HAVE A GOOD ONE - Carers Week

[Sonia]

Hi All,

Hope you all have a lovely Carers week,I was listening to Radio 2 this morning and they had a lady on talking about carers and all they do.Many people do know what carers do and many don't lets hope this week brings it to the fore front of folks minds.
Lets look forward enjoy the week as its your time.I just want to say a thankyou to my local support group here in Weston-Super-Mare,and another big thankyou to the Mold carers group in North Wales as I need them at the moment.If there is anyone out there who belongs to the Mold group I would love to hear from you.I know you have plenty going on this week,as I have to be up in Wales for a few days then I will try and attend one of their events.
Enjoy take care do something for YOU.
Love Sonia W-S-M XXXXX

[Caring_Mind]

I have to say that our local Carer's group - run by Rethink are brilliant. On Thursday they are taking a group of us to Burghley House, to look round it and have lunch - all paid for! We go by coach too.
What a lovely surprise to get thanks for the caring that we do!
I wish that I could surprise you all and take you with us, but think that the coach may be a bit small for us all!
Will be thinking of you all though xxx

[jessie]

Am I just a miserable old s.d? I don't want to go to any Carers group - I WANT to be me. I want to travel again, I want independance again, I want freedom again, I want time to myself. Please tell me if I'm being selfish.

[Pete the Paint]

Am I just a miserable old s.d? I don't want to go to any Carers group - I WANT to be me. I want to travel again, I want independance again, I want freedom again, I want time to myself. Please tell me if I'm being selfish.

NO WAY are you being selfish Jessie, I crave for exactly that again. I am sick to the back teeth of being stuck indoors, when all my life I have been an outdoor type, a mixer, but not a joiner. I'm too independant for any of that. Not a team player I'm afraid, never have been.
I feel awful saying this, as I love my wife very much, but oh for some real me time again.
I hate being a Carer, It's boring, lonely and very sad. I dont like cooking, cleaning or shopping. I like making things and painting, but these things have been taken away from me by dementia. Yes I'm a miserable old sod. I know things could be soooo much worse and there are others on here with so much more to cope with than I have, bless them.

Just a grumpy old man some days I'm afraid.

Pete

[susieq]

Am I just a miserable old s.d? I don't want to go to any Carers group - I WANT to be me. I want to travel again, I want independance again, I want freedom again, I want time to myself. Please tell me if I'm being selfish.

Not at all Jessie

I just want to be able to do things spontaneously again - not have to plan weeks in advance for a day out. And I just want to be able to live in my own home again - with my own things around me and not have to be 'camping' at Mum's

[Nilla]

I love caring for Sarah, shes a delight and I love her to bits but I wish my Mum had never had her stroke, bforeshe had it I had a life of my own and so did she, we hardly saw each other as we dont get on, nowdays my life revolves around what she wants, last night me and hubby were discussing having a holiday in devon next year but we will have to take Mum so we have knocked the holiday idea on the head as taking Mum would mean doing what she wants at her pace so it would be no holiday at all, I wish she would join some sort of group she could go on trips with but she wont, my Aunty and mum used to go away but now Aunty wont go away with her cos of her attitude.

Jessie you are not alone x

[Lazydaisy]

I know the feeling Jessie, and you are certainly not miserable.
I would just love to be able to get up in the morning,and go out by myself, without having to ensure my carees are looked after.Much as I love my family, I have lost "ME" somewhere.I don't even know this "me" at times, don't even know often whether I like her . Most of us have not chosen our life of caring. It is handed to us,(as our carees have not chosen their disabilities).My son is the eternal optimist, and I love going out with him, seeing nature, finding shells on the beach, but what about ME?

[Nilla]

Talking about time to ourselves does anyone feel guilty when they actually do have time to themselves? I do! I am going to pop to town soon by myself as Mum is waiting in for a workman and I will feel guilty I dont have her with me, cant understand why though. I get very confused about things nowdays and somtimes could scream really loudly

[Matt Hill]

The Caresr Week survey is all about this - a life of your own. 3,282 carers took part in the survey, both online and by post. 65% of those surveyed were heavy-end carers, responsible for 50+ hours of care each week.

More than three-quarters (76%) of people looking after an ill, frail or disabled loved one do not have a life outside of their caring role

80% have been forced to give up leisure activities or from going out socially since becoming a
carer.

The majority of those surveyed can no longer rely on relatives for support either, as these relationships have suffered as a result of caring – 75% say they have lost touch with family and friends.

4 out of every 5 carers say they’re worse off financially, while more than half (54%) say they’ve had to give up work.

1 in 10 carers haven’t been able to watch a film on TV for over a year.

75% of carers with children under 18 (as well as caring for another family member or friend who is ill or disabled) say they do not give enough attention to them.

Two-thirds of carers have had to give up taking regular holidays.

23% of carers have not had the chance to socialise with friends/family at home for over a year.

Three-quarters of carers have not managed to attend a sporting event for over a year.

75% of carers who are looking for a romantic relationship haven’t had the chance to meet someone for more than a year.

24% of carers have not managed to buy a treat for themselves for over a year.

1 in 20 carers say that they have been unable to have children because of their caring role.

http://www.carersweek.org

[Sonia]

Hi to you both,

Just wanted to say I saw the write up and you and your Mum's picture in the Mature Times.I thought to myself I know them two from somewhere.
Hope you have a nice week and maybe a little me time.Take care Love Sonia xxx