1 How Often Should Travellers Call Home
I just read a court case about an old lady who was left in pain when a doctor was not called for days. Her carer was a daughter-in-law with limited English. The husband was out of the country. Out of contact.
What amount of family contact is normal? Some people overseas would phone their wife or spouse every day. On business you might use the hotel phone. You might use a mobile phone. Others can keep in contact regularly for low or no cost through Skype or text. Some countries have difficult connections. You might have to allow an hour to make a simple three minute call. You might think it's worth it.
I would think a weekly call should be considered standard, to ensure everything and everyone is OK.
If you have a frail parent, I think that a phone call once a week should be the minimum.
Call the same time every week, so you know the other person is home waiting for the call and you don't forget.
Dear reader - what do you do? What would you do? What would you recommend?
2 Leave instructions for emergencies.
If you know it will be hard for somebody to contact you, leave them emergency contacts. At least three levels. No good telling a child to call mummy if mummy is at home and she's the one who has collapsed. You need to suggest quick nearby help, such as a neighbour. Also official help, such as the phone numbers and locations of doctors, hospitals, ambulance service, police, operator, Samaritans etc.
Why was the carer not left instructions as to what do to in an emergency?
You could take the emergency numbers of doctors and hospitals and neighbours under the phone - in English for callers such as relatives, friends, neighbours, and in the language of the carer if they don't speak English.
3 Carers must speak English or have translation available
Was the wife sent for English lessons? I think anybody with responsibility for other people, especially children or the elderly, should have instruction in English in order to be able to communicate in an emergency.
If the carer does not speak English, they should be supplied with help. For example, a dual language dictionary, the link to their embassy staffed by people who speak their language. Find a phrase book which includes a page on emergencies. Mark those pages and keep the book attached to the phone.
Or print out a list of emergency phrases.
Maybe somebody could produce a multi-language book of phrases to use and people to call.
Organisations such as the government, police, and Samaritans could sponsor it. It could be on sale commercially, sold in aid of charity, or distributed free.
When we had a small child, we left instructions for carers such as au pairs and babysitters. the same should apply to carers for the elderly, especially if the elderly person is not mobile or has dementia. The child or elderly person could fall ill and lose their ability to speak or reach help. So the carer must have a source of translation and way to contact a friendly person and an official outside the workplace.
I just read a court case about an old lady who was left in pain when a doctor was not called for days. Her carer was a daughter-in-law with limited English. The husband was out of the country. Out of contact.
What amount of family contact is normal? Some people overseas would phone their wife or spouse every day. On business you might use the hotel phone. You might use a mobile phone. Others can keep in contact regularly for low or no cost through Skype or text. Some countries have difficult connections. You might have to allow an hour to make a simple three minute call. You might think it's worth it.
I would think a weekly call should be considered standard, to ensure everything and everyone is OK.
If you have a frail parent, I think that a phone call once a week should be the minimum.
Call the same time every week, so you know the other person is home waiting for the call and you don't forget.
Dear reader - what do you do? What would you do? What would you recommend?
2 Leave instructions for emergencies.
If you know it will be hard for somebody to contact you, leave them emergency contacts. At least three levels. No good telling a child to call mummy if mummy is at home and she's the one who has collapsed. You need to suggest quick nearby help, such as a neighbour. Also official help, such as the phone numbers and locations of doctors, hospitals, ambulance service, police, operator, Samaritans etc.
Why was the carer not left instructions as to what do to in an emergency?
You could take the emergency numbers of doctors and hospitals and neighbours under the phone - in English for callers such as relatives, friends, neighbours, and in the language of the carer if they don't speak English.
3 Carers must speak English or have translation available
Was the wife sent for English lessons? I think anybody with responsibility for other people, especially children or the elderly, should have instruction in English in order to be able to communicate in an emergency.
If the carer does not speak English, they should be supplied with help. For example, a dual language dictionary, the link to their embassy staffed by people who speak their language. Find a phrase book which includes a page on emergencies. Mark those pages and keep the book attached to the phone.
Or print out a list of emergency phrases.
Maybe somebody could produce a multi-language book of phrases to use and people to call.
Organisations such as the government, police, and Samaritans could sponsor it. It could be on sale commercially, sold in aid of charity, or distributed free.
When we had a small child, we left instructions for carers such as au pairs and babysitters. the same should apply to carers for the elderly, especially if the elderly person is not mobile or has dementia. The child or elderly person could fall ill and lose their ability to speak or reach help. So the carer must have a source of translation and way to contact a friendly person and an official outside the workplace.
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