The support from Shoshana’s family-in-law was very poor, but she did receive great support from her sister.
Written testimony
The support from my husband’s side of the family, in my opinion, was very poor. My husband comes from a large family. There are eleven children in the family. There’s a couple of them that are great because they’ve had their own experiences with illnesses. The rest are oblivious to what this illness involves and that type of thing. His parents are both deceased. His father passed away when the illness, I think, was only a year or 2 old. So, his mother was elderly, but she was a caregiver because she had a mentally challenged child. So, she was wrapped up. Her support was concern for a son kind of thing. My family’s side was probably a little bit more understanding. My father had an illness and my mother had to deal with that for a long time. So, she was always concerned and she understood when I needed to get a break, get away kind of thing. She understood that. My sister is supportive, as she’ll invite me if it’s something that my husband wouldn’t go to because of heat or whatever. She will still invite me. She will offer it to me, and even though she and her husband could be going to this or whatever. It could be couples going to it, but she will still give me the option of saying “Yes, I want to come along” or “I don’t want to come along”, which I appreciate so much because, often, couples won’t invite us if they know that my husband can’t go.
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- Interaction with professionals -ShoshanaShoshana disagreed with the diagnosis her husbands’ physician had given him, but later found out why the doctor had been cautious about being straightforward.
- Interaction with professionals -ShoshanaShoshana disagreed with the diagnosis her husbands’ physician had given him, but later found out why the doctor had been cautious about being straightforward.
- Resources -ShoshanaShoshana has maintained friendships with two other women who attended the support group.
- Effects of care recipients’ behaviour -ShoshanaShoshana’s husband has some behavioural issues and can be critical of her in public.
- Support from family and friends -ShoshanaThe support from Shoshana’s family-in-law was very poor, but she did receive great support from her sister.
- Social impact and lifestyle changes -ShoshanaShoshana is nervous about pursuing new friendships because her husband’s temperament has changed with his condition. She is worried about how others will perceive him.
- Providing support -ShoshanaFor Shoshana, caregiving is more about being a memory bank and a daily calendar.
- Legal issues -ShoshanaAfter her husband was mentally incapacitated, Shoshana wondered who could make decisions about her healthcare, should the need arise.
- Impact on health -ShoshanaShoshana advises anybody with suicidal thoughts to find a source of help.
- Advice for friends and family -ShoshanaShoshana suggests that for social events, people should always invite both the caregiver and care recipient; let them decide whether or not they are able to participate.