Archive for December, 2008
Through the lens of grief
This is not the Christmas I expected, even a week ago. My stepbrother, Scott Phipps, died in a single-car accident Monday night, so I’m having to plan a trip to Pennsylvania for his funeral service and the family gathering that will follow. I don’t know how Rose will make it through the day. I know [...]
Trouble ahead
This is from a British news service, which dares to say more than our own US media. I think we’re in for an even bumpier ride, and this means we will have to work even harder to get access to health care for everyone. U.S. Recession Will Hurt Health Care Oxford Analytica, 12.23.08, 06:00 AM [...]
More evidence of our broken system
There’s a new study out showing African-Americans are far more likely to die of colon cancer than whites. Why? Because whites are more likely to have health insurance. They’re more likely to have jobs that offer coverage that includes colonoscopies. If Mike had had access to a colonoscopy, he’d still be alive. Instesad he is [...]
An unregulated system
Not only do we deny access to millions of Americans to our health care system, the ones who are fortunate enough to have an in might be relegated to failing hospitals, where errors occur at alarming rates. Check out this story from the NY Times about hospital oversight: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/08/business/08hospital.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp While other industrial nations have government [...]
Death from neglect
From the Associated Press: LOS ANGELES (AP) — A homeless woman who died after writhing in pain on a hospital floor for nearly an hour could have survived if she had received proper treatment, a county report concedes. The report, obtained by the Los Angeles Times when it was briefly and inadvertently made public in [...]
Patient Pals & Family Friends
Life o' Mike has a peer support program for people with one or more serious or chronic medical issues or disabilities.
We aim to reduce isolation and fear among people who have conditions, including psychiatric illness, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, mild dementia or other cognitive disorder or disability, thereby reducing depression and complications as people learn to improve self-management of their medical conditions.
Patient Pals help alleviate feelings of isolation and frustration. They can help people develop a list of questions to ask the doctor and then accompany the person to the doctor to make sure all the questions are answered, taking notes to be sure the person understands the doctor’s answers.
Our trained volunteers also accompany their “Pals” to art exhibits, movies and walks outdoors, meet for coffee, call to check in and more.
Our Pals have experienced weight loss, improvement in diabetes, HIV, psoriasis, depression and more, just because they have someone who cares about them. Some relationships develop into longer-term friendships; other Pals move on to more independent lives.
Family Friends are there to help caregivers and other family members grow into their new role.
We need volunteers, who are asked to donate a minimum of one hour a week. Training is free and includes information on active listening, ways to help and when to know more help is needed.
And of course, we need funding.
To learn more, call Leslie Boyd at 828-243-6712 or e-mail lifeomike@gmail.com.