Archive for April, 2010
A little good news about the NC budget …
State budgets across the country are still struggling and legislatures are looking for cuts in all departments. I spoke with NC Secretary Lanier Cansler of the Department of Health and Human Services this morning, and he talked about the hard choices. “We’re having to look more closely at everything,” he said. “There is abuse, and [...]
Times are tough; hit the most vulnerable
Once again, the state budget aims to cut programs, staff and funding to the Department of Health and Human Services, and raise fees for such things as copies of birth and death certificates — things all people have to have. When Mike died, everyone, even the cable company and the phone service provider, wanted an [...]
Who owns fast food?
According to the American Journal of Public Health, health insurance companies own $1.88 billion in stock in fast food companies. Although people can be responsible about limiting fast food, research has shown that fast-food is linked to obesity and cardiovascular disease, two leading causes of death, and contributes to the poor health of children. Fast food [...]
The new Campaign for Better Care
Access to health care for millions of Americans is a good thing, but it is just a start. Life o’ Mike is joining with organizations around North Carolina and the nation to help improve the quality of communications and care people receive when they get into care. The NC Justice Center’s Health Access Coalition, of [...]
Can they do that?
I’ve been in touch with my state senator’s office about how our insurance company delayed a critical medical test and nearly cost him his life. Sen. Nesbitt’s office got in touch with the state Department of Insurance to ask whether what Blue Cross/Blue Shield did was legal. Here was the department’s reply: ” Several attempts [...]
Just because I was stupid …
Watching a documentary on Woodstock last night, I heard adults my age talking about using pot and drinking at the event, and I wondered what they told their kids. I didn’t drink often when I was young — I started my glass of wine in the evening ritual about 20 years ago — but I [...]
Preventive measures
I love riding my bike here on the Georgia coast. It’s so flat I can ride forever, I think. I’ve been trying to master hills back home in the mountains, getting a little better as time goes by. But here, I can just go and go and go … Danny bought bikes for himself, Jennifer [...]
Remembering Mike’s dad
My boys’ father died this morning. He was 62. He survived Stage 3 colon cancer for 10 years, and died what seems to be a preventable death. Danny had a premonition. He said if he came up for Mike Day his father would die. He was in the hospital being treated for a colon [...]
It’s finally spring
Yesterday was beautiful for our Mike Day activities, and it was lovely again today, so instead of going into the office, I played in the garden. The kids left early today, so Rob and I had the day to ourselves. We took a walk at the NC Arboretum, which the kids rarely want to do [...]
Laughter and tears
It was nearly a perfect Mike Day. We got all the way up Route 151 to find the Blue Ridge Parkway closed. We couldn’t get to Black Balsam. So, we went to the edge of the Davidson River in Brevard and had our little toast to Mike there. It’s a trout stream next to a [...]
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.