This information has been sent in by Eric Payne in hopes of getting the word out to both the Veterans Community and to anyone who has lost a limb due to accident or disease.
Thanks Eric and best of luck with your programme.
Amputee Peer Support in PEI begins By Eric Payne
The cradle of confederation was the first in this region to bring peer support to the regions amputees. The Amputee Coalition of Canada (ACC) made its first in roads in the region right here on PEI on Easter weekend. Five individuals who are from PEI and two from off Island gathered in Charlottetown to be come trainers in order to teach amputees in the region to become certified Peer Visitors. The program is derived from the program in the United States called the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) who also provides support information and advocacy to amputees.
Master Corporal Paul Franklin and Master Seaman (retired)Eric Payne first saw the program in action on a visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Centre in Washington DC in April of 2007. Both are amputees and had received their own limb loss a little more than one year prior to this visit. They were there to assist the Canadian Forces (CF) to look at the level of care the CF were providing their wounded and injured Soldiers versus the care that the American system was providing for their Soldiers. The Peer Visitors there brought a wealth of experience from simply living well since their own amputations to suggestions on how to handle awkward social situations as a new amputee. On this trip they saw how great the positive impact the peer visitors were having on the new amputees. They were the Soldier's Ambassadors of Hope.
Meanwhile in Montreal Natalie Fish and Carol Tardif were two lower limb Physiotherapists who also seen the need a peer support network could help new amputees transition into their new life. The started a dialogue with the ACA to construct a Canadian version in both official languages to assist amputees here in Canada. In 2005 the ACC was officially launched as a non profit society. Master Corporal Paul Franklin and the Franklin Foundation have been great supporters of the program and financially supported the training on PEI in order to make it possible for the training to occur. After some discussions, Veterans Affairs responded by providing a venue to hold the training at the Daniel J. MacDonald building.
Because there is a strong connection to the military community it does not mean this program is exclusive for the CF amputees. It is not.
Currently there is 150 (one hundred fifty) Peer Visitors and 45 (forty five) Facilitators (trainers) across the country. The training can be offered in English or French. Local representatives have made contact with some the Local Health care providers and facilities to make connections to the regions amputees. The hope is this type of program can now offer help to this regions amputees. A further awareness campaign is planned to bring this program to as many individuals as possible to join the National Peer Support Network.
The Peer Visitor Program is a national network of experienced, trained and certified amputee volunteers (peers). Their role is to support those who have recently experienced (or are about to undergo) limb loss and to ease their transition into a new way of life. The process is the Peer Visitor Program will match individuals who have experienced limb loss (at least one year post amputation), resumed an active life and successfully completed a peer training session, with new or future amputees who have requested a peer visit assistance. Individuals requesting assistance are paired with amputees who have similar profiles.
Veterans Affairs has been a great benefit to our Veterans in the realm of peer support with the successes of the OSISS program. This is a great product for Veterans suffering limb loss. There is no criteria for service or non service related with this program. Currently numbers inside the CF are limited. The aging population in the Veteran Community has a greater propensity for limb loss due the longterm complications of their injuries, plus diseases which are on the rise in the Canadian population such as vascular disease and Diabetes.
If you would like to request a peer visit, please call the following toll-free number: 1-866-611-AMPS, or visit us online at peervisitor@amputeecoalitioncanada.org. www.amputeecoalitioncanada.org www.franklinfoundation.ca
Eric Payne
If you plan on being anything less than you are capable of being, you will probably be unhappy all the days of your life. Abraham Maslow
Anyone requesting local information can contact accpei@live.ca .
Please remember our troops and especially those wounded and who have lost a limb or limbs, in the service of Canada.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
