My family has been totally broken by my Mums dementia. I have a sister with mental health problems who has used my Mum paranoid thoughts for her own end. She created a storm of trouble them walked away. As a result my eldest sister who had been my Mums carer for 16 years was told not to come back. I am the youngest and am the sole carer for my Mum now. I never imagined we would end Mums life like this.
I was watching a Teepa Snow training video on youtube last night. She is from a US based organisation and the videos are very good at helping carers understand and work with dementia sufferers. In it she said that for every 5 families facing dementia, 4 will fall apart.
I am in the unlucky 80%. If you are in the 20% I envy you and wish you all the best in your caring. Personally I don't feel so bad now I hear this statistic. Im the fixer of the family and I always felt bad that I was not able to keep things together for Mums sake. We are a victim of mental illness - Mums and my sisters. Double whammy.
Big hugs to all you carers out there. Stop beating yourself up and stop fretting about the "invisibles". They are not as strong as you, even though you don't feel strong. Every day is a days march nearer home.
Love Quilty
I was watching a Teepa Snow training video on youtube last night. She is from a US based organisation and the videos are very good at helping carers understand and work with dementia sufferers. In it she said that for every 5 families facing dementia, 4 will fall apart.
I am in the unlucky 80%. If you are in the 20% I envy you and wish you all the best in your caring. Personally I don't feel so bad now I hear this statistic. Im the fixer of the family and I always felt bad that I was not able to keep things together for Mums sake. We are a victim of mental illness - Mums and my sisters. Double whammy.
Big hugs to all you carers out there. Stop beating yourself up and stop fretting about the "invisibles". They are not as strong as you, even though you don't feel strong. Every day is a days march nearer home.
Love Quilty