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Motor Neurone DiseaseArrow
ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 65+
Audrey - Interview 02  

Audrey - Interview 02

Age at Interview: 70
Sex: Female
Age at Diagnosis: 62
Background: Audrey is a retired post office clerk, widowed, with 2 grown-up stepchildren. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.
Brief outline:Audrey first noticed symptoms 11-12 years ago. Diagnosis confirmed three years later (1995). Still living at home with support from a daily carer and respite care in a hospice.

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She has made a Living Will and feels it is her right to decide what she wants, whatever her family or friends think. She'd rather be in a hospice than a hospital or nursing home.

 



My family know I've got a Living Will. And I've got that, and they've got that at the hospice and I've no doubt that I've no problem there, really, honestly. And I hope if that awful day cometh, I'd rather be cared by my friends and family, most of my friends or the hospice… I've made all the decisions that I want. I'm not interested whether my family like it or my friends like it. That's for me to decide. I don't want a tracheotomy and I don't want to be force-fed. I've seen that once and I cannot see the point of it. I don't want my life to drag on when it's not necessary and they're fully aware at the hospice, they're brilliant.

If I couldn't look after myself and I had the choice of a nursing home, well, those that I've seen, no thank you. And the care I've seen, no thank you. I certainly wouldn't go into a hospital. If [the hospice] could, that would be my dreams come true.

I have enough trust in them to know that they wouldn't push me home if they didn't think I could cope and I certainly wouldn't go to the hospital.
Jonathan Miller - Motor Neurone
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