Elder Care by the Disabled

Hello all,

I want to bring up a topic that is at times uncomfortable to talk about for me. Maybe others might feel the same way?

I think elder care in the US is spiraling downward at a drastic rate from my perception. Maybe it is the same in other countries; I would love to hear your opinions and thoughts.

Being disabled or having other challenges might add complexity or other difficulties to an already complicated situation when trying to be the caregiver. Working and trying to take care of other family members adds even more stress when trying to care for your elderly family members or friends. I also think that being a caretaker with certain types of disabilities adds another level of challenges to overcome, depending on the person doing the care giving. In my case I have only been completely blind a few years and I do not know how to do everything yet the best I can as a blind person. This is why I am looking for help, conversation, and opinions to help us all.

Some of my observations and challenges
• Since I cannot look into the eyes of the person being blind I am caring for too see how alert the person might be, I might misinterpret understanding. If that person is deaf it adds to the complexity of trying to evaluate the situation.

• When the patient might be in a hospital and have many tubes and wires connected to them I am afraid I will unplug something if I get too close to patient since I cannot see being blind what is attached to the patient or where.

• If you have a disability which limits your ability to get around this might prevent you from being with the patient or person you are trying to give care to as much as you or the person you are caring for would like

• When faced with difficult decisions it is hard to pick what will be best for the elderly person to allow them to live on with the quality of life they would want; if they could choose for themselves. At times we can endure surgeries or drastic procedures that might prolong life; but may substantially compromise the person’s quality and awareness of life.

• If you are fortunate enough to have medical insurance there are even challenges with this. Insurance companies in most cases try to do just the bare minimum. They will try to get you out of hospital before you are ready. They will allow you the bare minimum of physical and occupational rehabilitation.

•While in hospital if you are not alert and checking in with doctors and others the patient might not get the best of care. These days it takes a person doing the advocating on what is best for the patient which takes a lot of time, energy and knowledge.

•Having a job and other family members at home might also impede on how much and when you can give care.

•If the spouse of the person you are giving care to is elderly and might need extra help on top of the person you are already caring for could add to the challenges.

Not all people around the world have medical insurance, or even access to doctors or hospitals to go to. Some do not even have homes or places to live. Every person’s situation is unique and different in the way we care for our elderly. Even different cultures and religious beliefs might play a part in the way we care for our elderly.

As you can see from my observations care giving can be stressful and difficult. Having a disability and being the caregiver might add extra challenges. Do you have any experience to share with us to help? Any advice or organizations that can help us? Any people in other countries who can share what it is like in your country being a caregiver with a disability, or not.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Comments

[LeeAnn Nakagawa]

Bill,

I would like to offer a resource for elder care law. I went to high school with James Berge, and he is in the West San Jose area on Winchester Boulevard. He is a lawyer, but also specializes in elder care law, for those in need of one.