A social worker helped Fernanda find the skills she needs to cope with her situation.
Transcript
What the renal unit had which was a phenomenal source of support for me, and I don’t know if they still have it or not, was when shortly after dad, shortly after dad died and after mom went back on dialysis and I was going through a really tough time, really tough—I was trying to juggle the job, mom’s appointments, I didn’t know if she was going to, trying to deal with the grief of losing my dad, I don’t know if she was going to make it or not—and I was just really, really overwhelmed. And, her name was [name social worker], and she was a type of a social worker, and she would come and see me at my work for an hour. So, I’d take my lunch once a week and she would come and talk to me. And there were times there when I don’t how I would have done it, because she gave me the skills. By talking to me and by making suggestions and understanding. And whenever I had these feelings and I’d say “how can I be feeling this?” the words out of her mouth were always, “It’s normal. You’re okay.” When you don’t feel okay, when you don’t feel normal, she was a huge support for me and again, this was by the health region and I don’t know whether they offer it anymore or not—I don’t think they do. And she in turn, her husband got cancer and she became a caregiver, so it’s funny how the wheel sort of turns around.
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- Hospitals and facilities – FernandaFernanda found good support from the client advocacy office, when her mother was in great pain without any specific treatment for it.
- Challenging emotions and feelings – Fernanda (2)When Fernanda’s mother went into a facility, Fernanda felt like she was betraying and abandoning her.
- Challenging emotions and feelings – FernandaFernanda’s social worker was a big help: she assured her that her negative feelings were normal.
- Effects of care recipients’ behaviour – FernandaFernanda appreciates her mother’s endurance and attitude. Nonetheless, it is sometimes difficult when she relies mostly on Fernanda and refuses other help that is offered to her.
- Caring for yourself – FernandaFernanda learned that you need to have time for fun. Still, it can be hard to take time for herself.
- Impact on professional life and career – FernandaFernanda asks employers to put themselves in the caregivers’ shoes; it is really hard to balance care and work.
- Impact on health – FernandaA social worker helped Fernanda find the skills she needs to cope with her situation.
- Providing support – FernandaThe toughest thing that Fernanda did was tell the doctors that she wasn’t able to care for her mother anymore at home.
- Society and caregiving – FernandaFernanda thinks it would be wonderful if people knew more about what it means to be a caregiver.