Maggie, Maggie, Maggie - the people who are either suffering or 'bogged down with caring' are the people who demand the hugest respect and need the hugest support as well as accolades! (Hugest hugs!!!!)
I think (may be wrong) I am the same lines as Lynne here ..... you know I get very passionate about certain issues
.... whilst I was trying to maintain mum in her own home (amongst sundry other matters!) I have had little time to expend energy on the placard waving and lobbying other than venting feelings and thoughts here (which have been gracefully supported, necessarily poo-poohed or suitably ignored!!!!
) at various ridiculous times of day or night!!!!!
What I feel so strongly about now is putting this sudden 'spare time' to good use ..... else have mum and I gone through the last few years for nothing? I'm still not sure I'm that competent at waving placards .... but I do want to make the right noises in the right places (make a nuisnace of myself somewhere else in other words) where I might effect some change for the good and if it's only the back of my mother's own horrible experiences and my insight into the poor provision of care services .... blah blah - starting to sound like a politician already!
)
I already feel like an ex-carer (still adjusting to my new role 'caring' for mum in different circumstances) ... but the experiences of the last few years are shaping my future thinking ..... naive Utopian thinking that I may put the bad to good use? Meanwhile, some people like you have a far more important role ..... and perhaps it's the place of us released, sadly, for different but inevitable reasons from that 24/7 caring (or 24/7 worrying as a minimum!) to promote the needs of those still there and still needing such huge support .....
I do want the experiences of the last few years to make a difference ... I am not suggesting that sharing on TP doesn't do that - if just that one other member might find some comfort from a thread or post ..... but the need to work more laterally ... to shout louder and in other places .... to make a bigger nuisance of myself if it helps someone else ........ !!!!!! ......
And 100% behind your thinking, Maggie - the stigmatization has to be the first to go!!!!
That perhaps, is what has fuelled my inspiration so much today, in such a sad way, about the 'official' news about your namessake!
Love, Karen, x