Topic Tuesday // Feeling excluded in a loved ones treatment journey // Tues 21 Aug, 7pm AEDT

As an older person, I grew up in times that frowned on challenging anyone in the health professions, and naturally looked up to doctors, nurses and therapists as experts in every way. A consequence of this is that even now I can be intimidated. However, thankfully times have changed.

I now am aware that there’s an expectation that services move away from an ‘individual treatment model’, where the health professional focuses almost completely on the consumer and has little if anything to do with anyone in a caring role.

The newer model is often called a ‘triangle of care’, because the consumer, professional and carer all work together as partners.

Qu: have you noticed a shift towards including carers and partners? Can you give an example?

Or is your experience that you are still left out of the system? Would you like to share an experience?

Being included in my partners care has made so.much difference - this followed self education about mental.health and particularly those diagnoses tendered in relation to Mr D. I was able to provide information that lead to his current diagnosis and relative stability.

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@Lynne1 wrote:

Qu: have you noticed a shift towards including carers and partners? Can you give an example?

Or is your experience that you are still left out of the system? Would you like to share an experience?

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We feel - we are - left out of the system.

However, next time I try to prise a way back in, I'll use terms like partnership and "triangle of care".

Hi there Shaz51, a good example of the old way: for the health professional to focus only on the client. So much better to see the carer as a partner, with a wealth of experience and, as Charlie Bravo stated, the responsibility for the vast majority of the time.

It's great that these better ways are now enshrined in law, as we'll see later on.

You too have discovered that being informed has a direct impact on your own wellbeing. It's had a very positive effect on my wellbeing, too.

That's an awful feeling to carry @Shaz51 Particularly when you're trying to do all you can to help. Is there a way you might be able to connect into those conversations?

You've played such a vital role in Mr D's recovery @Former-Member. Were there any particular self education resources you found helpful in relation to working with Mr D's treatment team?

That's great, Charlie Bravo. There's a resource I'll mention later, that will show you exactly how services are now expected to include carers as partners (the Guide, full title later).

I will clarify @Lynne1 I no longer feel excluded.

I still feel excluded - but I'm looking foward to hearing about The Guide!

Thanks Darcy