Table 3 Case Based Memo

This was quite an eye-opening interview in the sense that I learnt the importance of neighbourhood networks. The caregiver, the wife of a 79 year old man, was very welcoming. The poor condition of the house struck me as I sat down in their one room mud house with unplastered walls. They were very poor with no source of income and they have no children. I learnt the difficulties of being the lone caregiver of a demented patient. Her words “he is just like a child” summarise the amount of patience required to care for him. My question is how does she, an old woman in her early 60s manage it all alone?

From her accounts, they receive a complete package of care from the palliative care clinic. But I also learnt about the presence of a very supportive neighbour. I saw the neighbourhood network at play when she recounted how her neighbour helped her to locate her husband when he wandered away from home one morning. She said this neighbor offered his help for any emergency situation she may have.

I also got a glimpse of the spectrum of services offered by the palliative care clinic when she told me that volunteers fixed their leaking roof and that one of them sponsors their grocery shopping. The palliative care nurse cuts the patient’s nails, shaves him and cuts his hair. I also learnt that volunteers helped her to take care of her husband when he was hospitalized.

I was amazed at her calm and composed attitude; and how she did not appear to be worried or anxious about being alone. Is this because of the security she gets from her neighbourhood and the palliative care support she receives? I definitely learnt that neighbourhood support systems are vital for families like this, so I guess this is the informal neighbourhood network that people talk about. I sense that neighbourhoods are very important in supporting palliative care.