Margaret is an 80 year old who is bedfast in her own home. Her muscles, bones and ligaments have been affected by an autoimmune rheumatoid condition.
I feel that the relief that I have now from the worst of the pain, the survival of my creative spirit and being able to have a life that is more than just endurance or passivity, is a story worth the telling because it surprises me that I can call it fruitful with all its limitations. It’s about the mystery of guidance, about the way the people who have helped me have come strangely into my life. It is about the struggles and overcoming them and about how those who care for me now, as well as for many others, have proven that they have the secret of success for doing such a huge task so well. That secret is intelligence, respect and flexibility. They also have the gift of compassion. These carers and nurses are our unsung heroes. They are and have a network, a communal attitude within the larger community, and they do it without losing that important human connectedness.
Professionalism is essential in such a personalised service and these carers deserve a high status in our society because they do such an essential and demanding task within the sanctuary of our homes in our personal space.
Since ancient times, mankind has survived by networking within a community. I believe that these attributes are more important than ever if we are to preserve our humanity.Caring and understanding are essential parts of this success. It is more that just work or a job; it is an art form when done professionally. There has been a popular philosophy of ‘small is beautiful’. Care Net Community Nursing is not so small; their help covers a large area, but the small comes into its own in the way that they manage to make each of us feel that we are the only people that they are caring for. That is very special.