Council Services
Your local council probably provides home help and meals on wheels. These services are usually provided to the elderly but they are also available for the disabled and chronically ill. You will probably have to pay a token fee, usually less than $10 per hour, for the services.
Home help will come regularly during the week and can help with household chores such as washing and cooking. Many councils will also provide a handyman on a one-off basis to do small household repairs. You don’t need to be completely unable to do a task to be eligible either, depending on how difficult it is for you. Many councils have a waiting list in this day and age of cutbacks, but as always things are worth trying.
Call your local council to find out how to apply for these services. They’ll probably send somebody out to your home to assess you. In my experience the council people have been great – I think they actually find it a nice change to see somebody who isn’t old!
Entertainment
People with CFS usually spend a lot of time at home which means that books can be a good source of entertainment. If you can read regular books but find it hard to get to the library, call your local library and ask about their mobile library service. Many libraries have a book van which goes around the neighbourhood every few weeks and can bring books to you.
If you have trouble reading—which includes trouble holding the book up or trouble with the fumes, as well as eye or comprehension problems—you will be eligible to get books on tape from the Vision Australia Library. This is the organization that used to be called the Braille and Talking Book Library and they send out tapes to blind and disabled people in lurid orange mailers. You’ll need to get your doctor to sign a form saying it’s hard for you to read regular books, but there’s no waiting period and the postage is free. You can either call up the library and request specific books or you can just tell them your interests and let them send out random books that they think you will like. I find the books on tape or CD are great company, and if I’m having trouble concentrating then I can just listen to a side a few times. If you’re interested in this, I have a specific article about it.
Getting Out And About
Disabled Parking Permits are another little help that people with CFS are often eligible for. Again, you need to apply through the local council and there’s a form for your doctor to sign. There are strict rules about who does and doesn’t get the permits, but I know many PWCs who have them. These will allow you to park in disabled parking spots and to park for longer in a regular parking spot.
For those who can’t use public transport at all, there is a program— the Multipurpose Taxi Program—which lets disabled people use taxis for half price.
And of course you can do lots of things on the phone. Most bills have a number on the back that lets you pay by credit card if you call up their number. Most banks offer phone banking. And shops are often happy to send out catalogues for free if you explain you’re disabled and find it hard to get to the shop yourself. It’s always worth trying as the worst that can happen is they say ‘no’.
Conclusions
As people with CFS, we’re often used to ridicule and people trivialising our conditions. This can make us forget that most people out there are understanding and helpful. And of course, on the phone you only need say you’re disabled, or you’re chronically ill, or whatever makes you feel comfortable—they don’t have to know you look perfectly normal! So give people a chance to be helpful by politely asking for what you need. The results might surprise you.
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