Rowdyneko felt that it was not her responsibility to decide that her husband could not return home. She felt she had let him down when he was moved to a facility.
Transcript
So, this time round they are kind of doing this to me again. “Well, if you can’t look after him at home,” because he was in and out, in and out, in and out, “he’ll have to go somewhere.” I just said, “I am not wearing this. Send him home.” “We’ll send him back in an ambulance in 12 hours.” Because I did not want to be the one to make the decision. How does that work? I mean, how’s my husband going to feel when I’m saying—and how am I going feel—I’m saying I can’t look after him anymore. I’m not wearing that one. So finally, they got to—I guess all the doctors and whoever the specialists, and blablibla—got together and they decided that he could not come home. And I said, “Fine, I will accept that. But you guys, yeah, you’re making the decision. I’m not. I’m not the doctor.” I’m going to assess the guy and say he can’t come home? So, yeah. So that decision was made by the medical team.
Last week when I was—or 2 weeks ago when the decision was finally made that he had to go to long-term care—I mean, I was feeling, “Holy crow!” I was really feeling in some ways I’d let him down because I knew that’s not what he wanted to do. And I said that in an e-mail to his sister-in-law, […] my husband’s sister. And she, I guess the next day, was going to breakfast with them all, which I did not know. And she sent back this lovely e-mail from them all saying how much they appreciated what I’d done for him and how I’d looked after him, and how the kids had, and how we couldn’t possibly have done anymore for him, which made me feel good about that, because I wasn’t sure how they were going to respond to that.
More content
- Resources – RowdynekoRowdyneko told other patients about a free door-to-door transportation service to use instead of private ambulances.
- Providing support – RowdynekoAt times, Rowdyneko was asked to do medical tasks that she did not feel comfortable doing.
- Advice for friends and family – RowdynekoRowdyneko notices that people don’t call her or come over any more. She suggests that family and friends stay in contact.
- Financial impact 2 – RowdynekoRowdyneko is thankful that her husband’s medications are covered by the palliative pharmacare program.
- Financial impact – RowdynekoWithout extended medical coverage, Rowdyneko would have been under much more financial pressure.
- Uncovering how and why caregivers care – RowdynekoRowdyneko would love it if caregiving were fun, or brought her closer to her husband. Unfortunately, this is not the case for her.
- Travelling, holidays and respite – RowdynekoWhen Rowdyneko leaves for a cruise, her family tries not to disturb her.
- Support from family and friends – RowdynekoRowdyneko doesn't do the caregiving willingly, but her son surprises her every day with his unselfish support.
- Society and caregiving – RowdynekoRowdyneko has noticed that younger caregivers often have to stop working. There are not enough resources or support for them.
- Interaction with professionals – RowdynekoBeing expected to do things that you are unable to do is frustrating for Rowdyneko.