THIS IS A GOOD idea. Barry Katz came up with Lotsa Helping Hands after his wife’s four year ordeal with cancer. The web-based calendar system he developed helps friends and family volunteer their time and support. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the Colon Cancer Alliance and the other groups have already signed on.
–Mr JiB
Wow, that’s a great idea! I’d like to point out it might be applied to all sorts of situations where a family member is in need – not just cancer or even medical crisis.
The downside is it extends the idea that the family is the primary unit of support. Therefore people with large families or a greater family ethic will receive more support than people from small, poor families. If this takes care of the majority of people in need (at least those connected to the voting classes), then politically everyone else whose needs aren’t being met will just be ignored.
Ps. I sent this link to my Mom, who has been trying to take care of my grandmother, who has significant medical problems. My mom has a part-time job and makes around minimum wage at that. My grandmother will not move in with her, which means my Mom has to go to her every morning and evening to take care of various things. I can’t imagine doing that myself. I offered to set up this calendar for my Mom, but I’m not sure how many of her relatives will be Internet-savvy enough to use it. I only managed to get her to use email in the last couple of years.