GEEZ, how frustrating, Kerri! I hear you. Transactional, piece-meal short-term action (to meet targets) has overtaken health-CARE, whole-body medicine, and quality of life for long-term health.
The burden of informing medics of the 'full picture' falls on the caregiver - our recent hospital admission is a case-in-point where the person who is ill is TOO ill to provide a comprehensive roll call of priority health conditions. If WE don't communicate key points, I can imagine the nightmare scenarios that would materialise.
The trouble is we need to engage constructively with all the healthcare professionals to get the treatment and medication. It feels like we are having to work hard to move the 90% of the distance to meet a medic where they are, AND try to connect without antagonising the connection/person. I.e. we are in a more 'beholden' position with little negotiation power or status to influence anyone.
Oh my God. I so relate to that doctor's office visit. I remember a similar event where I just sat in the parking lot after the visit thinking, What just happened? This trusted primary care doctor just blew us off! Helpless FOR SURE. Also invisible, ignored, and, worst of all, just expected to endure.
Sometimes, in conversations with friends and family, I have to stop myself from tirades about the quality of care our dementia patients get. Particularly when compared to the wrap-around support given to cancer patients, which is where I spent most of my nursing career. The gap between what I will call attentive care between those two populations is obscene.
GEEZ, how frustrating, Kerri! I hear you. Transactional, piece-meal short-term action (to meet targets) has overtaken health-CARE, whole-body medicine, and quality of life for long-term health.
The burden of informing medics of the 'full picture' falls on the caregiver - our recent hospital admission is a case-in-point where the person who is ill is TOO ill to provide a comprehensive roll call of priority health conditions. If WE don't communicate key points, I can imagine the nightmare scenarios that would materialise.
The trouble is we need to engage constructively with all the healthcare professionals to get the treatment and medication. It feels like we are having to work hard to move the 90% of the distance to meet a medic where they are, AND try to connect without antagonising the connection/person. I.e. we are in a more 'beholden' position with little negotiation power or status to influence anyone.
Sending a hug of empathy and understanding.
Oh my God. I so relate to that doctor's office visit. I remember a similar event where I just sat in the parking lot after the visit thinking, What just happened? This trusted primary care doctor just blew us off! Helpless FOR SURE. Also invisible, ignored, and, worst of all, just expected to endure.
Sometimes, in conversations with friends and family, I have to stop myself from tirades about the quality of care our dementia patients get. Particularly when compared to the wrap-around support given to cancer patients, which is where I spent most of my nursing career. The gap between what I will call attentive care between those two populations is obscene.
Thank you, Kerri, for this eye-opening article!!