In this podcast Anne Wilson is in an extraordinary conversation with Kate Baychek who is a carer for her bedbound adult child with ME. She’s also a registered nurse who has worked in the public hospital system over 35 years. Kate is utterly floored at the demands of caring 24/7 for a bedbound person, particularly her own child. She didn’t expect that her 33 year old, would have severe limitations placed on their physical and mental capacity. This young adult had an active and community spirited life and was a passionate yoga teacher. We will hear how Kate was also so unprepared for stigma and gaslighting from the medical profession and the appalling cost of health care to people outside of the hospital setting. At times all of this has felt overwhelming and never-ending. Kate says she wonders about all the carers out there without her health background and how they manage.
Kate is an independent carer representative on the Emerge Australia Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee.
