Just another Day on the Farm

A apple a day keeps the doctor away

Such a old fashioned saying..  Its not wrong, what you eat or do not eat does point in fact effect your body.. as does the water you did, the way your move your body, how much sleep you get and so much more.

The past year was certain to be a wake up call, we are no long longer spring chickens.. we have been to the ER more in the past year, then we have been in the 20 before it..  both of us have needed time in the ER  and its been a year since Dear Hubby went by ambulance twice in less then 24 hours.  So many medical appointments new doctors so many follow ups..  

I am honestly not sure what it was like Before Covid in the medical system, but we have been actively working within, and there have been some real challenges, like always having one of us sitting (and or walking the parking lot) waiting hours and hours at hospitals because you are not allowed in..   Odd hours, so many odd hours for tests..  can you get to the hospital for a 11pm cat scan..  well yes we can.. but honestly its odd that so many different levels are running 24 hours a day trying to deal with both the current and the backlogs that seem to grow with each wave.. 

I am glad that I was able to move over from my old clinic where I had a nurse under the care of a doctor who saw to my health needs, we always had a lang barrier, and at times really struggled to be able to talk and I rarely felt like I was heard.. but given that I wanted very limited things, it did not matter to much really.. however I much perfer the fact that hubby’s doctor and clinic took me on and I do feel like we are getting much better service.  

The difference in the clinics is amazing..  the old clinic, closed their doors and phone call only but send everything out to be done, will take weeks.. New clinic, a really good mix.. In person as needed, Phone calls when reasonable to do so, plus they have a number of services available in house.. As a added bonus, we moved to the drug store right next door (as the clinics are in two different towns, old one 20 min one direction) and new one 20 the other way from the farm..  and they have a great working relationship. 

Add in the fact that they are breaking ground on a small hospital in that town which will work with a larger hospital up the road by about a hour from the farm but the new clinic doctors will have full rights at it so in the longer term this was a really good move as we age 

Still there are so many peaple that have moved in the past 18 months and are struggling to find a family doctor, there are many that suddenly had freedom to move rural, heck to move provinces.. took advantage of the high housing prices in the cities to cash out and buy in the east coast..  look at our own local area, they say that the base cost of our little farm has doubled in value..  crazy.. but for some, the perfect time to sell and move further out.. without thinking about medical care. 

Even for those living right in the city’s close to it all.. that does not mean you are going to get good care at that moment. Our Health Care system is excellent for Life and Limb Care.. have a heart attack and you are going to get care now..  its excellent for routine already there care..  getting my inhalers, hubby getting his meds, working with our dental clinic, our eye clinic, my physio, and now foot clinic for hubby..    

The inbetween.. not so great.. those waiting lists are crazy, 12 to 30 months on a waiting list.. Ideally will get back to you in 6 months but it will most likely take a year plus..

But despite what everyone things in regards to canada, all our health care is not free.. 

Ideally you are smart enough and able to have Health Insurance.. because its very much needed!

Insurance helps pay 80 percent of the Dental,(with limits on what) 80 percent of eye care but limited on how often, if you need it more, then you pay out of pocket, my physio is out of pocket because I am picky on who I work with, if I was willing to drive 45 and work with the person they wanted who REALLY made it clear that If I just lost 100 pounds, I would be fine..

so I pay out of pocket to work with a clinic at the nearest town where I get treated with respect but pushed just a little as well..  The foot clinic is out of pocket as well.. at least until we need home care.. ha.. as if you can get home care..  We are to get homecare for one thing, but due to the shortage of nurses, its not what the Doctor asked for.. both the timing, no in home travel, we need to drive to them, and we are not getting the care required.. 

So that means we are buying all the gear needed and that we are using it ourselves, which is fine but its again all out of pocket.. what the heck do peaple without extra income do??  I swear its not just food banks that is needed, so its medical needs..  I finally get it when peaple talk about making a choice between rent and medications..  

One of hubbies meds is close to a thousand per renewal, its 80 percent covered.. and believe me, I am glad of it.. but that is just one.. and he is on a number of things.. if everything had to paid out of pocket it would be higher then what our monthly house payment was (which thankfully we no longer have, never been grateful ever to the farm paid off, well other then taxes.. they just keep on coming.. )

I expect that for some, they feel the warmth of the fire, others are getting closer and closer to the flames and sadly, I expect there are more and more that are getting burned.. 

So what do we do about it..  Eat well, sleep well, be more careful and thoughtful on foot wear, socks, keeping up on dental, keeping on eye care, stretching, walking, weights.. taking more care on farm work choices.. no more.. I can do it.. NO.. stop.. think it though.. ask for help.. work it different..  yes it can take longer but adding in extra few minutues, or waiting a hour or even a day in most cases (not all) can be done.. is its a pain.. of course it is! 

However if there is ever a time to stay out of the need for medical care for taking a risk, now is the time.. Stay safe out there.. do the little things, they add up.. stay the course and watch your mental health.. plant the flowers, pet the cat, walk the dog, watch the sunrise and the sunset, step out of the big picture often, and just as old fashioned.. live in the moment..  there are times we need to look lessons learned and times we need to plan with forward vision.. but please remember.. the here and now is a fleeting magical moment.. enjoy it.

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