Taking Care of Your Needs

When you're homeless, there is still one main authority you have to obey. That is your body. Oh and the police. You should obey the police, or your body will be hurt. But the body is the next big authority you have to obey.

In most cities or towns where a homeless shelter exists, you will also find a clinic that is free of charge to people with certain levels of income. If there isn't a designated place for this then go to the nearest hospital and ask what services they offer.

If this is an emergency, the hospital cannot refuse you even if you are unable to pay or have no insurance. In states like Massechusetts, it is actually against the law to not have insurance and so it will be offered to you free of charge for as long as you can't afford it.

Now, what if it's not an immediate emergency? Maybe you have a headache, or perhaps your diabetes medication is low, or maybe you're trying to manage incontinence. It can be very embarassing to ask another adult about these things when you feel like you should be able to take care of yourself.

But think about it. Most symptoms may just be minor things, but they can also add up to something worse. A minor headache could be the warning signs of a tumor. Diabetes can be deadly if not handled and there are a host of other major illnesses that can be treated if you get the symptoms checked out early.

So it's very important to know that if a clinic is available to you, take advantage of it. Swallow your pride. Yes, there is a chance you will be judged. I won't deny the number of times I've felt like I was under a microscope during the time I've been homeless. But at the end of the day, the last thing you want to do is to die of something that you could have easily avoided if you had taken care of it.

If you go to the clinic and you're not happy with the doctor's answer, go for a second opinion. You know your own body after all. If you feel something is wrong you need to press it until you find someone who is willing to take a closer look. Reading up on the symptoms may be a good way to get a dialogue going with your doctor.

Some shelters also have an on-staff, or a regular visiting nurse to take care of minor things like getting medications and doing TB tests and vaccinations. If you're not sure how to make an appointment with this nurse ask the shelter staff.

Above all remember, you are an adult. You are a human being with needs but you are no longer a child. If you are sick or hurt, no one else is going to take care of you.