I am 52 and have cerebral palsy, which is relatively mild
and therefore I can live independently of any care, apart from employing a
cleaner who comes for an hour, or so once a fortnight who helps me with some jobs that I can't manage myself. I also take lodgers who help me financially and
offer some company. However, I have found this quite difficult, as
there are times when I feel fatigue (a symptom of my disability), and unable to
do some minor jobs, and I don’t have any backup – they don’t even open the
kitchen blind in the morning! They also can be very condescending towards
me and spend most of their spare time in their room, while I spend my evening on
my own!
I spent several months in Carmarthenshire with my mother, and found the Welsh to be very friendly and chatty, and I want to move there. I want to make sure that I have have support for my disability, and don't feel that I am 'running' to keep up with ableist expectations of me, which have led to me being so isolated.
Can anyone share their experiences of living independently? What support do you receive?