Guest Author - Wollie Woehler

We are living in a world with other human beings around us. This is fantastic as no one lives on an island all by themselves. It is also true that the modern living has become so sophisticated and self-sufficient that we are not as close to one another than people were some decades ago.

Neuromuscular diseases nope some of us to occasionally depend on assistance from friends, family, spouses or children. The extent of assistance also differs according to our level of disability. It is easy to become over dependent on whoever lives with us as it is easier if someone can quickly do something which is more difficult for us than for them. If the remote of the TV is not in reach it seems easier to yell for someone in the next room to come and change the channel because they can reach the set easier and faster than I can. Nobody will complain if you ask them once in a while to change the channel but if it becomes a habit, the other person will become irritated and unwilling to run at your command.

On the other hand to have the attitude of “I rather die before I ask” and sit there with a long face and a body language full of self pity, you are not going to be popular either. If you need assistance, ask for it and let the other person know you appreciate their help. If you can do things for yourself, then do so and be proud of what you can still accomplish.

The golden rule is always to consider the other person whether you are the disabled person or the one who is assisting you, spouse, child or friend.

Where the care giver looks after someone who needs much more physical assistance, it is very important to make time for her self to enjoy a hobby, do some sport, or simply doing what you love doing. Often the care giver is so warn-out that it is no longer possible to attend to the patient’s needs properly. No matter how efficient and compassionate you are, you need to charge your batteries before they run completely dry.

In future articles we will talk about easing the job of the care giver by sharing tips and ways to make our task easier and sometimes more pleasant. Your feedback is most welcome so we can learn from one another. Just as there are difficult patients there are also difficult care givers. We want to find a win-win situation which will benefit everyone.