do what they said was the reason and take her outside.
Honestly, it's over the top asking for this, imagine if i asked anything else.
I don't think it matters if you're willing to accompany her outside, it is still the hospital that is legally liable for her. And if she is a flight risk then of course she cannot be allowed outside.
I wonder if your own attitude does her harm. You complain, "i've been scrutinized, ridiculed, been yelled at and talked down to by several doctors, ...," and yet you do nothing but the same towards the staff caring for her in your posts. I can only imagine what it would be like in person.
This is just something I've seen on ward, where the attitude carried by a patient's family ends up hindering his or her treatment. Just a thought that might be of help for her.
Makes me wonder about patients who don't have people advocating for them. If it's this bad when people are watching, what's it like for those who have been forgotten? Months without sunshine? Years? This is mental health care?
Matt is exactly right about moving the groups outside. I've suggested that myself and was met with a blank stare. The area is enclosed. Where are the patients going to escape to? This is about staff convenience/comfort/power & control. This is not about what's best for patients - it never has been.
Miranda,
Have you been in a state institution> in any way shape or form?
She is a flight risk was their excuse number 5; and if you are paying attention to the story youll read that she was moved to a ward on Monday the 11th THAT HAS ACCESS TO A LOCKED UP BASKETBALL COURT AREA.
If she did not have my efforts she would be locked away forever, without rights, she is mostly non verbal and child like.
You, of course are entitled to your opinion, and I have seen far worse than yours here, but if you escalate further I will ban your comments, because this situation is worse than I am writing, and you are privledged to be able to read it. That's as far as it goes.
btw, Miranda I have never spoken to any staff the way you describe, and on that note you are banned.
IF you are in WSH as staff you'll know I visit my daughter and keep to myself, and in the board room, sit and listen to complaints from the doctor and staff about lack of funding for reason they cannot care properly for more than just my daughter.
I'll entertain Miranda's accusation of not writing positive things about the staff caring for her--read some history back to dec 23 when I write about how someone did her hair, etc. the staff that care for her directly ALL day are not doctors and nurses, they are the support staff who have heard from me, and as a matter of fact so have the doctors and other "higher ups", thanking them for her care, anyone who cares for my daughter receives that from me.
You'll have to get used to speaking out and getting in the face tone writing here, because I do it for a reason, to raise awareness.
If you re-read your comment, Miranda, you can see how easily parents ARE cast aside and care IS jeopardized when patients have advocates, as a matter of fact, the reason I am pushing for answers now is because I strongly believe the ward change was retaliation and to retaliate toward an innocent patient because someone asked for her to go outside IN A LOCKED AREA, then that is indeed a sad state of affairs.
Until you meet me, you cannot judge me. If you work at WSH, find me. Let's talk.
People like Miranda are a big part of the problem. As long as they can blame the problems on the patients and/or the patients' families, then they don't have any culpability. Convenient.
Also, Stephany, ignore Miranda. She's trying to, as we say in the south, "get your goat." To read your posts and not be heartbroken and empathetic to you is proof she doesn't have a soul.
I agree 100% with Lisa.
I can only hope this person "Miranda" does not work in a mental health facility for the sake and health of patients.
Her tried old diatribe has long been debunked and only shows her pure unadulterated ignorance to the plight of those deemed mentally disabled in our society and institutions.
Ooooh! Let's have a heated debate, as I'm fond of saying.
Let's get down to brass tacks, here. Lindsay has already intimated that the institution feels claustrophobic, and she wants time outside. So let's put aside any idea that because she has been diagnosed with some mental illness, or other, that either a) she's incapable of articulating her desires; or b) her desires, as articulated, are any less valid because they come from Lindsay rather than from any one of us, commenting, here (or, indeed, any other person you might care to mention).
Now, it cannot be possible that a change of scenery, a walk in the fresh air, can possibly be detrimental - unless somebody has research that indicates differently, that is. So, at worst, it's neutral. Except, it's not, because if Lindsay gets to go outside regularly, then she will understand that she has been heard. And knowing that somebody cares enough about her to listen and do what they can is therapeutic in itself - it engenders a sense of self worth.
So, on any level, the request for outside time is not unreasonable. And there would have to be a damn good reason for withholding it. Except WSH hasn't produced one. OK, so it's cash-strapped, and maybe its liability insurance wouldn't cover non-staff being responsible for patients. BUT HAS THAT QUESTION BEEN ASKED OF THE INSURANCE COMPANY? Let's check that, before we assume it, huh? If the insurers don't like the idea of non-staff, then what about a waiver - Stephany takes Linds out, but there's no comeback on WSH or its insurers, in the event that something happened (and what on earth could happen, really?)?
This is bullshit, basically... The objective is Lindsay's wellbeing. Regular fresh air and exercize might be therapeutic (and they won't know, until they try, will they?). Rather than try stuff that might help, WSH appears to be throwing every obstacle it can in the way - I wouldn't mind, except it doesn't appear to have any ideas of its own.
Matt
PS Not wishing to embarass anybody, or anything, but somebody called Miranda has left a comment on Furious Seasons (linked above). Judging by the timbre of that comment, and assuming it's the same Miranda, I think her position is broadly supportive, irrespective of how it was received.
Matt
The state runs pretty much all court ordered civil and forensic commitments related to Mental Health in the State of Washington (including Western State Hospital/Institution).
So you might ask who will pay for Lindsay not being provided a truly therapeutic setting and treatment "including regular outdoor time and exercise".
The citizens of the USA (as in direct federal funding) and the tax payers of Washington State will pay.
They will pay in long term care cost, and for having a broken and disjointed mental health system that does not effectively treat patients in it's revolving door patient treatment philosophy.
They also have and will continue to pay large sums in the courts for their continuing failures through civil litigation.
That's really the root of the problem here at it's very base level and core (the time tested "follow the money and it will lead you to the real problem"); since DSHS is not held truly accountable for these blatant denial of rights, poor or lack of care, and the resulting serious injuries.
(when politicians play politics with your health care, especially in the case of indigent and poor patients, the results can be unbelievably devastating unfortunately).
We have seen this tactic played out over and over again using the pharmaceutical industry as good example; it's cheaper to pay out the few claims or some fines levied against them, than it is to fix a corrupt and failed system.
It really always falls back on the citizens of the state. So when citizens don't speak out against a failed and corrupted mental health system; we in truth all pay an increasingly heavy cost financially, then even more unfathomable cost in human suffering and loss for Washington State's DSHS horrible failures.
I hope this helps clarified a few issues being discussed here.
This is not a heated debate. I doubt Miranda is the same person who, on Philip's blog wants me to find a "kick ass" lawyer.
This is a daily, and grueling life, one that I decided to write about instead of later...now.
Inpatient in locked psych wards are not glamourous. Staff rotates, and you hope to find one that connects with someone like my daughter.
it is with great reserve that i carry on each day w out falling apart into a puddle of tears after what this system trials parents and advocates through.
Most people are there alone, have no one.
I now know at least 4 ppl in house from hospitals and residential care. I hope when i say hello, they know i care.
I really cannot say more here, except to remind the state funding DSHS that reads all of this to remember my daughter is high need, and has not received a treatment plan or been outside for almost a month, not even to a group.
warehoused and parked. they don't like to hear that.
Why aren't the pro bono lawyers beating your door down? This is such a done deal lawsuit! Simple dots, connect them = WSH fails.
Only Pierce County Jail withholds outside time as far as I have known in the local legal world (for four days). Fight! Keep calling lawyers! Keep calling Attorney Generals and Mental Health and Medical Associations...Fight!
IP Address 147.56.109.198
ISP DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
Domain WA.GOV
City OLYMPIA
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If you want to read about my daughter, you could at least 'Google' the spelling of her name correctly; which again shows the ignorance.
Reading this blog, should, if anything now correct the spelling of her name in the system, which has been requested by me officially on 1-6-09.
Why is this important?
because, as her mother i try the best i can to ensure basic dignity to my daughter, who is mostly non verbal now, isn't it the least we can do?
Write her name correctly and post the label on her bedroom door.
Make an effort to humanize her, please.
In a system, that is so bankrupt of funding and dignity, and where many people are alone, have you personally met my daughter?
Did you? have you?
Do you care? how much?
It sounds rough in writings doesn't it Windsor, Canada?
This is real life here, and it's a political game; why do that?
Just stop and walk across the road to the old farm area and look over your shoulder, at the brick buildings and hope to GOD your child never ends up locked up in there, and now here I am asking why she hasnt been issues SHOES.
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