Lisa Tufts Fields (adult)

Lisa Tufts, also known as Lisa Fields, talks about her recent move to a small town and the challenges she faced transitioning. She struggled to find help with medical care, finding a job, and securing housing. She ended up staying in a shelter and received assistance from Catholic Charities. Lisa discusses the slower pace of life and the difficulty adjusting to it. She also talks about the lack of job opportunities and the issue of people not wanting to work. Lisa highlights the importance of seeking help and the challenges she faced with healthcare providers. She emphasizes the need for change in the community, including reducing crime rates and improving access to quality food. Overall, Lisa shares her personal experiences and the need for support and understanding in difficult situations. So, so, so, we're here with my sister, Lisa Tufts, also known as Lisa Fields. Good morning, good morning. Yes, so we're here to talk about it. Let's talk about it. Let's talk about it. Okay, let's do that. So, you just moved here recently. Yeah, December I got here from Texas. Okay, so how was that transition day? It wasn't easy. Transition is hard. Yeah, trying to find a job. But you went from a big city to a small town. To a small town, yeah. I like it better than the big city, but it was hard transitioning because it was hard to find help, like with medical and, you know, finding a doctor and good insurance and stuff. Yeah. Finding a job. They take you through so much. Yeah. But, I mean. But it's working out. It's working out. You know. Slowly but surely. Slowly but surely. You know. So you ended up having to go to a shelter. Yeah. To get some actual help. Yeah. They say it was the easiest way, or the quickest way. The quickest way. To get you into a place. Yeah. To stay in a place. I have anxiety and depression, so I was able to get help as far as that goes, too. Help with medication and the therapy. And all that just, like, brought me up the list, you know, and got me in faster. They are helping me with housing. Finding housing. They offered services from Catholic Charities that if I found my own place on my own. I just started working. I got a job Monday. Okay. Congratulations. So, now that I'm working, they said they can put me on with Catholic Charities. Catholic Charities will pay my first month's rent and my deposit if I find my own place. So, I said, yeah, hit it. Come on. Come on. Because the public housing, I'm not so sure. You know, I'm grateful for anything I get. But I think I'll be more comfortable, you know, separate from that. So, the slower pace, see, how has that been for you? It's... Everything in the area. I'm not so anxious. But you're used to that go, go, go. Yeah. And now that you have to slow down, it's kind of hard to adjust. But I'm getting there. Yeah. I'm getting there. Sometimes that's what we need, though, right? Life for life to slow down. Yeah. So, we can't... I appreciate everything. Yeah. And to be able to find out who we are, you know. But sometimes we don't even realize. We just only go, go, go until we do have to slow down. Right. Yeah. I was thinking about that yesterday. Like, I wanted to work so bad. Now I got a job. Now all these things are coming at me, like, as far as work. And one of my clients, they need help because there's not enough home health aid. That's an issue. Yeah. And nurses. They need nurses, too. But I wanted to help them, you know. And I thought about it, like, wait a minute. Because it's been years since, like, the Twin Towers fell. I haven't been off on a weekend. And for me to go back working every day when that was part of my problem to begin with, I said, I don't think I'm going to do it because I don't want to get overwhelmed again. Yeah. You know, and then I started focusing on them and forget about myself again and get lost in them and their troubles. Yeah. And, you know, I don't mind helping. And you can't do that because that's your heart. Mm-hmm. You know. I said, I think I'm going to decline. I think I'm going to decline. So now she's trying to play on my sympathy now. She'll sit there and cry for, like, two seconds. And then, you know, and I'm like, I'm not going to fall for it. I'm not going to fall for it. And she was like, she had some vitamins. And I was like, ooh, I could use that because, you know, with my health and my deficiencies and everything. But I wasn't asking for it. I just said, thinking, like, I could go buy some of my own. And she was like, well, you could have it. I said, for real? She was like, yeah. She's like, I just want $5.25 and if you're feeling generous. And she was like, and you could, like, she gave, I could get her something else. And I just started laughing. I said, no, I'm not falling for that either. But, you know. People will play on your heart. So you have to be careful with that. And they're coming to a new city, you know. You have to be mindful. It's not just that. They don't get the help that they need. That too. She has an aide that works in the morning that don't do anything. So when I get there, I have to do everything. She don't do nothing. So that's another issue here is where the people don't want to work. They shut down these restaurants. These are elderly people. These are disabled people. People don't want to work. They don't want to do the work. They want the money but don't want to get. Yeah, so what happens when you get older disabled? But these are young people we talk about mostly that get into this field because they don't have to really do things. And that's the way they're thinking, like, oh, I can just go and sit, you know what I'm saying, to get paid. Yeah, that's what she does. She just sits. She says she tries hard not to speak to her because she snaps at her every time she says something. She says, she discourages me. Instead of encouraging, she discourages me. So she's not happy with her. She's not happy with her services. But she's afraid to say anything because she's afraid they won't have nobody else to replace her. So I got a question for you. So you come in here and stand the difference. Like what are some of those differences that you have to adjust to? The differences to adjust is by what, living? Yes, coming from, first of all, you went to, you moved around. You didn't just come from Texas. You moved from Cleveland to Atlanta to Texas and so forth. So that was a lot of adjusting. The only thing I would say is if you don't have a job, you'll be lost. Because like Texas, Texas is not interested in helping nobody from out of state. And it was hard for you to find a job when you got here. Like that was for a long time. I started applying in Texas. And I wasn't hearing anything. And I figured when I get here, I should hear something. Save-a-lot turned me down. Listen, that's the part that I'm confused about. They say people don't want to work. But the people that apply for the job, they're not getting the job. And the thing about it, you check my record, I always had a job. I always had one. It wasn't like, you know, a little bit here, a little bit there. I held down one job for 14 years. So, I mean, I don't understand why they turned me down. It wasn't about your work history at all. It had nothing to do with that. But it's weird because I hear that a lot about how people can't find a job. But it's all these jobs so-called out here. And there ain't nobody. They say don't nobody want to work. But you're not hiring the people that apply. But that's an issue that I really am still stumped by. They're closing down restaurants because they're saying people don't want to work. But are you hiring the people that are trying to work? You know, the job insurance. Even with the insurance they gave, I got approved for the medical with the county. With Trumbull County? Uh-huh. And nobody took that insurance because nobody heard of it. Yeah, that was weird also. Like they gave you a new insurance that nobody accepted. Yeah, and nobody accepted it. And I'm like, what am I supposed to do? And now you're getting billed. I was forced to go and look. I was billed. I was getting billed. I was forced to go on my own and look for another insurance that, you know, everybody was familiar with so I could get the services I needed. What was the name of that insurance? That insurance is called, oh, geez. But you had the marketplace before that. In Texas, yeah. In Texas. And that wasn't really a help. It wasn't either. Because, you know, I still couldn't afford my part to pay. You know, I didn't have to pay the deductible because I worked so, you know, I got those credits. But as far as like co-pays and stuff like that, I didn't have the money for that or for my medication. And it just got really sick in Texas. What's that called? Obamacare? That's the marketplace. That's the marketplace? Yeah, I think that's the marketplace. Okay, so ours is called something different. I believe it's marketplace up here too. Is it? Uh-huh. Wow, okay. I've heard someone up here say that, I don't know. Not really? Probably not really. I heard someone, I was in the shelter when she said she had marketplace and she was complaining about the help she was getting too. How hard it is, you know, to pay your way through. Yeah. Because, number one, you just come in here. You really don't know people. And then the people that you do know, you know, it's a small circle. So, you're going to need help. And I'm just glad that they are stepping up in defense. They are, you know. Well, the shelter, I believe they're doing that to hurry up and get you out of there. But it's a lot of ladies there that can't move because they don't have their life together, you know. Like, they set you up with therapy. They set you up with counseling, like family counseling, money management, things of that nature. But I guess they got paid up, you know, so to speak. Like, because they can't move, they can't leave because they can't get a place. Because they said if you have, like, outstanding balances, like with your utilities and stuff, you can't leave until you get that settled. But if they're not working, how are they supposed to do that? A lot of people on there are on disability and they can only do so much. They tell you to call 2-1-1. Right. They tell you to call 2-1-1. And it might be help and then it might not. A lot of times when I've had to call 2-1-1, it's like different agencies that help in crisis situations and your time of need. And a lot of times the money is already gone because there's so many people that's in need. So, or, and, or, because I've heard this a lot, they won't even tell you that they do have money because they're helping the people that they want to help. That they want to help. They pick and choose at times who they want to help certain things. Right. But, um, which makes it harder. It makes it harder. It makes it, um, the process takes longer. Because the money that is there, they're taking it and they're abusing it. Mm-hmm. And, you know. The, um, the shelter is nice. You know, you have a roof over your head. You have a screen. And it's a brand new building. Yeah. But the food. But the food. Where are they feeding you? They're feeding, like, there's a lot of chicken. Like from Chick-fil-A. Like stuff that's donated. And you can tell it's old. Oh, my. You can tell it's old and they give you really small portions because there's so many people in there. So many people. Yeah. And there's even more people there now in the past couple days that a lot of people come in. It's like, it's so crazy how, you know, how there's so many people out there just in dire need of help. Mental health issues. Mental health. Mental health. It's real. Yeah. It's crazy. Yeah. And, you know, um, thank God. Thank God. Thank God that I have an outlet. Yeah. That I have a place to go that I can just leave that state. Yeah. And try to, like, you know, because when I first got there, boy, my anxiety, you know, it was there and then it wasn't there. So many different people with so many different issues and the mental illness is just like, oh, my God. And it's already what you're dealing with, too. Yeah. So it just adds on, too. But it's a good thing that they offer the services. Do they take advantage of it? Do you take advantage of their services? I, um, well, I had my own before I went in there. So, um, which was the same services, Compass or, um, I forgot the other one. But, um, I don't know if there's, I know there's a lot of people taking. Coleman? Coleman. I know there's a lot of people taking medications, but I don't know who was. Yeah. And we just pray for them, for their strength, for their, to God, for God to renew their mind and their strength and to show him who he is. Yeah. And, you know, I had a talk with, um, a young lady, one of my roommates. And, um, she was telling me how she started praying and everything. And I sat there for a while talking to her. And we had a really good conversation. And I, you know, I think I, um, made her think. Yeah. But what can we do? What can we do as a people if money was never an issue, if it was not an issue now? Um, to, to create some change, to bring hope back to the people. Because that's all it is. They didn't want hope. You said it before. Speak up. Voice what you need. Yeah, we, it's time. Voice what you need. And, and, and, and get rid of the things that's not doing us any good. That's in the way of the things that we do need. Yeah. What are some of the things that the community needs as a whole? Crime. The, you know, the crime rate needs to come down. I was watching the news yesterday, and I just had to walk away. I couldn't believe, like, so much evil going on. So much evil. We are in a, in a, it's just a different time. It's a different time. And, but in it, that's why we have to be vigilant. Yeah. We, we, that's why we trust God. That's why we go to God. That's why we give Him, give it all over to Him. Absolutely. You have to. You don't have a choice. You don't have no choice. Well, we got a choice, but it's what we choosing. That's, that's the problem. Where are we choosing? You know, what are we choosing? Well, being what I've been through, I don't have a choice. I need to go to Him. I have to go to Him. Yeah. There's a lot of times where I forget. Come on. You know what? I'm not even going to get off into that. It's a whole another, um, different story. But the health, um, went to the hospital. I, um, was, had a lot of pain. And, um, they treated me like a, like a drug addict. Um. They, you know why they do that. No. Because they, when people, it's a lot of that going on in our community. So they just assume that people faking. They heard about them. Yeah. People who really hurt themselves. I told them that. I said, I don't appreciate y'all treating me like a drug addict. You know. Yeah. I just need help. I need your help. I came here to you guys to help me. I need your help. You know. And that don't feel good. Because what they, how they, they just left you. They would just leave you. Yeah. They left me there. The doctor, um. Every time. Like two minutes. And then I stayed there for hours and never saw anyone. They just left me there. Every single time. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And when I told them how they hurt my feelings, they just, like, um, uh, brush it aside. Like, you know. Like, I don't care. Like, that's your problem. Yeah. But. Made me feel like I didn't want to go back there anymore. Make you not want to ask for help. Mm-hmm. You know. Yeah. But they say, because it's a shortage. They always, they say it's a shortage. But what do you think? A shortage has nothing to do with how you treat people. That's what they blame you on. They're, they're wore out. They are wore out. But what you, what you told me about how you would just see them all standing around the desk. Yeah. I, I had to actually get up and, um, go to the desk, like, you know, just send me home. Like, just, just give me my papers and let me go. Because I'm not staying here no more. I was, I was there all night. And I was at both hospitals. Yeah. They have two hospitals. Yeah. And they both treat you the same. Yeah. You know. But they, they leave you to work. What she said was, she walked past the room. She said, I'm getting your papers together. She didn't even come in the room. She just walked past. I'm getting your papers together now. And then I haven't seen them. But, I mean, nobody came back and told me what they found. Nothing, how they was going to go about treatment or nothing. And you're sending me on my way just like that. Hold up now. Hold up. You know, just give me my papers and let me go. Because I'm not going to do that. I mean, you do have a lot of health issues. Yeah. And for them to treat you like that. It's sad. It's sad. So just imagine how many people experience that very thing. Because I know, for when I went to the hospital, I would go to the hospital. Like, it makes me not want to go. I would sit and suffer instead of going. Because of how they treat you. I've experienced that. They mixing up my urine samples with drug addicts. And now it's coming back and saying that I'm on heroin. Like, wow. Yeah. Yeah. It would fix. But that happens. It happens. And it's human error. But, you know, this is the hospital. You're turning people blind. You can't do that. Yeah. You know. And what if something serious was going on with you and they just left you there? Yep. They just tried to cover it up. You know. But that was dangerous in itself. That was dangerous. That was dangerous in itself. But, yeah, that's what's going on now. This is really post-COVID. It was already happening. But it got worse after COVID hit. You know. But, yeah. So, yeah, we came to talk about it today. So, this has been an amazing conversation. So, thank you for coming to speak with me. Thank you for having me. Yeah. And I hope I can make a difference. Okay. Because it's just crazy out there. Even the grocery stores. Yeah. Like all that old meat they're selling. You have to be mindful. You have to look at these dates on these packages. Yeah, because. I done bought lunch meat and checked the date and I had to throw it out because I was afraid to eat it. Like, come on. Y'all not checking the stuff? They don't care. That's been an issue. That's been an issue. Like the grocery stores, they're selling anything. And then they're putting up dollar stores everywhere. But we need grocery stores. That sell good food. You know one thing I always wonder, where are the octopuses at that they're getting the sales from? I always wondered that. There's so much fake food. So much of that. I don't know. You just got to. And they make it impossible to grow your own food because they force you to buy what they sell. The prices. Like, you go in the store, you buy one meal, you're spending a hundred plus dollars. Like, the inflation is real. It's ridiculous. It's unnecessary. Mom, how are you doing? How are you doing? You know, so what do you, do you have anything that you can say that we can do when it comes to? Mom, how are you doing? This grocery store situation. What they're serving us. Or what we need to do as a people to change it. Or if you see anything that we could do to make a difference. Make people, somehow make people pay attention. How are you doing? Growing your own food. Like you said, they make it hard. How are you doing? So yeah. It's been, it's been real. And we are here with Lisa Tuck. Again, aka Lisa Fields. My sister. And have a blessed day. Have a blessed day. Thank you for having me. For sure. Amen. Amen.