So the first phone call today was from my caseworker for the county government nursing and housecleaning services I use. He thought it would be a nifty idea if his office collected the fee I pay to have my groceries delivered, and they would then add that to my monthly bill. It took some time and lots of patience to convince him that my grocery delivery service was a volunteer service for Seniors and has nothing to do with his government department.
The second call later in the day was from the very same caseworker. He was concerned that I was paying for the supplies used in the care and treatment of my legs, out of pocket. He offered to call Medicare for me and find out if they covered those supplies. I understand he might just be trying to be helpful, but it still took some time and lots of patience to make him understand that I had already done that when I first found out that I was responsible for the supplies and found they weren't covered.
He then suggested that I get prescriptions for the supplies so that my prescription insurance would pay for them. It took some time and lots of patience to convince him that I had already checked into that possibility and found it was just as cheap and less of a hassle for me to order supplies from Amazon than it was to go through a prescription. I can order in bulk and Amazon delivers to my door.
Sometimes I think that some government workers have the mistaken notion that their clients do not have more than a couple of functioning brain cells. I suppose I shouldn't be too hard on them as they are likely used to folks who work harder at getting free stuff than they would at a regular job. To run across someone who takes care of her own stuff is a shock to the system.
The last call was from Kevin at Windows who was terribly concerned about the state of my computer. Being out of time and patience, I informed Kevin that he was a fool if he thought I was going to fall for that old scam.
I wonder just how many fellows named Kevin there are in India.
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LOL - Better you than me! I have trouble enough just with the paperwork that being old requires.
ReplyDeleteGorges...The whole thing was so ridiculous, it just made me laugh. Sometimes it feels like they are trying to take over more and more of my life. What they haven't figured out yet is that I'm just too ornery to let them. :)
DeleteVicki
ReplyDeleteI guess they normally do not deal with people that will check into the requirements of what works and what doesn't. Have you received the automated phone call fromJanet on behalf of MicroSoft about the company closing down and you have a refund due? Whenever I get the Windows Service Tech calling about my computer being infected I say "Harry, start the call trace on this line. I've got another one!" They hang up right quick. Or I tell them I am running Linux. That then starts the "But Madam, Linux is unsafe."
REd
Red... I have found that whenever they come up with some other service they think I need and I decline, or when they make an offer like calling Medicare only to find I have already done that, they just don't quite know what to say. I have to wonder if there are so few people left who take responsibility for their own stuff. I hate that I am in a position where I need to turn to a government program for services that I truly need, but I do enjoy messing with their minds now and then. They really can not figure out why I am not depressed at my age with medical issues, or why I enjoy life and am not bored because I have so many things that hold my interest. I guess I am not the stereotypical old lady who sits and weeps while watching soap operas on tv and that sort of drives them nuts. (off my soapbox now) :)
DeleteNope. Janet at MicroSoft hasn't found me yet. I will be ready for her, thanks to you. :)
The Windows Tech never learns. I once spent a considerable amount of time pretending to be stupid and pretending to follow his instructions to the letter, after which I mentioned words like Lawyer and Attorney General, at which time he hung up on me! I'll have to try the Linux comeback next time. :)
Got a laugh out of reading this. Good for you.
DeleteTvanks, BW...We all need a good laugh now and then. Glad I could provide one for you. :)
DeleteAbout your caseworker. It's called personal responsibility and is in short supply these days. He was probably in shock that you had exerted effort on your behalf. Oh,my, I just brought out my own soap box!
ReplyDeleteTook MrDog in for a groom yesterday. His favorite groomer is still not taking large dogs so he went to the next best. They do an adequate job but not the little extras our Jen does. But he came home smelling sweet and looking pretty.
I also planted a Fall garden. I went by the garden center and they had some fall plants. I bought one 6 pack of fall lettuce, a larger container (yikes, $$$) of 4 rainbow chard and a small pot of flat leaf parsley. I've never tried intentionally planting a Fall garden. If anything grew into the winter, it was always hardy veggies from the summer.
Cheers, SJ
SJ...I think you are right about personal responsibility. So many expect others to do the work so they can just float along, worry free. When I filled out the forms and did the initial interview for these services, it was sort of fun to see the reaction of the one I was talking with. She was honestly surprised that I was, at my advanced age, fully capable of managing my own money, of being able to deal on a day to day basis with the normal problems that arise in life and had interests beyond the latest sit-com on TV. I imagine they expected to find someone wearing a drool bib who didn't know what year it is. Suppose I really shouldn't mess with them, but it is sort of fun sometimes.
DeleteYou need to drag that soapbox of yours out more often. I have found that a rant once in a while is good for the soul. :)
I'll bet Mr. Dog is happy to be all spiffy again. I had a little Shih Tzu once who would prance about after grooming like he was king of the world!!
How nice that you can have a fall garden. I have never lived in a climate warm enough to plant one. Let me know how it works out for you. I am green with envy. :)
Had to laugh out loud about your calls. President Reagan said it best....I’m from the government and I’m here to help.
ReplyDeleteSue...Those words scare me. Make me want to run, screaming, into the night.
DeleteYeah, sometimes when things go right on past ridiculous, all you can do is just laugh. :)
I really don't think it has anything to do with your ability or that some people expect others to help them. These people have jobs, and if there is nothing to do, they have to find something to do in order to justify their existence. Their desire to "help" me drives me nuts, too. Is 72 too old to be able to take care of my own affairs? If they ever thought so, they would be glad to help me into a home...lol.
ReplyDeleteLinda...I needed help. I asked for help and received it. I mail them a check every month. That should be enough. I suppose I should be happy that they are looking for ways to make my life easier, but mostly, I just want to be left alone. You are right about them likely being glad to help me into a home, which I am avoiding at all costs. Having someone tell me when to get up and when to eat and when to sleep is my idea of Hell!!
DeleteMy idea of Hell, too.
DeleteIt took 6 months for me to get my medical approved. The county worker was and still is useless. It was after I turned to Legal Aid for help that things started to roll. I received a call from Health Partners Care sometime or other. I spent 30 min being asked questions about my medical care. She was surprised that I had a Dr already. She asked about pain management. I told her I have it daily. So we finally wrapped that up.
ReplyDeleteA couple of days ago I get a call from someone else about PM. She went on and on. "Would you be interested to talk with someone/see someone" I said NO, silence on the line....her reply, Oh OK and hung up.
I guess these fools think we are all Obama Zombies, still
Rob...Yeah, they seem surprised if we take care of anything related to health issues instead of having them do it for us. I was lucky in that I had no trouble at all signing up for Medicare. And when I got to the place where I needed the help I have now, there were no problems with signing up for that, either. The only thing that bothers me some is that they want to sign me up for more of their services. Like you, I just decline.
Delete