Mike would appreciate an information service for caregivers.
Transcript
And in this province there isn’t a lot of… you can’t go to a book and say, “Okay, here’s a group of caregivers, and here’s a group of medical people who specialize; here’s this and here’s that.” It’s kind of a—maybe because I haven’t been looking—but it seems to be kind of slipshod and there’s really no area that you can go into and say, “Okay, I need help on caregiving. Where can I go?” I know you can call the VON or call the Red Cross, but maybe you don’t need them. Maybe you just need somebody to talk to to help guide you down the road. And where do you go from there? People that are older than us and having that, I feel sorry for them because a lot of them have trouble dealing with the phone and push 1, push 2, and push 3, and going through the codes. You just want to talk to somebody and get it over with, right? So myself, no, I haven’t had a lot of that, a lot of information through other than what I’ve picked up on my own.
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- Navigating the system – MikeAt some point you have to ruffle feathers. Mike went right back to the emergency department with his wife after she was discharged.
- Interaction with professionals – MikeMike describes what he appreciates about his interaction with the specialist.
- Health system issues – MikeMike would appreciate an information service for caregivers.
- Hospitals and facilities – MikeWhen Mike’s wife was discharged, he sent her straight back to the emergency as he felt she was too sick to come home.
- Trying to find the right balance – MikeIt is not easy for Mike to speak with his wife about his needs; he doesn’t want to make her feel guilty.
- Legal issues – MikeMike’s wife started a journal and wrote about every meeting and person she dealt with. The journal was very useful later when the insurance company came to assess her situation.
- Personal growth and transformation – MikeWhen things aren’t being done correctly, Mike says you have the right to stand up and say “No, we have to find another way.”
- Support from family and friends – MikeEven though Mike’s wife has a strong family, they did not remain in contact when Judy was diagnosed with MS.
- What is it like to be a caregiver? – MikeMike is always looking to see what is going on around him to keep his wife safe.