I'm a full-time OAP unpaid carer

Tarbatness

Hello, I`m a full-time OAP unpaid carer, tending to the caring needs of a friend and have been doing this since my friend first became disabled, in 2006, through being attacked at work and shortly after having a massive allergic reaction to a pneumonia injection. The effects of these incidents resulted in my friend being medically retired from work and being diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME, amongst other illnesses..In 2011, my friend suffered a basilar tip aneurysm (brain aneurysm) which  meant several days in Intensive Care, followed by weeks in hospital. Up till then I had been working nights, doing some 50 hours a week and caring for about 60 hours a week during the day. Upon my friends release from hospital, with far more serious mental and physical disabilities, I took early retirement from work, in order to spend more time in my caring role - 100+ hours a week, which I`ve been doing since (2012). In 2014, my friend suffered a stroke and in 2015 was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.  

On call 24/7, I sometimes get called out during the night, but tend to get up around 7 am, take the dogs out, put the washer on, have a coffee or two and check my emails etc. Then each day unfolds differently, no guarantee on what how things will progress, but it usually means I`m kept busy up till midnight, when I finally get to bed ! 

Ami2301

Hi @Tarbatness Welcome to the community!

I admire you for all that you do! You must love your role as I can tell how dedicated you are!

sophialob

Hi @Tarbatness! Welcome to the community you are inspirational and I hope you feel welcomed here and that you can get support from this community

Pippa_Alumni

Hi @Tarbatness, and a warm welcome to the community! Great to have you here.

Thanks for sharing this with us. It certainly sounds as though you're coping with a lot. Do you have any support from family or social care at the moment?

Tarbatness

Thanks, for the welcome.
At present, coping on my own Pippa, though have had Stroke nurses in, in the past, as well as an O/T and speech therapists. Got their phone numbers should I need them. Take my friend to see the Neuropsychologist every 10 weeks. Little or no help from family.

Pippa_Alumni

It sounds like you're doing a great job, @Tarbatness. I'm just wondering if there's any other support or respite you might be eligible for!

It might be worth giving Carers UK a call- they have a brilliant support and information line where you should be able to talk to somebody about anything, and they should be able to advise or make recommendations:

You can email us or contact us and we will respond to your enquiries within 5 working days, although it can often be sooner.

Our telephone helpline providing information is open on Mondays and Tuesday between 10am and 4pm - 0808 808 7777

Tarbatness

Thanks Pippa