Health Care Related

[la_samtyr]

As a lot of you know (or have probably guessed), I was a primary caregiver for my family for *years*. I just heard about this site on network tv this morning (I caught part of an interview) and I decided to check it out. More under the cut because not everyone is up to dealing with certain subjects. Myself, I just wish I had known about it sooner.


It deals with a lot of health care things, including terminal illnesses.

http://www.survivorshipatoz.org/

Comments

[numenora.livejournal.com]

It looks like a great site. I know what you are talking about. I took care of my aunt in her home after she suffered 3 strokes until her condition worsened; then we had to put her in a nursing home. She lived in that home for about 2 years until she developed colon cancer and died in 2005. That was so very hard because I had no training and didn't really know what to expect. Then in 2006, my mother was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. I was her main caregiver and she remained home. She was strong for a few months, but then deteriorated. Hospice came in, but they weren't with us a week before she died. I was determined to not send her to a home like my aunt. I loved both of them, but I was worn out emotionally and physically. I hope that no one else close to me ever get that ill. I don't think that I could handle it alone again. It's nice to know that that site could help someone out if the worst happens medically speaking. Thanks for sharing.

[samtyr.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know exactly what you mean! Sometimes you don't have a choice when they need specialised care though. Practically all of my family (grandma, dad and mom) actually *needed* that care and despite my ambivalence toward nursing facilities, there are times when it's the best option rather than home care by family. Don't get me wrong -- I loved them dearly. But there are too many times that the "at-home care" scenario is not necessarily the best option. Ok, shutting up now -- sorry.

[numenora.livejournal.com]

Oh no, don't apologize; you are right. My aunt went from someone who needed 2-3 people to lift her to one person lifting easily. She was way too undernourished and would have died sooner if she hadn't gone to a home. I was just having problems with my guilt which was irrational and the 'stigma' that is sometimes associated with bad homes. She cried when we told her that she would have to go and I still feel bad about that; but the one she went to was highly rated and they took good care of her--it was what she needed.

My mother's case was different because her doctor told us that her time was very limited (a week or two at the least and a month at the most at that point) and I wanted to keep her home since putting her in a home wouldn't have saved her life. My mom could still walk with a cane until the last hospital visit and my aunt was totally bed-ridden. Sometimes a nursing home is the only way to give them the care they need. Oftentimes the caregiver gets burned out and cannot give 24/7 care. I admire you and, despite my occasional guilt, I am pleased that I was there for both of them.