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21st centuary lepers

A page in the diary "the carer got sick - no help for them"
Written by Faye Monday, 4 January 2010 01:25

i was reading a novel last week about the lepers in the late 19th century - how they were cast aside - put on islands and isolated from the community. It still happens today, only the disease has changed it is now dementia. Friends abandon you, family cannot comes to grips with it and stay away, no matter how active you were in the community or how well known you once were be assured that dementia will not only rob you of you mind and well being, but also your partner of support. We are isolated in our homes, if we are lucky we (the partners) get to escape for a short period (known as respite) but the fight for that is asexhausting as caring for your loved one.

this disease will become more prevelant, however as we the carers are too busy caring for our loved ones we do not have the time or energy to lobby for better conditions................just imagine what would happen if all the carers "Up and Quit" the Government would face massive cost.........carers are nothing short of slave labour in this so-called enlighted times!!!!

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Comments from the community :

Faye, sounds like reality is setting in for you now. I know when you were doing research the future looked different, the theory is always so different to the reality of life. I promise you will get into a rhythm after a while, a kind of routine that will allow you to live a life of sorts. This may not be the life you planned but it is the life you have so make the most of it.

I always say a caregiver has a 50% life,because he/she is so attached to the care recipient that 50% is all that is possible, Within that however you can design a life that suits you. You only have one go at life as far as I know so live it to the best of your ability. Find hobbies that fit in with the spare hours you have, do fight to get care in and time out for respite.Keep as sane as you can.

The friends falling away, that happens with every long term disease. People will give to a cancer charity rather than visit a friend who has cancer, you know how that is, we do it all the sanitized way, "don't get too involved" is the new Aussie way. The days of mateship and giving a helping hand, being a good neighbour etc seem to have gone now. Everyone wants their free time to do what they want to do. My son's excuse is "sorry Mum I have three kids and my wife works." I did too and did charity work as well and kept an eye on ageing parents.

But remember what comes around, goes around and in time their turn will come too. They will get old and infirm and maybe get dementia and they will have to be euthanased I guess as they haven't given the example for their families to follow of selfless service and demonstrated love for others.

Written by  suew, Monday, 4 January 2010 09:40