Carer Stories

Jennifer explains some of the challenges she's faced as a carer of someone with dementia in a rural part of Dorset.

Theresa and Michael have been married for nearly 58 years and both are now 81. At the age of 13 Theresa contracted osteomyelitis in both legs which necessitated 11½ months in hospital and numerous operations. She had further spells in hospital until the age of 27, by which time she had achieved a university degree and married Michael.

Sally looks after her elderly mother and has done so for around 17 years. Her caring role started after her mother developed mobility problems which have got worse over the years. Her mother is now housebound and doesn’t really move except from her chair to her commode and back.

Nick cares for his wife of 46 years, Lyn. He has been Lyn’s full time carer now for ten years after Lyn had a stroke. After taking early retirement from his job to care for Lyn, Nick has helped his wife with all manner of tasks around the home including cooking, helping Lyn to move around, to collect prescriptions and to do the shopping.

Rose has been a carer to her husband Peter for 12 years. Peter has vascular dementia with cognitive impairment and has been gradually declining over the years.

Bob cares for his wife, Patricia and has done for many years. Patricia has COPD, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal stenosis, asthma, some other ailments and also uses a wheelchair. During the Coronavirus pandemic the couple have been shielding at home.

I am a full time, unpaid carer for my wife, Georgina, who was formally diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s in 2012. Due to her subsequent deterioration over the ensuing years, she now has what is classed as advanced late stage Alzheimer’s.

Finley is 10 years old, he is a young carer for his mum, Emily. Emily suffers from various health conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia and relies on Finley’s support with day-to-day activities. Finley doesn’t recognise himself as being a young carer. To him, he just thinks what he does is what all children do for their parents.

Patricia has been married to Thomas for over sixty years and is his full-time carer. Thomas has vascular dementia and has no memory of people from the past. Added to this, in the last year Thomas has had a couple of falls as a result of not using his walking frame. Thomas also suffers with swollen, heavy legs.

George has been married to Ann for almost 57 years. With the current Covid-19 pandemic, Ann is considered a vulnerable person and is under self-isolation (or shielding) for 12 weeks. This has impinged on George, who used to do the shopping twice a week, as he also tries to self-isolate with Ann.

Barry has been a carer to his wife, Mary for over three decades. Mary was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when they were engaged. His role has changed over the years from husband to full-time carer and in 2000, in his early 40s, he gave up work due to illness related to working and caring.

Celina was thrown into caring for her Mum at a young age, but no one really understood her caring role and how hard it was to juggle everything at once

If you spot Anthony and Alice Bridges eating out at a restaurant you’ll think they are just like any other couple

Danielle has put her own life and ambitions on hold to care for her mum. There are thousands like her who don’t get the support they need and suffer alone, feeling isolated and unable to reach out.

Helen cares for her 18 year old daughter Maja who was born with the rare condition Kleefstra Syndrome. Maja has a range of issues, include severe learning difficulties and low muscle tone.

Up to June 4th 2012 I was just me, a nearly 40 year old, single, wine drinking, cat-owning sister, aunt, a friend, sometimes the funny one or even the fat one. But that was as far as my labels went and some I liked, some I didn’t. Then, on that day I became a Carer.