Question

I am inquiring on behalf of my client. Do you have a support group for people living with a colostomy bag in the Yukon? My client (age 69) and with limited eyesight and living in a very small community, is adjusting however there are obstacles to overcome. I think she would be greatly helped by talking with others in similar circumstances. I will also continue to support her.

Thank you

 

Response

Support is very important during the healing process, and beyond.   New and seasoned people with ostomies find value in connection with one another. There are many Ostomy Support Groups across Canada, but unfortunately, I am unable to locate one in the Yukon at this time, but, there are a couple of options I can recommend to assist you in locating a potential local support group/professional for your client.   I highly recommend that you and your client connect with an NSWOC – (Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence) first. These professionals are specialized nurses with the experience and expertise to help with an ostomy patient and equipment challenges. The NSWOC will be the individual in the Yukon who would have the expertise to assist your client, and will also have the local knowledge of any existing ostomy support group/services near your client’s location.

Teresa MacKenzie – Registered Nurse, BScN, NSWOC

Organization

• Department: Health and Social Services
• Division: Continuing Care
• Branch: Care and Community
• Unit: Yukon Home Care Program

Contact

• Telephone number: 867-334-9330
• Email address:MacKenzie@gov.yk.ca
• Fax number: 867-393-6328

Location

• 109 Copper Road
• Whitehorse, Y1A 2Z7

I also suggest the following department that may be able to assist you and your client:

Chronic disease program

Phone:867-667-5092 Toll-Free (Yukon, Nunavut and NWT); 1-800-661-0408 ext. 5092 Fax:867-393-6486 Mailing Address: Chronic disease program (H-2) Health & Social Services, Government of Yukon Box 2703 Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6 Location: 4th floor, Financial Plaza | 204 Lambert St. | Whitehorse, Yukon   Wishing you and your client the very best. Jo-Ann L. Tremblay
THE OSTOMY FACTOR Blog – joannltremblay.wordpress.com
FACEBOOK – Author Jo-Ann L. Tremblay
TWITTER @joanntremblay
Author of “The Self-Coaching Toolbox” , “Better With A Bag Than In A Bag” , “Another BAG Another DAY”, “BAGs Around the World”, Why Buttercup Wears a BAG!”, “The Sibs Gang Cave of the Golden Heart”
amazon.com, amazon.ca, amazon.co.uk
Member OstomyCanada /Medical Lifestyle Advisory Committee Member- Ostomy Lifestyle Expert
https://ostomycanada.ca
Member Arteast – www.arteastottawa.com
Website: jo-annltremblay.com     Our friends over at Nurses Specialized In Wound, Ostomy And Continence Canada (formerly called The Canadian Association for Enterostomal Therapy (CAET)) have renamed their handy look-up page on their website. It was formerly called “Find An ET Nurse” and is now called “Find a NSWOC“. Click on the image to the left or link here to go to their site.