I'm a full-time OAP unpaid carer

Tarbatness
Tarbatness Community member Posts: 17 Connected
edited October 2018 in Families and carers
Hello, I`m a full-time OAP unpaid carer, tending to the caring needs of a friend and have been doing this since my friend first became disabled, in 2006, through being attacked at work and shortly after having a massive allergic reaction to a pneumonia injection. The effects of these incidents resulted in my friend being medically retired from work and being diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME, amongst other illnesses..In 2011, my friend suffered a basilar tip aneurysm (brain aneurysm) which  meant several days in Intensive Care, followed by weeks in hospital. Up till then I had been working nights, doing some 50 hours a week and caring for about 60 hours a week during the day. Upon my friends release from hospital, with far more serious mental and physical disabilities, I took early retirement from work, in order to spend more time in my caring role - 100+ hours a week, which I`ve been doing since (2012). In 2014, my friend suffered a stroke and in 2015 was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.  

On call 24/7, I sometimes get called out during the night, but tend to get up around 7 am, take the dogs out, put the washer on, have a coffee or two and check my emails etc. Then each day unfolds differently, no guarantee on what how things will progress, but it usually means I`m kept busy up till midnight, when I finally get to bed ! 

Comments

  • Ami2301
    Ami2301 Community member Posts: 7,879 Championing
    Hi @Tarbatness Welcome to the community!

    I admire you for all that you do! You must love your role as I can tell how dedicated you are! :)
  • sophialob
    sophialob Community member Posts: 60 Contributor
    Hi @Tarbatness! Welcome to the community :) you are inspirational and I hope you feel welcomed here and that you can get support from this community :smile:
  • Pippa_Alumni
    Pippa_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,765 Championing
    Hi @Tarbatness, and a warm welcome to the community! Great to have you here.

    Thanks for sharing this with us. It certainly sounds as though you're coping with a lot. Do you have any support from family or social care at the moment?
  • Tarbatness
    Tarbatness Community member Posts: 17 Connected
    Thanks, for the welcome.
    At present, coping on my own Pippa, though have had Stroke nurses in, in the past, as well as an O/T and speech therapists. Got their phone numbers should I need them. Take my friend to see the Neuropsychologist every 10 weeks. Little or no help from family.

  • Pippa_Alumni
    Pippa_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,765 Championing
    It sounds like you're doing a great job, @Tarbatness. I'm just wondering if there's any other support or respite you might be eligible for!

    It might be worth giving Carers UK a call- they have a brilliant support and information line where you should be able to talk to somebody about anything, and they should be able to advise or make recommendations:
    You can email us or contact us and we will respond to your enquiries within 5 working days, although it can often be sooner.

    Our telephone helpline providing information is open on Mondays and Tuesday between 10am and 4pm - 0808 808 7777
  • Tarbatness
    Tarbatness Community member Posts: 17 Connected
    Thanks Pippa