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PRU GOWARD BLOG
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| Please Visit the Liberal Nationals Caring4Carers Website |
11th March 2010 |
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| by Pru Goward |
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Check out how the Liberal Nationals plan to help carers in New South Wales through pushing forthe NSW Carers Recognition Bill 2010
http://www.caring4carers.com.au/ |
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| Comments(1) |
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Pru, I`m out of your electorate but have read the proposed Bill regarding carers and would like to make the point that carers who don`t actually live with the person they care for, are unable to get assistance of any kind.
I have been in a relationship for the past ten years with a gentleman who is diabetic, and we’ve maintained separate homes and spent alternate long weekends together. Three years ago he lost all feeling in his feet due to nerve damage and was no longer able to drive himself, requiring me to transport him locally for different reasons and to Mossvale and Nowra to see Specialists for appointments etc. He subsequently had several hypos. and a number of falls and I became his official carer some eighteen months ago, requiring me to spend more time with him as he was anxious being along at night.
I became increasingly exhausted and frustrated as my life was taken up with looking after him and I had no time for myself and my usual activities. I’ve been having on-going treatment for physical and nervous exhaustion with a herbalist at Nowra Womens Health Centre for the past twelve months. As my partner`s condition further deteriorated I arranged for the Aged Care Team to do an Assessment for him which, as you’d know, enables him to get domestic help, housework, transport, etc. If I was living WITH him this would have taken the load off me - given me a rest - and enabled me to have some time for myself and recharge my batteries. However, because I live in a separate house, I am entitled to no help even though I am taking the same responsibilities as a live-in carer.
I took my partner to the podiatrist on 4th March at which time his toe was accidently cut and subsequently became infected and he was taken to Casualty at Milton Hospital on 11th March and admitted. On 18th March he was sent to Wollongong Hospital and the toe taken off, and he is expected to be sent on to a Rehabilitation clinic next week.
In the meantime I spend all my time getting my own house back in order and working my way through a long list of things I should have been doing over the months. However, my energy is not picking up and I find myself dreading the time when he`ll return.
A few weeks ago I contacted the local Carer’s Group and worked my way through the Home and Community Services booklet the co-ordinator gave me but again have been unable to find any organization that provides a service for carers who lives apart from their person.
Last night in despair I rang Wollongong Hospital and advised the nursing sister looking after my partner that he should not be discharged until all the community services - that he is entitled to - were in place because, without some help and support for me, I would not be able to carry out my former responsibilities and to do so would be putting my own health at risk.
I will send this information off to my local MPs. Dawn Coleman |
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Post by: Dawn Coleman at 31/03/2010 17:35 |
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