carers
When I came out of hospital one of the first visitors I had at home was a lovely lady from our local council's social services department. She had called to arrange care in the form of help with washing and dressing in the mornings as well as to assess any other care needs I may have during the day and evening.
At first I was a little reluctant to agee to this feeling that Lisa and I could cope just fine on our own.
Lisa was a lot more keen to have some form of home help and now I can understand why.
It's not just help with the practical side of things like the actual act of geting clean and dressed ready for the day, but it's also the social interaction with another person entering your home. And not just any person. The people who I am lucky enough to call in to help genuinely do seem to care for my and Lisa's wellbeing and welfare.
They are exactly the same as the carers I was lucky enough to have in hospital. People who see their role as a vocation and not a job.
We have a chat while I'm being tended to - usually about something humorous, but they also listen to any issues I may have and give advice and tips on simple care matters like applying creams and lotions, etc.
Without people who are prepared to devote their time to such causes then while we would undoubtedly get by, our days woud be harder and no doubt more fraught and stressed.
For many people, especially the elderly, their carer may well be the only person they see during the day, and I have no doubt that they help brighen their day for them as they certainly cheer me up when they call here.
For once I'm glad I listened to my wife.
At first I was a little reluctant to agee to this feeling that Lisa and I could cope just fine on our own.
Lisa was a lot more keen to have some form of home help and now I can understand why.
It's not just help with the practical side of things like the actual act of geting clean and dressed ready for the day, but it's also the social interaction with another person entering your home. And not just any person. The people who I am lucky enough to call in to help genuinely do seem to care for my and Lisa's wellbeing and welfare.
They are exactly the same as the carers I was lucky enough to have in hospital. People who see their role as a vocation and not a job.
We have a chat while I'm being tended to - usually about something humorous, but they also listen to any issues I may have and give advice and tips on simple care matters like applying creams and lotions, etc.
Without people who are prepared to devote their time to such causes then while we would undoubtedly get by, our days woud be harder and no doubt more fraught and stressed.
For many people, especially the elderly, their carer may well be the only person they see during the day, and I have no doubt that they help brighen their day for them as they certainly cheer me up when they call here.
For once I'm glad I listened to my wife.
Take all the help you can get Nick....it will make both your lives a lot easier.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nigel! If only to have someone to talk to who is not emotionally involved in the situation. It really helps! And it will help take some of the stress off family members. Just my humble opinion. (from 13 years of my father's disability.)
ReplyDelete