Hospital Day #4

So today marks day 4 for the number of days that I’ve been in the hospital due to a UTI and bacteria in my bloodstream. In these past 4 days the staff (i.e., doctors, nurses, and EMT’s) have been top notch. It has been pretty lonely without my usual scheduled nurses who would come to my apartment but I guess this is the best way to be able to advocate for myself. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to get my regularly scheduled nurses back to work and hopefully soon I’ll have some answers for my infections so that I can be out of the hospital before Christmas week starts on Monday.

According to available data, nearly all quadriplegics require some level of 24-hour care due to the nature of their disability, meaning the vast majority will need assistance throughout the day, although the specific needs and level of care can vary depending on the severity of their injury and individual circumstances:

Key points to consider: 

• High Dependency:Due to the loss of function in all four limbs, quadriplegia typically results in a high level of dependence on others for daily activities, including eating, bathing, dressing, and mobility, necessitating around-the-clock care. 
• Severity Variation:While most quadriplegics require significant assistance, the level of care needed can differ depending on the level of their spinal cord injury, with some individuals requiring more intensive support like ventilator management. 
• Care Options:Depending on individual needs, care can be provided by family members, home health aides, nursing facilities, or a combination of these options. 

Important factors influencing care needs: 

• Respiratory Function:Individuals with high-level quadriplegia may require a ventilator due to impaired breathing muscles, significantly increasing the level of necessary care. 
• Cognitive Ability:Cognitive function can be affected by a spinal cord injury, impacting a person's ability to manage their own care. 
• Medical Complications:Secondary health issues like pressure sores or urinary tract infections can further complicate care needs

Based on these stats every individual who is "medically" disabled and has been diagnosed by a medical provider should be considered eligible to receive 24-hour care and insurance should cover all of it. Obviously there’s going to be some people that will take advantage of this privilege but for those individuals including myself that will actually benefit from using it shouldn’t have to worry about getting our nursing coverage taken away because of technicalities.