I so admire David for his devotion and care of Bonnie. I’m a full time carer for my mum, I’m 64, she’s 88. She was diagnosed in 2015 with vascular dementia. I do this alone. My family either don’t care or live in other parts of the country. I’ve just had a gallbladder removal op, 7 weeks ago and had domicillary care to care for mum while I recover, which has reduced now to once a day in the mornings. I’m exhausted, physically and mentally. I’m getting phone counselling one hour a week which is a great help, I’m also an artist and poet which is a good outlet. Lockdown has taken its toll because I used to take mum out but can’t now. Her moods have gone haywire. I get respite five hours a week but don’t have much energy to go to places and with restrictions in our part of UK, it’s difficult, so I rest while the carer is here. I have to pay for care from mums attendance allowance. They do a brilliant job, but it annoys me that mum and other people with dementia should have to pay.
What can we do?? I’m losing mum daily but also losing myself ....
Dementia Support Line
Sue McIntyre
saysI so admire David for his devotion and care of Bonnie. I’m a full time carer for my mum, I’m 64, she’s 88. She was diagnosed in 2015 with vascular dementia. I do this alone. My family either don’t care or live in other parts of the country. I’ve just had a gallbladder removal op, 7 weeks ago and had domicillary care to care for mum while I recover, which has reduced now to once a day in the mornings. I’m exhausted, physically and mentally. I’m getting phone counselling one hour a week which is a great help, I’m also an artist and poet which is a good outlet. Lockdown has taken its toll because I used to take mum out but can’t now. Her moods have gone haywire. I get respite five hours a week but don’t have much energy to go to places and with restrictions in our part of UK, it’s difficult, so I rest while the carer is here. I have to pay for care from mums attendance allowance. They do a brilliant job, but it annoys me that mum and other people with dementia should have to pay.
What can we do?? I’m losing mum daily but also losing myself ....