Monday 5 October 2015

YOUR LOVED ONE'S BOSS

Doctors, neurologists, mental health nurse, home care; are all there to serve you and your loved one.
Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Good family doctors usually know the bases of many diseases and are skilled at knowing when to refer you to specialists.

Depending on the age of the individual, it is just not good enough to have your loved one assessed by having them draw the hands on a clock, count backwards in three's starting at 100, remember the objects, etc..

Some 10/12 years ago when the neurologists called up and said; according to the symptoms he is showing, your husband has Lewy Body dementia. My response was silence, and his response was, " you more than likely have not heard of this dementia." And my response was, "no I have never heard of such."

I went immediately to the internet, and came up with a wealth of information. I passed some of this information along to our family  doctor who seemed almost as unfamiliar with the term as I was. I gave him some information I had copied from the Mayo Clinic and The LBDA and he was happy to take them.

The best advocate for your loved one is YOU. Your are the boss and the health care professionals are  a part of the team. Educate yourself. If you feel that there has not been a proper diagnoses than you need to advocate for more tests

While I highly respect the staff at the Extendicare from the laundry to the manager. I am the boss in terms of my husband's care and I don't say that disrespectfully and neither do I abuse my boundaries.

Arm yourself with knowledge for KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

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