Yes , you are totally correct. THere should be someone like that hospital
social worker  who would coordinate all those resources. But i think i am
looking at the same problem from the other end - which is  providing those
resources, and also saying that the sort of resources that are provided are
not enough. YOu are looking at practical things like meals on wheels - a
wonderful service -  i am looking for someone to help someone like me, and
give me the sort of advice that the collective body of this list gave me, when
i applied for ssi.  I am saying that there are a myriad of resources out
there, and that these should be tapped and correlated so that those in need
can benefit from them Ii mean, if i have to call an electrician to change a
lighitbulb for me  (actually that is one thing i can do m;yslef, unless i fall
off the ladder) but if i had to call in an electrician to do some small job
for me - he could sell me that the whole ;house needed; rewiring. It would be
very useful if there were a core of folks, willing and able to help out.

hilary blue


Leo Fuhr wrote:
>
> When my mom, nearly 82, was last in hospital for a blood clot, the hospital
> social services coordinator talked w/dad(85) and me about home health,
> meals on wheels, in home cleaning, etc. so dad and i could plan how it
> would work best for them when mom ret'd home which is not in the same city
> as any of we children.  This person is on staff at the hospital and said
> dad or i could call her anytime for information or referrals for mom who is
> not a pwp.  It was certainly alot more convenient to have her as a resource
> rather than looking up points of contact for the multiple services my
> parents needed.  She was what I'd call a general contractor for patient
> services in that situation.
>
> jeanette fuhr
>
> ----------
> From: Hilary Blue <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: PD:FOR REAL - YOUR INPUT
> Date: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 12:05 AM
>
> This is exactly (i think) what my friend ann and i are trying ot canvas for
> -
> from the other end. Surely, amongst 1 million pwps in this country ( a
> conservative estimate) and three caregivers, and their families, and their
> sisters and their cousins and their aunts, amd all rabbit's friends and
> relations,there must be doctors , lawyers, ex-SSI employees, contractors,
> plumbers, car mechanics -etc. etc.who could spearhead groups of volunteers
> to
> help other pwps when they need someone to talk out for them. Sort of
> specialist patient advocates . so that when a pwp is faced with a situation
> ,
> there is someone on call to give moral and knowledgeable support, to stand
> up
> for the rights of the pwp, from a hearing on ssi, to a car breaking down on
> the highway to being faced with foreclosure....
> hilary
>
> Leo Fuhr wrote:
> >
> > If I read and understood this post of Cari's, the question is "Would a
> > general contractor who explains services for patients or
> caregivers/family
> > of patients with Parkinson's have been helpful?"  This gen'l contractor
> > might be a not-for-profit org volunteer or employee who could guide pwp
> to
> > the services that might help pwp cope or better function with PD.
> >
> > My answer is YES, YES, YES!!!!!  But I don't know of any such contractor
> > and that is why I attend a support group, belong to PAN, NPF and
> PIENetwork
> > and if I could afford it would belong to some more PD orgs.
> etc........