Advocacy scheme supports older individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer

Advocate Bob Smith has made a bucket listing for 2014 with Brian and will support him achieve almost everything on it.

Brian Potts

I’m 67 years outdated and I utilized to take pleasure in operating a effective company in the motor trade. It was difficult function but exciting and I was not organizing to retire. Over the years I’ve loved foreign travel, sailing and had a really excellent top quality of life. My personal situations have transformed substantially, and I now reside alone in a sheltered flat and can feel lonely and depressed.

I have a supportive household and a tiny quantity of good pals but poor mobility has diminished my independence. My cancer diagnosis has been daily life altering. One of the largest blows has been shedding my driving licence.

My life now consists of watching the Television and searching out of the window of my flat. The minute someone says “cancer” I can not envision that anyone isn’t going to believe, “When am I going to die?”. I was diagnosed with myeloma in March two years ago and I imagined, “This is my last summer”. You wake up every day pondering about it.

I have mobility troubles and a great deal of ache as a result of the treatment. My medication prospects to side effects such as putting on a great deal of bodyweight. The Neighborhood Evaluation and Rehabilitation Team (Cart) helped me with mobility problems and suggested I may possibly like to locate out about advocacy help. I was introduced to Bob, my advocate, at residence and he has also visited me in hospital. Bob is straightforward to chat to and quite easygoing. We met up at my home and have also been out for coffee to the coast which is a place I utilized to go routinely. I would charge Bob as best of the selection.

Bob located out about the local myeloma help group and went along with me to one particular of their meetings. I am now in standard make contact with with them and attend their meetings when I can. He located out about the regional Shopmobility scooters and went with me to attempt them out. I even now require assistance to do my buying but it tends to make it a lot less difficult. Bob can aid to remind me who is concerned in my care. I’ve observed so a lot of individuals that I don’t constantly know who’s who. It really is good to share feelings with a person from outdoors of my household.

No a single should encounter the void that I did among obtaining exams and obtaining an appointment for the real diagnosis. I worried a whole lot for the duration of that time.

Bob Smith

I volunteer as Brian’s independent advocate. My role is to be there for him for the whole cancer journey, nevertheless extended that is, and to speak up for him and voice any considerations, worries, inquiries and options he may have. I have had cancer myself and comprehend the massive affect this has on people.

Brian is very intelligent, friendly and outgoing, with a wonderful sense of humour. He has been married twice, has two daughters and lives shut to his loved ones (which includes his ex-wife) who give him assistance in his day-to-day life with things like shopping, medication and companionship. He can no longer drive, is physically weak, and is in constant discomfort of various ranges. He can only walk a matter of yards with the aid of a strolling stick or frame. He lives alone in a small communal block of flats and when I first met him, he had very low self-esteem. Even though previously effectively-travelled and lively, he felt that he had number of long term prospects of a pleased existence. He found his situation very challenging to accept and suffered bouts of depression and typically grew to become upset when speaking about his predicament. The diagnosis of cancer was, and even now is, tough to bear. He has a number of good buddies but is no longer independent so can not socialise as significantly as he would like. He spends most of his time in his flat watching Tv.

Brian occasionally becomes puzzled and forgetful. He has, on occasion, taken the wrong medication or forgotten to consider them. This has led to him passing out and encountering hallucinations. I was present at one of these occasions.

I initially invested time with Brian to get to know him appropriately, his predicament now and how it used to be when he was fit and nicely to uncover out his emotions and views, his interests and hobbies, his aspirations and hang ups. I have met and spoken to members of Brian’s household to understand their viewpoint. Everyone understands the place I match in and the portion I play to assistance Brian. He often speaks openly and honestly to me, and we have a really excellent romantic relationship. He knows that I understand him, will support him wherever I can and that I will never impose my views on him. I listen to Brian and discover possibilities to conquer troubles or achieve items he wants to do. He loves to have a laugh. Brian occasionally has problems concentrating due to his drug regime and can be puzzled and forgetful. I have spoken to his nurses, medical doctors and consultants for his safety when he has taken incorrect medication. I’ve also phoned the council concerning a bus pass, arranged trials of motorised scooters and introduced him to the myeloma help group. What ever information Brian needs, I source and provide it.

Brian’s image of himself is now far much more optimistic. He smiles much more and we laugh and joke much more than we utilized to. He has started out to socialise far more and is keener to “increase his good deal” and not just accept his current circumstance. We have created a “bucket list” for 2014 and I will help him attain the factors on it and help him make a listing for 2015 as well. He ideas to check out the London boat present, go on a boat trip locally, go to France and have a social outing each and every week. Brian says he appears forward to our visits and truly values them. He didn’t frequently get in touch with his pals but now has an item on his bucket list to do this fortnightly.

When I met him at 1st he explained, “I am no longer any use to any individual. I will never ever have yet another connection with a woman.” Now he says he appears forward to me visiting and having talks with me. He feels a lot more positive about himself and he is satisfied with his 2014 bucket listing.

Brian Potts’s name has been changed

For much more data on becoming a educated advocate, go to Older individuals residing with cancer’s (Opaal) website.

Advocacy scheme supports older individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer