Getting the right carer
This week I learnt that my carer John, who has been with me for two years now is leaving for pastures new (More money so can’t blame him as he has a family) and to say I will miss him will be an understatement. We have become firm friends, been on many adventures together and had so many laughs. Yes, we have had our ups and downs, and I have been known to be quite difficult during the times I was feeling depressed, but never the less we persevered and got through it. I had a succession of carers, about five in a year before john, and none of them suited, so this is not an exact science, but what we did learn is to make sure things were in place now before just contacting an agency .
I receive direct payments and can pick and choose who I have, and the lesson we have learned is to make sure you follow some simple rules, these are a few.
Always try to get someone who has the same interests, I had two carers who, after listening to them, I was losing the will to live!!LOL if you have similar interests in common you will always have something to talk about.
in the case of early onset in younger people please please try and match the age !! This sound like it should be done as a course of common sense but you wouldn't believe how often it doesn't happen!!
Fresh air is medicine in itself, so please make sure the carer is willing to take the person out anywhere they want to and share the day with them. Getting out and about keep the mind open, searching, and watching new things happen as the day goes by, new places, new experiences and also something to talk about when they get home
Understanding of the level of Spatial awareness is paramount as I would quite happily walk into the road if not watched and helped, I am also helped out of the car and NEVER on the side of the road with traffic passing, always pavement side.
A good relationship with yourselves as well is so important and they need to feel they can tell you anything and report back to you happenings during the time they are with the Person with dementia, open and honest dialogue is so important for the well-being or the patient./Client/ etc
But most of all, please make sure the person with dementia is Happy with their carer, ask them at regular intervals and look for signs when they say something that they are maybe not quite happy with.I shall miss my carer john, he has become a great friend and a friend of the family . I shall miss going fishing with him, Bowling with him, sharing the same sense of humor, laughing at the same things, talking about football and beer, and just DOING the same things i used to do before this AWFUL Illness of dementia invaded my brain.
yes he will leave a void, and i know it will be so hard to find someone like him, but i will, no matter how long it takes, because, as i say at the beginning of this post
Its SO IMPORTANT to GET THE RIGHT CARER
Norrms , Diagnosed with dementia 7 years ago, aged 50
Please share
This week I learnt that my carer John, who has been with me for two years now is leaving for pastures new (More money so can’t blame him as he has a family) and to say I will miss him will be an understatement. We have become firm friends, been on many adventures together and had so many laughs. Yes, we have had our ups and downs, and I have been known to be quite difficult during the times I was feeling depressed, but never the less we persevered and got through it. I had a succession of carers, about five in a year before john, and none of them suited, so this is not an exact science, but what we did learn is to make sure things were in place now before just contacting an agency .
I receive direct payments and can pick and choose who I have, and the lesson we have learned is to make sure you follow some simple rules, these are a few.
Always try to get someone who has the same interests, I had two carers who, after listening to them, I was losing the will to live!!LOL if you have similar interests in common you will always have something to talk about.
in the case of early onset in younger people please please try and match the age !! This sound like it should be done as a course of common sense but you wouldn't believe how often it doesn't happen!!
Fresh air is medicine in itself, so please make sure the carer is willing to take the person out anywhere they want to and share the day with them. Getting out and about keep the mind open, searching, and watching new things happen as the day goes by, new places, new experiences and also something to talk about when they get home
Understanding of the level of Spatial awareness is paramount as I would quite happily walk into the road if not watched and helped, I am also helped out of the car and NEVER on the side of the road with traffic passing, always pavement side.
A good relationship with yourselves as well is so important and they need to feel they can tell you anything and report back to you happenings during the time they are with the Person with dementia, open and honest dialogue is so important for the well-being or the patient./Client/ etc
But most of all, please make sure the person with dementia is Happy with their carer, ask them at regular intervals and look for signs when they say something that they are maybe not quite happy with.I shall miss my carer john, he has become a great friend and a friend of the family . I shall miss going fishing with him, Bowling with him, sharing the same sense of humor, laughing at the same things, talking about football and beer, and just DOING the same things i used to do before this AWFUL Illness of dementia invaded my brain.
yes he will leave a void, and i know it will be so hard to find someone like him, but i will, no matter how long it takes, because, as i say at the beginning of this post
Its SO IMPORTANT to GET THE RIGHT CARER
Norrms , Diagnosed with dementia 7 years ago, aged 50
Please share
