Life as a carer

All about caring
1

I’m hoping to get peoples experiences and challenges of the life of a carer

I’m interested in taking up informal role for future preparation.

  • What are your biggest challenges?
  • What should I be aware of when looking to hire a carer at a home of a family member?

Thank you,
Cameron

2

Hi Cameron, The biggest challenge for me is that caring never stops. It’s not like other jobs where you work 9-5 and then go home. Caring for a family member is a continuous 365 days of the year job.
I’m lucky in that I can leave my mum (age,90) on her own for a few hours. She has mobility problems.
I have a brother and 2 sisters who live an hours drive away. They visit once a week/fortnight and are surprised that I want ‘time off’ occasionally!
As for employing someone to care for a family member - ideally choose someone who seems kind with good references from previous employers. Plus someone who can drive and owns a car.
Depending on your carees needs you may need to employ 2 carers ( you cannot expect one person to work 7 days per week!
Plus sort out whether you’ll want the carer to work on bank holidays, the Christmas period etc and agree on a set number of weeks off per year.

3

Cameron,
Please can you tell us more about the person you think may need care shortly. Are they elderly, mentally unwell, physically? Relationship to you? Housing situation?

4

I haven’t had a day of in over 500 days. Real carers are full in. Often we don’t have any choice.

5

It’s over 2000 days since I last had a day off, (November 2014).