Life o’ Mike
World AIDS Day
Today we observe 30 years of battling HIV/AIDS, and we can look ahead with hope, although we still have a long way to go to erradicate the pandemic. A new study shows that three out of four Americans with HIV do not have it under control. That may be because our health care system is so [...]
Lipitor goes generic
As of tomorrow, my husband’s co-pay for his cholesterol-lowering medication, Lipitor, goes from $135 to $15, as long as he’s comfortable taking a generic, which is chemically identical to the name brand. But Pfizer, the maker of Lipitor, wants to keep him as a customer. It has offered him the same deal as a generic [...]
By the hour
I had an old, broken treadmill downstairs and it wasn’t worth fixing. We pondered what to do with it for several months before I finally decided to call in a junk hauler, 1-800-GOT-JUNK, and while I was at it, I gathered up a few other things — a broken chaise lounge, a broken vacuum cleaner [...]
Super failure for the “super committee”
So the super committee that was supposed to come up with a plan to reduce the defecit has admitted failure. That’s good news for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, at least in the short term. But once again, physicians and other health care service providers face cuts of 30 percent in the rates they receive from [...]
How popular is health reform?
A new Gallup poll shows that 50 perent of Americans believe the government has a responsibility to make sure Americans have access to health care. On the other hand, the same Gallup poll shows 61 percent of Americans still want the system in private hands, not run by the government. This month’s Kasiser Family Foundation [...]
What if the Supreme Court says no?
The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear the health reform law case. Arguments will come in March, and the decision will be rendered at the height of the 2012 election campaign. The justices will decide whether the mandate to buy insurance is Constitutional, and if not, whether the entire law is struck down or [...]
A post-election sigh of relief
Ohio voters’ overwhelming rejection of a union-busting law comes as a relief to anyone who’s worried about workers’ rights, pay and benefits. Voters rejected the far-right view that workers can be treated any way corporate bigwigs choose to treat them. Unions are important because they increase worker pay and safety on the job. As unions [...]
Celebrating life and Mike
Sunday’s dinner was the best yet, with about 100 people attending, fabulous food, terrific music and a huge variety of auction items. The list of thank-yous is long. Thanks to Carol Duin for setting up the auction items for display. It looked beautiful. Thanks to Ruben Orengo and Robert Anders for the music. It was [...]
Living in community
Wayne McWreath has been homeless for “a long, long time,” but he has found a place to belong among the Occupy Asheville movement, where is is cared for and treated with respect. Wayne McWreath choked back tears last night as he told the people of Occupy Asheville that the camp City Council had just voted [...]
It’s NOT your fault
“If you don’t have a job and you’re not rich, blame yourself.” (big audience applause) – Herman Cain Really? How about someone with severe depression who can’t function at work? Is that his fault? How about someone with a mild cognitive disability? How about someone from rural North Carolina whose family worked in the furniture [...]
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.