10(a):Getting support
We are fortunate to live in a country with a social infrastructure which, despite criticisms, looks after people generally pretty well in this kind of crisis.
However, while we have high, often unrealisable, expectations of the health system, we sometimes get into attitude problems in relation to other support.
It is best to think clearly about the financial and employment consequences of life-threatening diagnosis.
It is one thing to be brave, another to make sensible arrangements. Sometimes we put the ‘brave’ label on to cover up reluctance or lack of bravery to openly discuss threatening situations.
You need to know about:
• What the private and public health systems can offer, what your private health insurance, if you have it, will cover. Talk to the fund, talk to the doctor.
• What the safety nets for Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme are. Talk to the doctor, talk to the pharmacist. Get information from Medicare.
• What benefits may be available from Centrelink, for a sufferer unable to work or for a carer. There are two levels of carer benefit, one is not means-tested. Book an appointment with Centrelink. Make your life-threatened situation very clear.
• Other local support, such as community transport, travel for treatment from remote places, accommodation at hospitals for partner of remote patient, etc.; carer advice, respite and counselling services.
• Your rights and obligations in all these matters. For example, Medicare provides a right to a obtain a second opinion. For example, hospitals can make available statements of patient rights. For example, you need to know what you have to tell Centrelink and when, if you receive benefits.
Apart from these supports from government and community, you need to consider how you will deal with the new situation with family and friends. It is important to recognise that in the immediate family, while you may feel ‘at one’ on so many things day to day, in crisis every individual will respond differently, perhaps surprising you. Before you work out a strategy for dealing with the rest of the world, it is important to see that the family is able to deal with things coherently. It is good to start from explicitly speaking of a right of each person to feel and respond differently.