Sometimes Sarah, people have had experience with handicapped people
or have known a family with the problem and understand the effort
required. Then when people are carers, not for family obligation
but as a job they are impressed and feel they must acknowledge it.

After all we have seen that 80 year old woman and her 50 to 60
year old son in the shopping centre taking him to buy him some clothes.

Then someone without the family obligation is indeed remarkable.

Bloody hell Jardine, what sort of miserable comment is that.
Of course Sarah is being paid, she does have to live herself.

Anyone doing a job like that, it can only be for the love of the
people, can never be paid enough.

Hear, hear and wel said Bazz!

While was still able to work, took pride in always doing more than I was paid for!

And indeed, paid tax for over two decades at the top marginal rate and entered forced retirement on a healthy super, only to see my modest nest egg largely gobbled up by a legal system stringing my case out? [I believe I've paid my dues twice over in taxes and service to my country!]

To maximise their "earnings!?" What they couldn't squeeze out JKJ, the also legally expensive divorce did! $60.00 plus, plus an hour! Nice money if you can get it JKJ?

Yes home help costs the budget bottom line money! As does legal aid and Tax practice, tax lawyers and quite massive tax avoidance! Only more so!

And given it keeps vets and civilians alike out of vastly more expensive/profitable nursing homes! Saves considerable tax dollars!

Got ultra-profitable nursing home shares have we?

We need more dedicated and caring Sarahs, not low blow cheap shots neither she nor the disabled through no fault of their own, need or deserve?

What's your solution JKJ, ttbn? Something cheap and nasty, with the word final figuring prominently? Jawohl?
Alan B.

Jardine in her last few years in her home, at 95 my mother had help from one not for profit organisation. For $60 a week, a few years back, she received shower bath assistance, 3 times a week & some house work. This service was obviously heavily subsidised.

Another organisation ran a bus which picked up the oldies in our area, took them to town for some social contact at their clubhouse. They took them shopping or to the chemist, & assisted with all this in a completely free service. They also served lunch for a pretty nominal cost.

These services are a great boost to those housebound, who do not want to go to a nursing home. I believe the subsidies are much less than the cost of nursing homes, or institutions for those who can use them.

Sarah, I have the same conundrum when someone tells me they work in: real estate (particularly rental property folk), religion, politics, psychology or law.

I usually reply: " I'm sorry, how did that happen to you ?"

Most do not have an answer, so it avoids any further unpleasantness. Mumbling something indecipherable, tray of coffees and croissants in hand, off to their rat holes they go. It's a bit like when a non reflective person asks me in Smith Street Mall: ..." Ya got a coupla dollars cuz...?" I reply in Spanish: "No habla Espanol senor?" It saves being abused when you refuse to play their game of call and response.

A good friend was recently working at an unnamed not for profit organisation as part of his Work for the Dole obligations. Used a human donkey, subsequently injured and denied compensation due to the NFPO having the wrong type of public liability insurance. He now has to sue the federal entity that ordered him to attend the NFPO and is all but buggered for lifting anything heavier than a phone book.

Not all NFPO's are like this obviously, but in speaking to friends and acquaintances that have been obliged by mandatory orders from Human Services (Centrelink), it appears in recent times that many do not have, (as my friend experienced) the requisite level of insurance cover for those people working "voluntarily" for them.

What Herr Wolfensburger is hinting at is the good old practice of "othering"...to be sure to be sure. 40 years ago (and less) the little short Coaster buses full of special kids were shouted at and derided as their drivers pulled up behind the "normal" kids buses. Wogs, effnics and poofters also got the same treatment.

Today we celebrate diversity, disability, multiculturalism, tolerance, "difference(s)" and even homosexuality...but whether we identify with it or not, we are once again ordered to participate in it by those who deem it so from their lofty ivory towers.

Othering is today as alive and unwell as it was 40 years ago, just bubbling away under the surface.

Albie
That reminds me of a guy I knew who was an Uyghur interpreter, like from some place west of China. He was walking in the mall in Darwin when he was an accosted by an Aboriginal guy who said "Got a dollar mate?"

The Uyghur - who was a professional Uyghur-English interprer, cunningly said "Sorry, no speeka di Inglis."

The Aborigine said "What language do you speak?"

The Uyghur said "Uyghur".

And the Aborigine said *IN UYGHUR* "Have you got a dollar mate?"!

And the Uyghur cracked up, and said "Oh that is too good!" and gave him ten bucks.

Very professional beggar.

Bazz
The question is not whether looking after the needy is good. Do try to understand the discussion. And spare me the fake moral superiority. I have done more than my fair share of caring for the frail aged, thanks very much.

Sarah
Does anyone voluntarily pay for your services with their own money?

Also, I presume no-one pays you any more than your costs of getting to, and doing your work, is that correct? After all, more than that would be the dreaded profit, wouldn't it?