It is vitally essential that further effort be made in caring for the community. Currently, there are services available allowing people to stay at home and be cared for as needed. Whether it be for the elderly, mentally ill or disabled, the community has a high dependence on these services.

Each individual case has a different and unique set of circumstances, which affect them physically, mentally and emotionally. This requires a carer to be well trained in all aspects of providing the appropriate care needed, taking pressure off the clients and families.

The current standard of care offered is fairly poor and needs a new fresh approach to tackle the ever changing needs of the community!

Inadequate training and poor communication is an issue with current care services. Staff are often not experienced enough and have limited English skills. Basic hygiene techniques are also lacking. Specialist care is needed to go into providing continuing training, education and awareness.

Some agencies are run by people from non medical backgrounds. I believe they think of their pockets rather than focusing on what can be done to provide the utmost optimal care. Ultimately creating a better balance of harmony within the community alleviating stress from people and their families who require care and assistance. Which would take pressure off inadequate and overcrowded facilities.

Now is the time to act and place emphasis on the key issues affecting the community!

Community carers are poorly paid and most do not receive fair car and petrol allowances. More has to be done to keep carers in there job. Services that are allocated to staff by their coordinators is unrealistically organized. At times not allowing for any time between clients, going from one to the other, making it very difficult to have a refreshment or to find a toilet. At times we are pressured to drive way out of designated areas with no allowances for petrol.

Agencies need to be more effective in their dealings with clients, staff and family. Providing up to date communication and maintaining information as required. The Area Managers need to be out more in the field ensuring client and staff are happy that the provision of care is satisfactory.

Coordinators have little awareness of what we really do. Most times very limited information iff any, is given to staff prior to commencing a service. Some homes are very unhygienic and cluttered. Safety issues not observed initially. Assessments of homes should be done prior to carers going in.
Focusing on these current issues and others in the community, developing a balance for all is well overdue.

Our part in life is to take part in all life. To bring together all parts of life. So that life is made WHOLE. When we are divided against ourselves we are sick. HEALTH is wholeness. To make whole is to HEAL.

Mental illness, to me is a very interesting and complex topic. I feel that there are so many people at risk who are ignored and pushed into a corner until it is too late and real damage has been done.

As a young nursing student in my first year of university, and yet to be exposed to the mental health realm, I continue to be interested in social behaviours that can lead to or push someone into developing mental illness. The belief that illness alone is a social deviance, as seen within Talcott Parson’s ‘Sick Role’  can add to the stereotypes of mental illness. But the idea that someone’s mental illness, as a risk to society’s efficiency, is often believed due to the need and in turn, lack of cognitive functioning essential to life and society.

Having learnt only the basics of Nursing, I have discovered that within the Domains of Health, there is a Psychological domain – together with the other four essentials to the well being and potential care needed for each patient. Along with the psychological domain, cognitive development and overall cognitive responsiveness, all affect the type of care each person can (and should) receive.

The types of care received are also influenced by not only the individual themselves, but socio-cultural and politico-economic considerations. I see these two realms as bringing about inequalities that are brought about by the community, funding, and overall social stigmas.

This results in inequity in many parts of the community, especially the mentally ill, who need much care not only during present illnesses and rehabilitation, but to prevent the individual from recurring illness and care whilst being back in social life.