Hiya,

I don't know where the other topic disappeared to, but I now have a meeting on Tues with manager of said smaller care home, for living in, not Respite Care this time.
I know nothing about it; they know nothing about me/my needs. The company who runs it is said to be very good, but I'm still nervous – you hear all sorts of things about care homes being bad. I've found it difficult to get that Panorama episode out of my mind.

I've also formed bonds with a lot of people in the usual one I go to – staff as well as residents -- & I'm sad that I'm not living there, which is something I never thought I'd say. I don't know how to tell them I won't be. There's one lady who has a talk-box & keeps writing "when are you coming back?" on it.

I'm thinking of making a sign like one of those canvasses to put on the wall in the Lodge (the part where I've stayed)

I am surprised I'm being funded for one in the first place because social workers think I'm a lot more able than I actually am & seem to think one carer popping in to check I'm OK will do (it won't).

My aunty's neighbour's daughter is disabled too although in a different way & her parents have been fighting the same battle for years. My outcome's no great surprise, because I've been prepared for it via various songs for years.

I found some chants on the Internet. Maddy Prior's stuff seems to help a lot too. I'm planning to go to the next Steeleye gig with a big group – mum, dad, various relatives, mates from usual care home, etc. I don't know whether we'll all get there, but I'm crossing my fingers that I will.