Mississippi Homebound Disabled and Elderly Overlooked
October 15 2005, 10:31 PM
katrina homebound disabled and elderly October 15 2005, 10:23 PM
Okay,
I'm hoping this posting will stay. And other Mississipians who have access to their computers can also respond.
IT WAS A VERY ROUGH RIDE! To say the least.
I live in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Here is a copy of an email I sent:
My name is Jeanette and I am on permanent disability and homebound in Gulfport, Mississippi. I was so pleased to see in my Spinal Cord Injury newsletter about the site.
Katrina was a rough ride for homebound elderly and disabled.
The very first neglect I noticed was for homebound elderly and disabled. There were very few or NO services available for us to receive ice, water, food, transportation to FEMA, RED CROSS, SBA (for residental loans/or small business loans), INSURANCE COMPANY. Our Home Health Care providers haven't showed up since Katrina (mine to date: Oct 16, 2005). Many of us are homebound disabled and elderly have companion pets. Which we could and would never think of leaving behind.
When I finally got electricity I got online and wrote to agencies. Only Red Cross responded to me after I complained that they forgot about homebound disabled and elderly people. When I asked them why don't they have lists to make sure food, ice and water are brought to these people? She responded: "that's the county and state's responsibility". Hmmm I wonder if everyone out there that is donating to Red Cross knows that? That needy homebounders are being overlooked by the Red Cross.
Red Cross finally came to my house October 13, 2005 (after receiving my email). Two men and a nurse. No ice, water or food. They were nice enough to write me a check for the single person victim's limit of $360.00. But it won't do me any good if I can't get to bank or store.
The nurse asked me if the mobile unit had been by to feed me. I laughed and shook my head no. She said they were supposed to have been going to subdivisions door to door. I guess they missed my subdivision.
More? FEMA qualified me for rental assistance for when my home is repaired. I was told today all my walls and ceilings would be coming out. FEMA gave me approx $2300. Just where will I get a place to live temporary since there are no more rental apartments? No place to rent a camper/rv, etc for my drive-way. Hotels/Motels that are left are full. And that amount is not going to last long enough according to my insurance adjuster. Rent what? Rent where? Rent how?
More? After 2 weeks from Katrina's landfall I was able to get in touch with my mortgage company. Last year I refinanced to pay some bills. I paid cash for my home from a settlement in the amount of $128,000. My home is only 7 years old. I talked to their insurance department and they said they would give me three (3) months to pick-up my payments once again. I said I did not need three (3) months. I said maybe two (2, if that!
I received a NOTICE OF DEFAULT shortly thereafter. Demanding full payment of $54K or sell my home. They have got to be kidding right? The home has to be repaired! I tried SBA since to try and get a low interest loan with them but was told they could not help me. I tried other mortgage companies but you know what there answers were. LOL Maybe after the house is fixed! LOL Of course after the house is fixed. So my mortgage company wants me homeless. I've heard this is being practiced all through our area.
More? LOL During the hurricane I fell, hit my head and fractured my wrist. Of course, I just had my 2nd plate put in my neck in July.
Anxiety will be present among many down here for a long time. I just hope I keep my home now.
I would love to help somehow in getting the government/county/state/red cross/other agencies lists of the homebound elderly and disabled during these catastrophe times. So they come to us knowing we cannot get to them. I felt prejudiced sometimes that all these agencies had locations for people to go sign up and talk to them but WE certainly could not do same.
Any suggestions? And thanks for listening!
Jeanette
I am disturbed to read about your experiences during the hurricane and its aftermath. I work with a home health agency in the state. I know that all of my colleagues with home health companies in the costal areas did the best they could to locate patients and other homebound, disabled and elderly citizens in these areas.
Our company does not cover the costal areas but we had over 100 volunteers go to the coast just for that purpose. These included mostly nurses and certified nurse's aides. These individuals (just from our agency) scoured the areas for people just as yourself to help with food, ice, medical treatments, relocations, generators for those needing electricity for medical equipment, etc.
From you posting I gather that even after you were "located" you were not helped. for that I do not have an answer and apologize.
The state of Mississippi is taking a hard look at itself in terms of disaster support, recovery, intervention and other topics especially dealing with sick, homebound, disabled and/or elderly people in the state.
I understand there is supposed to be a "registry" set up for people falling into this category. I also know that the Mississippi Department of Health did an extensive survey just days after the hurricane to try and insure the elderly and homebound were located and taken care of. They did much of this through local home health agencies. I feel Mississippi responded to this crisis well and with its head held high for the most part. Our elected officials, local, county, and state, did what I consider an outstanding job of dealing with this catastrophe.
Again, I wish you were better taken care of. I also hope that your circumstances were isolated. I fear from the tone of your posting, it was not.
I hope this never happens again but only God knows. Maybe we will all be better prepared... I hope all is better for you now and God bless you.
I read your response. I'm glad you were able to get to some of the elderly and disabled who are homebound.
But as I said they did not call me nor come in my neighborhood like they said they were doing. In fact, I had a sign out in my front yard saying "Disabled" "Need Help." I don't think they could have missed the sign.
Sorry I did not get to meet you. I talked to "The District" a part of Council on Aging here in Gulfport. They told me they did not have any help to reach us. The Manager of the Home Health Care Workers was driving the "Meals on Wheels" truck according to him. Because there was no one to do it. I had just had surgery late July. The girl who usually handled my case was aware of it. The manager was aware of it too. But they still didn't get word out nor come help me. I only had a homemaker 5 times in my house since Katrina hit.
Maybe better luck next time.
May God Bless and Thank You for Caring.
Jeanette
P.S. I'm posting an additional message you might find interesting.
Hey all, I thought I had said everything there could be said about Katrina.
I am still waiting for a trailer. I have heart problems in addition to my disability. I should have been out of this house a long time ago.
My companion dog Rusty (Lab) passed away 3 weeks ago from a bacterial infection they believe contracted from mold in the house. What next?
My insurance company was to provide me with a trailer. Well it arrived two (2) weeks ago. A beautiful 38' trailer. The man said it even had a fireplace in it. I was surprised and happy. Unfortunately, the man refused to put it in my backyard saying it was too wet in between the houses to drive it back there. He had gotten stuck the night before with another trailer and had to get a tow truck. He asked if he could put it in the driveway. I said no you can't do that. It will stick out in the street. He asked me again where I wanted it and I responded the backyard again! He said he had to call his boss and I waited inside the house. The man left with the trailer. Can you believe? He kept asking me where a bank was located. Maybe he was in a rush?
There's more...... I got an Email from the company stating my land was unsuitable to put the trailer. Excuse me? It had rained the night before this man arrived at my house. That is why it was wet in between my neighbor and my house. Unsuitable? That is not possible as I have an above ground therapy pool 32' wide. Not unsuitable. In fact, very suitable. Plenty room too. My neighbor, two (2) houses down, has a trailer in his backyard. So why not just come back on a dry day with some help? Didn't happen.
In fact, are you ready? They charged me a delivery charge. For what? I didn't get the trailer!
Truly unbelievable. So I continue to live in this moldy house. I won't tell you about all the nose bleeds I've been getting. Or how my eyes continually run tears. Much less how my face is broken out around my nose and mouth (where I inhale). I called my insurance agent to ask when I'm getting another trailer. She hasn't returned my calls. In fact, the receptionist at her office received a FEMA trailer, but she cannot move into it because it has mold.
What the heck is going on? This is ridiculous.
Any suggestions are welcomed. Pray for me please.
Happy New Year!
Jeanette
Hello Jenette, my name is Ted Simpson, and I am a Construction Contractor here in Michigan. I am looking to relocate to the region to help rebuild and construct new housing for the elderly and disabled. The issue at hand is I don't know where to start. The needs are so emence, it is quite overwhelming. If you know of a foundation that may utilize our services, would you please e-mail me at tsimps24@sbcglobal.net.
It is some time since you wrote and I have only just come across your summary. I hope that you are now having your needs met and that your insurance company and mortgage company are being more reasonable and supportive.
I live in the UK and work in disaster management, internationally and within the UK. People here were horrified by the way vulnerable people (principally older people and disabled) were left to fend for themselves in the wake of Hurricaqn Katrina. It made UK organisations examine their emergency management, but many feel that the poor response in US is unlikley to be found in the UK. However, a disasetr of such a scale is almost beyond living memory for people here and so there may be some complacency.
What I would like to know is what you would want in terms of advice, care and support in such crises, and, if time and effort permits, consider these under the headings of pre-disaster, disaster and post-disaster.
If you have friends who might contribute to my questions, particlualry those who are elderly and/or suffer from some form of disability, I would be happy for you to pass this on to them for their responses.
I intend that such information as can be provided will help to infomr research I am undertaking with a view to improving UK Disaster Planning and response for vulnerable people (principally older people and those with disabilities). Therefore I would hope that your hard won experience might help to avoid others having to suffer unecessarily.
Hello, if you have a child with autism and were affected by one of the gulf hurricanes, or know a family who was, please contact us. We can help! www.autismcares.org 1-800-960-1844
Holly Bortfeld
AutismCares Care Package Coordinator
800-960-1844
http://www.autismcares.org
AutismCares is a coalition of National Autism Organizations who have come together to help families dealing with autism who are victims of the Gulf Region Hurricanes.
I will soon be looking for resources for a handicapped
lady living in Missippi. she may need to leaver her appt while mold remediation is done.
will have more details,shortly.darylynn