Community Benefit
The Center for Epilepsy and Seizure Education in BC is committed to improving the lives of people who live with epilepsy, which is the fourth most common neurological disorder and affects people of all ages. Epilepsy is defined as a disease of the central nervous system identified by repeated, unprovoked seizures. The simplicity of the definition belies the complexity of the condition and the myriad ways it affects those who suffer from it. There are risks to living with epilepsy and people with epilepsy are 1.6 to 3 times more likely to die prematurely than those in the general population. ¹Some risk can be mitigated through education and counselling. Patient education also increases self-confidence. It provides knowledge and tools to enable more active participation in health care, and preparation to self-advocate, ultimately improving health outcomes and quality of life. ²People who come to us range from the overwhelmed newly-diagnosed patient, to the person who has had epilepsy for a longer time but faces depression, hurdles at work, difficulty at school, or social isolation. Public misunderstandings of epilepsy cause challenges that are often worse than the seizures. We also provide services to parents and other family members of people living with epilepsy. There is an ongoing need for Client Services.
Our Client Services Program provides:
1. Individual and family health counselling – This may be as brief as a question, or an hour-long session. All encounters follow a patient-led model where the needs felt by the patient dictate the direction of the session. Clients access this service via face-to-face sessions, email and telephone conversations.
2. A package of resource material for parents and a comfort toy to accompany children during stressful visits to medical appointments are available for patients who are newly diagnosed.
3. Advocacy at work and in school – We have worked on behalf of clients who face workplace harassment and/or discrimination and students whose accommodation needs were not adequate due to the failure of teachers to understand the variety of ways seizures impact performance.
4. Case assessment and referral to other community agencies that address specific needs.
5. A quarterly e-newsletter sent throughout the province that provides informative articles and keeps clients in touch with activities at the Center for Epilepsy.
6. Opportunities for children with epilepsy to attend summer camp where they expand the horizons of their capabilities and experience the fun and activities that would otherwise be unavailable to them.
7. Preparation for doctors visit, provided journal logs, ways to controlling seizures, identifying triggers.
Accessibility
Our services are provided free of charge. Epilepsy profoundly affects not only the individual, but the entire family. Services extend to family members, friends and interested parties. We travel throughout the lower mainland to deliver services, especially when required to visit a workplace or school. Beyond the lower mainland we are able to connect with clients through telephone, Skype, email and Facebook.
¹The Epilepsy Foundation, accessed http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/epilepsy-101/how-serious-are-seizures
²Cochrane, J., Patient education: lessons from epilepsy, Patient Education and Counselling 26 (1995) 25-31