Hi All, I have just found this site and am hoping to connect with others in a similar position. I am 65 and have been caring for my husband who is post stroke for the last 2 years. I am finding it increasingly difficult as I have my own health issues. He has lost the use of his left side and although he can walk with use of a frame/walker he is very unsteady and needs constant support. He also suffers from psychosis which is even harder to cope with. I have just asked for a Carers Assessment and was wondering if anyone has had any positive outcome from an assessment?
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Hi @Serennu welcome to the forum. There are a few carers on the forum who have cared / are caring for someone post stroke. I think the experience of carerās assessments are mixed.
You might find this information helpful:
https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/practical-support/carer-s-assessment/
Hopefully the assessment will be in person. Itās a good idea not to have the assessment in front of the person you care for so that you can talk freely about the impact caring has on you. Make sure you request a copy of the assessment and it reflects accurately what you said.
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Hi @Serennu Croeso! Iām in a slightly similar situation to you. Been caring for my husband, Graham, for three years since he had a stroke. We had to close our business suddenly as a result. He gets Attendance Allowance and State Pension and I get Carerās Allowance but other than that we rely on our savings.
Heās had a cascade of medical issues since the stroke and itās gradually become harder and harder to cope with everything.
I have not had good experience of a Carerās Assessment as round here it seems to be a ātick boxā exercise and I get a grant of Ā£200 to āenable you to achieve your goals as statedā. Iāve also been told they have discussed the Assessment with me - I must have been asleep when they did that as I have no recollection of it! Again - if they put that in writing it MUST be trueā¦
Sorry that sounds all negative.
Graham has right side weakness and following two recent hospital stays over the last four months he is using a Zimmer to get around and is struggling.
Our only outings recently seem to be for medical appointments for him. Other than that my only trips out are daily dog walks and fortnightly Walk and Talk Group outings and perhaps the odd nip out to grab extra shopping (I have mostly home deliveries).
Are you registered with your GP (and your husbandās) as his Carer? That can open more doors to getting support. I have had routine calls from the Practice Carerās Liaison Officer to check what they can do to help me and today I have a call coming in from the Mental Health Nurse to have a chat about my situation and see how I am ācopingā with the stresses. We are blessed with an amazing GP who makes time for each of us when we need it and is very supportive - as are all the Practice staff. If they know you are a Carer and you have any health issues they can often help with other support, so itās worth making sure thatās on your Notes.
I do find that often you get offered a āone size fits allā level of support, but donāt be put off and point out what YOU need. You have to become selfish when it comes to looking after yourself when Caring.
Not sure if any of this is of much help to you, but do keep asking questions. You might like to check out the āRoll Callā thread which is where many of us have a general chat/gossip/moan/vent and it can be a fun place to get to know people (a chat over the garden fence). Itās also a place to ask some routine questions and compare notes.
Keep up the good work.