Life with a critical illness

(NC)—Canadians are living longer than ever, due in part to technological breakthroughs that have increased our chances or surviving a critical illness. But when these illnesses do occur, they impose new and unexpected challenges on everyone affected.

Needs arising from a critical illness

Three different types of needs result from a critical illness. The need for medical advice, financial resources, and daily care and support.

Fortunately, critical illness insurance provides tools to meet these three types of needs. It offers medical advice through its Best Doctors program (a medical database for insurers), financial benefits from the insurer, and the daily support and care from an assistance provider.

The role of an assistance provider

Providing daily care and support to a critically ill person is a demanding task that often falls to the ill person's loved ones. In addition to their regular responsibilities, they take on additional work and must learn how to perform new tasks, all while shouldering a heavy emotional burden.

Sigma Assistel, a subsidiary of Desjardins Financial Security, is an assistance provider that offers support not only to the person who is suffering the illness, but to their informal caregivers as well. The provider simplifies their day-to-day lives, giving them time to focus on medical issues, improve their quality of life, and offer them peace of mind. Generally speaking, there are three aspects to the need for daily support for the ill and for their caregivers: health (psychological counselling, medial information, homecare), logistics and legal.

The health aspect is the most important. The logistical element arises from the new restrictions that are added to the daily tasks of the person suffering the critical illness. And finally, despite its importance, the legal aspect is sometimes overlooked. However, a power of attorney, a will and testament and a mandate in case of incapacity are issues that must be addressed.

www.newscanada.com