are you getting all the support you need?
A page in the diary ""
Written by suew 5. Oct 2007 08:12 PM
I am full time carer to my husband Ray and have been since his major strokes in 1999 so some caring professional telling me that there is a seminar on "Dementia and Carers" or some such is like telling me that Perth is a long way from here, I am just as likely to go there!
However I have started to go to a dementia support group as this is on Fridays twice a month and on Fridays I get three hours care in the morning and then Ray goes to a group which gives me six hours off all up. The group is led by a former psychiatrist now a clinician nurse and he has some great ideas to help carers deal with caring for someone with dementia. In the short time I have been going I have learned so much and now am able to deal with a lot of what seemed odd, difficult behavior as if it is "normal". This has been a great help to me.
I know there is not a lot of these groups but if you can find a support group in your area at a time you can go then do consider it.
I also chat here in the evenings and sharing my day with leslie or kandi or whoever else comes into chat is also a form of support I am finding really helps me. If Ray is difficult and I tell one of my family I know they will be divided in their loyalties. After all he is their father. If I talk too much to my friends on the subject they will back away. After all a carer in a "why me?" mood is not a fun person to be with. So just telling one other person who is also a carer and understands is a good way of finding the support I need.
We need to access all the help we can get, both to help with caring for someone at home and also in adjusting to life after our dear one goes into respite or full time care. We all need to take care of ourselves and remember there is a life after caring.