Day 353 – Caring for the carer, part one
I am lucky enough to have a spectacularly supportive network of people in my life. One thing that has always worried me when I am ill is how these people can manage the burden of my illness.
My mother has been kind enough to write a blog about one form of support for carers and I hope it will be helpful for those of you supporting loved ones through tough times.
Since Ellie was diagnosed bipolar we have often felt in the dark as to what it meant and what to do about it.
We would observe behaviour that seemed a little odd or unusual and wonder was it the bipolar or was it her personality and what way to intervene or how to intervene in order to help.
I joined an organisation called Rethink who describe themselves thus:
“Rethink, the leading national mental health membership charity, works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life.
“We provide hope and empowerment through effective services and support to all those who need us, and campaign for change through greater awareness and understanding.”
Part of the service they provide is a person whose job is to support the carer. This person has been a godsend and although I don’t see her that often I know that if I phone her up and leave a message she will get back to me quickly and either listen to the particular problem on the phone or arrange to meet to discuss what to do.
She suggests ways to help us over a hurdle or from her experience talks of the options. She is a great believer in the importance of the person needing to accept that she has an illness that just like diabetes needs to be managed. She also talks about the needs of the carer and the importance of boundaries.
The other very helpful thing Dee has done is to enroll me on a course of ten once a week sessions which make up the carers education and training programme.
It is held every Wednesday morning in Melton Mowbray. One is going to start in Harborough in february or March but I felt the need to learn about mental health as soon as possible in order to be able to help Ellie in this crisis.
For more information about support for carers go to www.rethink.org.uk
