This is caring
“ There are more challenges to becoming a carer in your eighties . I ’ m still recovering from my own injuries , which can be difficult ”
my Zimmer frame , but Hazel had to care for me quite a lot . It still bothers me on some days , so we support each other .
We ’ re learning to write things down more . Recently Hazel went off for a loaf of bread , but instead came back with a bottle of cider , so we need to write things down . That said , the shops in our village are very helpful . We ’ ve lived here for nearly 20 years , since I retired , and really it ’ s like an extended family .
We renovated our porch for Hazel to sit in , now she can watch the world go by . People from the village stop to talk to her and I think that ’ s important .
I had handrails installed by Wiltshire Council and they have also been very useful for Hazel and her tumbles . She ’ s had a couple of really bad falls . She fell against a brick wall and that took a lot of getting over . It was a difficult fracture that couldn ’ t be plastered . She had another fracture to the same arm after falling on some steps . It was really quite nasty with three bone breaks .
I think being a carer is part of my nature . I would help anybody in need whether I knew them or not . I felt like I became a carer even before the diagnosis when I noticed something wasn ’ t right .
I ’ m now learning to take advice as well as giving it . I speak to friends at a daycare centre , who give me advice on caring for Hazel .
I ’ m quite aware that I ’ m older and something might happen to me . Hazel ’ s brother is also involved and we ’ ve put things in place that allow for the fact that caring for someone at 84 is not ideal . At some point we might need an alternative situation , but not at the moment . When you ’ re in a close relationship , the last thing you want is to be parted .
“ I think being a carer is part of my nature . I would help anybody in need whether I knew them or not ”
Need help and advice ?
Get in touch :
T 0808 808 7777 E advice @ carersuk . org carersuk . org / help
10 carersuk . org