Connect with other carers: carersuk.org/forum
“My husband’s ill health
can cause a lot of stress and
sometimes other people’s
opinions and ‘well-meant’
comments are hard to hear”
renal nurse at any time if I have concerns,
she’s amazing.
My husband’s ill health can cause a lot
of stress and sometimes other people’s
opinions and ‘well-meant’ comments are
hard to hear.
One comment in particular really got my
back up, but I have developed quite a tough
hide and with my sense of humour I decided
to write a survival guide.
Sometimes people that aren’t carers just
don’t get it and can say flippant things
that can be really annoying, so I wrote
my guide. But many carers may not even
realise that they are a carer and just think
they’re helping out. Hopefully between the
recognition guide and my survival guide I
can help a few more carers get what they
need and through the day a little easier.
Gillie’s guide to how to recognise yourself as a carer:
As our lead feature shows, we can find ourselves caring without really noticing that
we’re a carer. Here, Gillie shares some tell-tale signs that we might be a carer:
1. You can no longer just ‘pop’ out.
Every outing has to be carefully
planned and negotiated
2. The most exciting thing you can
look forward to is the weekly shop.
3. The height of your social life is a chat
with the pharmacist.
4. You shake and smooth your clothes
out of the ironing basket to wear them,
because there is no time for ironing
5. A hot dinner is a luxury and you
eat your meals in instalments.
6. Being up at silly o’clock is normal. Or
you have less than four hours’ sleep but
there’s no newborn baby in the house.
7. You make plans for yourself but
never get time to see them through
8. You turn up late everywhere
because you’ve been getting medicine
and driving your loved one to the doctors.
9. You can’t remember the last time you
made a decision based on what you want
or need.
To see Gillie’s survival guide
go to: carersuk.org/survival
Online advice and support
To connect with other carers and find information and
advice visit the Carers UK website and forum on a
computer, tablet or mobile: carersuk.org
@carersuk
/carersuk
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