Caregiving sister is exhausted
Q) I live out of town and my sister is the primary caregiver for my mother and my brother who lives with Down Syndrome. Both of them live with her now and she has a family of her own and a job. I think it’s way too much without more help but nobody wants change.
Yes …it sounds like too much your sister to manage alone. Oftentimes, people are afraid of change and advice from outside parties. Who do they trust that you could talk to. You don’t mention any home care services but it seems like chatting to the family doctor about your sister’s health and well-being and ask for government supported home care might be a good place to start, if they’ll agree. Help with meals, laundry, shopping and cleaning might make a difference.
Travelling with my mother?
Q) We’d love to go on a holiday together but my husband is worried that his mother won’t travel well. She’s in her late ‘70’s and is a diabetic.
Best advices is to chat with your mothers doctor or diabetes educator so that you can be prepared and reduce any risk. You don’t mention timing or a destination but if you are crossing time zones, you should discuss your meal and insulin schedule with your doctor or diabetes educator. Diabetes Canada has some good advice regarding the transportation of supplies through security, what to pack, www.diabetes.ca/learn-about-diabetes/your-rights/air-travel.
Still jogging every morning
Q) Dad is 82 and still running every morning regardless of the weather. He’s very proud of himself. Recently he’s fallen twice. Once was quite a nasty fall that required a hospital visit and stitches? He’s undeterred but I’m afraid he’ll have another accident on the route. Any advice.
Amazing but better safe than sorry. A few suggestions: 1) Make sure Dad has a cell phone and ID with him in case he falls again and help is required onsite. 2) Do you know the route? Track when he leaves and when he is expected back. 3) Find someone to run with him. 4) Talk to the family doc about the falls and get a quick check up.
What’s an episodic disability?
Q) I have occasional seizures and migraines and take medication to help decrease their frequency. Is this considered a disability?
Episodic disabilities are life-long conditions, such as diabetes, Crohn’s disease, HIV, Cancer, and Multiple Sclerosis for which there is no cure and some days are better than others. People experience unpredictable periods of fluctuating good health and ill health times at which conditions arise. People with episodic disabilities face significant employment and income support challenges and often struggle with stress and insecurity about the future.
The questions in this issue of Caregiver Solutions were answered by the experts at the Canadian Abilities Foundation and Canada Cares (www.canadianabilities.org).
Photos: CanStock. iStock.
