Coming full circle
Blog vol 3. 19 Coming full circle.
In 1991 I completed my one-year residency in Low Vision at the University of Waterloo. During the nineties, I would carry my mobile equipment into various long-term care homes and provide much-needed care to those who could not get out for an eye exam. I travelled to homes in Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Brantford, Kitchener, Cambridge, Waterloo, New Hamburg, Paris, and Simcoe. I also worked at the Low Vision Clinic at the CNIBs in Hamilton, Mississauga, and Brantford. It was very rewarding work.
Working out of my trunk and using my home office as a base, I could provide services to an often overlooked population. I can tell you that I did not grow rich financially but I definitely grew rich in experience and compassion.
I had hoped to also provide Low Vision Care to the people in the long-term care homes. Research showed high levels of visual impairment in these homes. No doubt it was there, and there were some people who could be really helped, but on the whole, these people had so many other concerns that visual impairment was level 6 on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (not very pressing). Somewhat discouraging for my young, idealistic self.
After my first year, I noticed close to a 30% attrition in some of the homes I visited, either from death or from transfer. That was also very depressing. It was also hard to deal with the high level of medication, especially in the area of antipsychotics among the residents in these facilities. I had a lot to learn.
There were highlights, meeting people who were born in the 1880s that flew with the Wright brothers or flew biplanes in the First World War. Or people that saw the advent of the telephone, or electricity, or cars and tractors. I even had one couple who had been married at the age of 20 and were celebrating their 80th year together. Remarkable. And such a pleasure.
The staff and workers in these homes were wonderful, caring, and dedicated, doing the best they could with the resources they had.
Even before optometrists in Ontario could prescribe medications for their patients, the needs in these homes required that I recommend antibiotics or anti-glaucoma medications with the house doctor signing off. Needless to say, a great learning experience both professionally and personally. I got to know a number of the residents on a personal level, and they were a great encouragement.
On a full-time basis, this work was physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding so I balanced the work with doing “normal” eye exams with Skinners Optical and an ophthalmologist in Dundas. I got my license to practice in Missouri, took the family to St. Louis to do my Masters, and then returned in 2002 to take on Dr. Watson’s practice in Burlington.
Twenty years later…
I provide lots of regular everyday eye care. I still do provide Low Vision Care and still do visit shut-ins in their homes. Today I embark on a new phase, a regularly scheduled clinic in a long-term care home. Our current optometry intern will be accompanying me. This is very satisfying and a good thing, a really good thing.
This Covid experience has reinforced what I have learned from all my years of practice, I am here to provide eye care and a human touch to the people of Ontario, in spite of hurdles and circumstances.
We will continue to give a helping hand to those who need it. As Gregory Porter so aptly sings, “There will be No Love Dying”.
Til next week,
the good doctor
