Christiane feels isolated because it seems that her friends don’t want to visit anymore.
Transcript
Because people don’t want to come over, it’s not interesting! Him, he sleeps. And you, well, you have thing to do when he’s sleeps. You take advantage to do the things that you can’t do when you are—when he is awake. Because “I want this”, “I want that”, “come sit”, “I’m tired of seeing you move around”. So, friends distance themselves, so you don’t have a social life anymore. You don’t have a family life anymore. And you are isolated completely. So, that’s why the associations helped me, and it’s them too that informed me ofcertain rights that I had, that I didn’t know of.
If there isn’t anyone who comes to see him, at one point you become… Me, sometimes, I tell myself, “I have outings.” I tell myself, “My God, I have no more topics of conversation. I don’t see anybody. I don’t work anymore. I don’t go out.” I said, “What do I have to talk about?” You don’t have anything to talk about, so you feel belittled and put yourself down.
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- Legal issues -ChristianeGetting a mandate in case of incapacity costs a lot of money, which Christiane is unable to pay at this moment.
- The future and caregiving – ChristianeChristiane knows she needs a break; she worries about what will happen to her husband if she gets sick.
- Support from family and friends – ChristianeChristiane finds it difficult to ask friends for help, especially since she is not able to pay them.
- Social impact and lifestyle changes – ChristianeChristiane feels isolated because it seems that her friends don’t want to visit anymore.
- Resources – ChristianeThanks to arrangements made possible by her support group, Christiane is able to attend conferences and other activities organized by the caregivers group.
- Providing support – ChristianeOne weekend, Christiane had to move her husband in bed. And with her back problem, she wonders what might happen if she had to do it again.
- Navigating the system – ChristianeChristiane had to make many phone calls to arrange for things like a wheelchair and home care support.
- Interaction with professionals – ChristianeChristiane told her social worker about a solution she found herself.
- Hospitals and facilities (2) – ChristianeChristiane has to check-up regularly on how the facility is caring for her husband.
- Hospitals and facilities – ChristianeChristiane struggled with the decision to move her husband to a facility; her parents helped her make the decision.