My guest today is David ‘Budge’ Price, talking about the trials and tribulations that have been ongoing with care for Gina.
This is the 4th podcast where Budge talked to me about Gina’s story. The first time was in October, 24, then December 2024 lastly, November 25. (If you haven’t heard Budge’s previous interviews, you may like to listen before hearing this one.)
The summer of ‘25 has been difficult for the family. After moving into their new home a time that should have been exciting turned sour when the reclining chair that the council sent for Gina to sit in was awful. As you’ll hear from our conversation - it was far from ideal – especially, considering Gina’s many needs. Due to the lack of comfort that the chair was providing Gina with, in the end, Budge had to go and buy a chair himself, which was incredibly costly. However, the difference the new chair has made has been incredible.
Following this the next issue the family had was a break-down between the care provider and Budge. He talks about the huge amount of stress he has been through over the last two years. Because Gina still needs care, to be taken to hospital visits etc, Budge never has time for himself. Care and loving his wife is his complete focus, and he was caring for her 24/7 – the entire time, morning to night.
Not surprisingly, it made him ill, so he approached their care providers to ask about having someone who could come in and sit with Gina while he had time to go out on his own; meet friends for a coffee; shop, or go for a walk. But the important thing to Budge was that it would be best to have one of the members of staff who were already working with Gina and had built up a great relationship. As you’ll hear, this wasn’t to be. The care provider didn’t listen. They didn’t once ask Budge what he and Gina needed. There was a complete communication breakdown – not between the carers who were already working with Gina, but with the office side of the care providers business.
Budge was becoming ill himself, and in the end he contacted a new provider who did everything you’d expect a good care provider to do – they asked what he and Gina wanted. They trained the carers that were going to work with her and spent time building the relationships. Now Budge is enjoying time to himself and feeling a lot less stressed.
If you want to find out about care in any shape or form you can contact me:
Website: https://shreevecareservices.co.uk/
