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This seems like very valuable advice. I am going to save it. -----Original Message----- From: Gail Vass <[log in to unmask]> To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]> Date: Friday, March 27, 1998 12:27 PM Subject: Sometimes a positive viewpoint can backfire >Hey folks, > >I had some thoughts I wanted to share...uh oh... > >In reference to applying for disability/assistance. > >I was asked to help a woman fill out the papers for SSDI who had been >rejected for SSDI but who obviously should have been accepted. > >As I looked over the papers she had filled out: I could see why. > >We began a new form and went down and answered each question >one at a time: > >When asked if could take care of herself and do "Activities of Daily >Living (ADL's)", she checked everything "YES". And she was right, she >could but she did not give herself credit for all the creative >solutions/aides/adjustments she had adapted to because of the disability >caused by her illness. > >I hope ya'll are following me...disability is often gradual and when we >adjust slowly and alter behavior to compensate for the change, we may >not give ourselves credit for the problem solving that is necessary to >do the things we used to do. > >Examples: > >1. Are you able to take your medication...she answered "YES". > >I said, "tell me what happens when you get a new prescription." >She said, "my sister takes it to the pharmacy, brings the meds to me, >opens up the bottle of meds (she did not have the hand strenth to open >the bottles), my sister comes once a week and prepares my daily doses of >meds in a little cup for each day of the week so that I take the right >ones. I can't keep them all straight." > >Are you able to take your medication...I put "NO"...and went on and >explained the above....she could not drive, she could not open the >bottles, she could not keep the meds straight, or keep up with when to >take them without a timer...but...she was able to take her meds. > > >2. Do you prepare and cook your own meals...she answered YES. > >I said, "tell me about meals and what foods you eat". > >She said, "My family got me a microwave oven to use because they felt >that with my memory problems, that I shouldn't use the oven/stove any >more. I buy frozen TV dinners now so that I won't have pots/pans to >carry or won't have to try to use a knife to cut vegtables or meat >because I just can't use my hands much any more. When my Mom visits she >makes up casserols for me and puts them in the freezer for when I want >something different." > >Do you prepare and cook your own meals...I put "NO"...and went on to >explain what was done to make eating/meals possible. > > >I think you get the picture...She bought only clothes with zippers or >ones that she could pull over her head because of the trouble she had >with buttons and dressing herself...she had documented that she had >dressed herself every day. I described how she couldn't dress herself in >her usual way and what changes were necessary. > >She didn't have trouble doing the laundry and caring for her two level >home because since she could not do steps any more, family brought her >bed, dresser, and anything else she needed and set her bedroom up in her >living room so she wouln't be on the steps any more. She had a >housekeeper come in twice a month and clean. So I wrote this all up. > >3. Did she enjoy her hobbies/leisure time..."YES". > >I asked her what always had been her favorite things were to do in her >free time. She said watches TV now, had to stop gardening and caring >for her roses because she was falling in her yard when walking on grass >surfaces and she couldn't sew any more. > >I put..."NO"...unable to do her hobies any more....and explaned what >changes had occurred. > >4. Did she do her own banking/ paying bills...she said "YES". > >I explored this with her and found that she had to switch to automatic >deposit and automatic utility withdrawals from her checking account >because she could not drive at times and because of her illness would >miss deadlines. > >I put ..."NO"...the bank does it for her, she was unable to. > >So yes, she could do the ADL's as far as she was concerned but from an >outsiders perspective from a standpoint of disability, as she was >functioning objectively, she could not do the ADL's anymore and was >truely disabled by her illness. > >She was pretty upset with me about what I was writing down. She said, >"You are making me look so disabled...I don't want to think of myself >that way. I'm not complaining, I am thankful for all that I can do. I'm >luckier than most people. I don't like to think of the way things used >to be, I just focus on now and try to keep positive." > >I told her the glass that is seen as half full, won't get the disability >awarded to it...it's the glass that is half empty that needs to and >should get the disability assistance. > >We sent the papers in...she was approved. > >Gail Vass