What is your relationship with the person you care for?

[davina sutherland]

Rosemary, I am so sorry | too got it wrong, I look after my mother and ticked mother instead of daughter.silly me!

[davina sutherland]

Still not got the hang of this my name is Deana should put dopey in front of that!

[Linda Griffey]

I am 62 years old daughter, and I look after my 90 year old mother - Linda, Luton

[michael parker]

I think the poll is interesting,and it would be even more interesting to know why we care.Duty,love,family pressure,guilt,lack of anybody else.In my case it`s because having worked in the care world i have yet to find a home i would want anybody i care for living there,and because i am confident i can care for my parents at the moment,but for many it all comes as a massive change,and we still live in a society where the woman is expected to deal with these things.

[rosemary]

It is interesting to see the percentage of people caring for more than one person. As people are living longer I dont think it will be too long before sandwich carers become the largest group.

[Scally]

Yes, but those of us who have done the job for a while have now become a bit more assertive, and the cuisine has changed and become a bit tastier and more international: I call us the kebab generation: we skewer all before us.

[Jane:-)]

Now I understand why you have a sword in your hand Scally!

[BertieBear]

[John Cooke]

As I have said before I care for my wife full time now, well for the past 2+ years. I had a decent job, having completed a degree when I was 34, now 47. I was working full time and taking care of my wife at the same time, until recently, when she was diagnoised with RA and OA. My wife was hospitalised for a short time and trying to juggle work, caring for my wife, looking after the pets, house, etc.. became too much one day. Thought that I was having a heart attack, didn't want to tell my wife as she was in hospital at the time, couldn't phone her due to being hooked up to ECG and the rest. So I took redundancy when it came up.

[maggiejoan]

I find this post very interesting, getting to know all about the carers and their carees xx hope I can be of some help in any way,xx

[maggiejoan]

I care for my husband David,, who is 65, I am 68,, so he is my toy boy, David has a few health issues he has a Drueker's(pronounced Drookers)bridge in his back, to help support his spine, no Knee caps, an Arrythmic Heart Type 2 Diabetes, LPR (Acid Reflux) 10 years ago he suffered a nervous breakdown, but with the help of his various medications he is doing very well, he is quite an independent person, and can do most things for himself, so my caring role is'nt so demanding as other carers roles are, I on the other hand, am very well health wise,, so mus'nt complain on that score,xx

[Dutchie]

I am sole carer to my life partner; a category obviously not recognised.

[charles47]

I am sole carer to my life partner; a category obviously not recognised.

Dutchie, we've had a few problems with this "poll" because it doesn't really allow enough options, including multiple options for some of us, or other options that don't fit the "traditional" picture. For example, there's no option for grandparent carers or for people caring for grandparents.

[Scally]

:lol:
Now I understand why you have a sword in your hand Scally!

Thats not really a sword, thats a kebab-skewer of course!

[sturdygirl]

I ticked the 'combination' box,...
I am full time carer for OH, who has OA, JHS, Depression and is being treated for Epilepsy due to 'absences'
My youngest also has JHS, she has periodic pain, worse after a big day at school, or often the end of the school week. She manages pretty well, but has to give in occasionally! .
I am also on call for my Brother who has Mental health problems, (Bi-Polar, Paranoid Schizophrenic with violent tendencies, Manic Depressive) while he is taking his medication properly, he is a pussy cat and the loveliest man you could meet. The last major episode was 5 years ago, a short while after we lost Mum, since then there have been 'minor' incidents, but he has been taken off the Section order and is living in his own flat in sheltered accomodation. He has regular visits from his Social worker, comes to us for tea every fortnight and we speak regularly on the phone. Although at the moment he is keeping well there is always the worry of a relapse, sometimes even the smallest thing can trigger it.
Life is interesting to say the least