37) Equipment - 23rd November

Having a good support system is essential when looking after critically ill people at home. I had never thought about this before 7 weeks ago.

How anyone without a close family or friends would manage without this I cannot imagine.

Sarah's Graduation - June 2013

I am now a care giver and it is one of the most rewarding things that I have ever done. It is a pleasure and a privilege to help someone who is terminally ill to be as comfortable as possible during the last stage of their life and there is nowhere else that I would rather be or prefer doing right now.

Here in Canada the support system is just fantastic. We have a Nurse Practitioner, a Doctor, a Pain Specialist, Home Care Nurses, Home Support Workers and an Occupational Therapist. All on call.

I have a weekly visit with the Nurse Practitioner, Marie Wetherby, who was our initial contact and absolutely key to the treatment and care that we are now receiving. She advises us on all sorts of matters including how to look after ourselves. Marie is invaluable for our support.

The Doctor, Lori Laughland, is Leigh-An's long term family doctor and as "Hospital Rights" which means that she can give orders to nurses in hospitals and in a Hospice if or when the time comes. She has Leigh-Ann's full medical history and, of course, knows her well.

Dr Bull looks after Leigh-Ann's pain medication. He is brilliant.

The Home Care Nurses, Danni and Jeanette are all on call all week and they will come to the house any time we need them. 

The Home Support team are available for up to 4 hours every day. They will prepare food, do laundry, bathe patients, wash hair and administer drugs.

Engagement party with Lucia, Dave & Yvon, 2012

The Occupational Therapist helps with health and safety in the home, advising on how best to physically move Leigh-Ann around and advises on equipment and how to use it.

All the equipment that we need is provided free of charge! We now have enough equipment to fill a warehouse.

A wheelchair, a walker, a bed pan, a commode, a bath transfer seat, a bath grab handle and a transfer belt. It's all new, high quality equipment and whilst we do not need it all now we have it just in case.