Internet Possibilities

Once you are on line, you can surf the world-wide web to look up recipes, ancestors, books, magazines, study courses—almost anything that interests you.

This is a simple, perhaps simplistic, introduction to the possibilities.

For an instance, you can look up your regional or district library where you can order books that it doesn’t have in stock. Usually they can find a copy and get it in for you.

For another instance, if you are one who likes to keep pace with world events (any category), you can read newspapers from around the world—on line. Some of these papers require you to register to get complete stories, and some of them charge for their services. Check them out.

If you are one who craves “human contact” and enjoys discussing things, there are “messaging” programmes, where you can have “real time” back and forth “e-mails” with your friend on the same programme. E-mail is the modern letter-writing technique.

There also is such a thing as “blogging,” That is, people keep “logs”, or a sort of diary of their thoughts and opinions, and put them on the world wide web (www., or www dot) plus their own web page site (called an URL.) for all to read. They're even being quoted on TV newscasts.

You can read other people’s blogs, and you can exchange opinions and views and news with others as well.

A word of caution here: Blogs are OPINIONS. Some of them are pretty wild. Pick and choose carefully.

To research a subject on the internet, rely on honest sites. Ask which medical sites, for example, are the best ones if you want information in that field. There are some good ones out there. Just don't get carried away with self-diagnosis and start demanding specific medications or treatments from your doctor. Simply use your new knowledge for an educated discussion with him or her.

On your e-mail there is access to “news groups” where you can find a group that discusses your particular special interest of interests. It's interactive, so you can give your two cents' worth.

Ask your grandchild. If you are one of those rare beings who doesn’t have a grandchild, check with your local library. If it doesn’t have computer introductions, they can refer you.

bryce the third

The Internet

Are you on the internet yet? If you are reading this online, chances are you already cruise the World Wide Web. If not, why not? Don’t you know it is fun? It is both entertaining and informative. It’s educational in many ways, including access to actual study courses.

If nobody has turned you onto this wonderful tool, let me recommend it. It is now well known that “old” people pick up on the “new” technology with alacrity.

If you have a grandson or a granddaughter who is computer literate, he or she can teach you the basics in no time.

Then you can e-mail them, and any friends and relations you have who are on the internet, and you’ll be in touch with the world.

In fact, from your “home page” you can read the news of the entire world.

Go ahead. Ask about it.

All you need is access to a computer and to be “hooked up” on line.

bryce the third

There Comes A Time

Comes a Time. . .

when curses like Arthritis begin to have their way with us. The pain in our wrists, for example, becomes too severe for us to lift the kettle to brew a cup of tea.

Comes a time when the curse of the cataract blocks our view on the world, and we can no longer thread a needle or see which screw head or drill bit to use.

Comes a time when we really should say, “Help!” But what to do?

Well, one thing we can do is call a companion care provider – such as ACCESS Independence Care, in the Vancouver-Fraser-Valley area. The friendly folks there will match your needs with one—or more—of their highly-trained and caring caregivers. "We begin with a complimentary in-depth assessment in your own home," says manager Jane Jacobs. “We discuss your lifestyle, medical conditions and the kind of assistance required for you to remain independent. I then match you up with the ideal caregiver.”

No need to be relegated to an “institution.” Be in your own familiar surroundings with all of your own things, and continue to be involved in living.

So, comes a time when you’ll never forget your medication, or to eat, or be alone for 12 solid hours.

Comes the time now to pick up the phone and call 604-853-3899 or (toll free) 877-850-7558.

Life With A Caregiver

So you make your call. The caregiving agency comes and you discuss the necessaries: Your daily routine; Your health and medication; Your safety factors around the house; Your emergency response system; Your nutritional issues; Your transportation needs; Your approval of Your caregiver; and, of course, Your cost questions.

Now you have your own personal caregiver. If your family’s fatigue factor has set in, they get a break, and so do you. If you’ve been living alone, you still do by choice but now you know company’s coming.

Now you and Caregiver take over. It’s a new life, but anything that new has to be taken as an adventure.

For a start, you can now count on companionship. That defeats the loneliness of the single senior and adds new life to the family dynamic. (After all, loneliness can kill, in the long run.) Now you have a good listener, and validation, something we all crave, even outside the family unit.
You and your caregiver talk food. You plan nutritional meals. What you can’t accomplish in the kitchen any more, your Caregiver can.

You need to get to your doctor’s appointment but have no transportation. Your Qualified Caregiver drives you there.

Caregiver drops in on schedule but you find that you’ve run out of sugar. “My fault,” you say, “I should have had it on my list last week when we went shopping.” No problem. Caregiver bundles you into her car, and you get a bonus excursion.

When you’re finished baking the cake, for which you needed the sugar—today’s project—and you’ve done the housekeeping together, Caregiver reminds you of your evening medications. She also reviews your prescription times.

Tomorrow when she comes, she will help you pay your bills. If you have a computer, she can show you how to do it on line; and probably help you learn how to write letters, do research on the World Wide Web. For example, if you want to review what you think the doctor said about your pituitary gland at your last examination, look it up on one of the very dependable medical web sites.

After you review your referral services, she will monitor your safety and help you as needed with your evening bath.

Now don’t you feel better? Aren’t you glad you called? There’s nothing like having some quality in your life is there?

And if you live between Burnaby and Hope and you don’t have such a Caring Angel, you haven’t called ACCESS Independence Care. After all - comes a time!

bryce the third
accessindependencecare@shaw.ca
www.accessindependencecare.com