Yesterday 21st September 2015

That’s me, I have had my two days off a fortnight, so back to work I go.

I slept in today, so the children were late for school – oh! dear! It was all rush rush in my house, this morning I had to multi task ten times over getting my mum ready and pushing my children along.

My children missed their morning bus, which meant that I had to drive them to school. I couldn’t do this until my friend arrived at 10am because I could not leave my mum alone in the house. This meant they missed two lessons rather than half a lesson – I bet they were delighted – I was not.

I felt rather anxious today as this was the day that I ‘might’ or ‘might not’ hear from the financial assessment team, regarding my mum’s arrears for transport and also whether or not she has to pay the full £56.90 towards her future transport costs.

My mum’s taxi driver phoned to ask if he should come and collect my mum, I explained the circumstances and said “no”. He asked about tomorrow (the 22nd of Sept) and I explained that I might hear from the financial assessment team later in the day, therefore, I might be able to let him know later. He said that if I did not call him later he would call me in the morning before he leaves to collect my mum.

My friend arrived at 10am to cover me so that I could take my car to the garage for its MOT (praying that it passes), with the addition of dropping my children at school.

CAR PASSED – PHEW!!!!!!    Happy days.

I waited for ages whilst my car went through its MOT and I was feeling restless and anxious. I felt guilty that I was holding my friend back from dealing with her own stuff – not that she was complaining or anything – it’s just me – an awful worrier and not wanting to take advantage of anyone.

I arrived back home at 12pm

It’s now time for my mum’s lunch. My sister had made homemade soup, which was great, as it saved me cooking. I feed my mum and simultaneously feed myself –  this saves time. The time is now 1pm.

It is now time to change my mum’s incontinence pad, I bring in the stand aid and get on with the job, it’s now 1.45pm, then I put my mum in her wheelchair. Mum is looking good today, full of beans and smiley, its lovely to see her like this.

Still no call from the financial assessment team 😦

Time to clean and prepare dinner.

Its 3.45pm still no call 😦 I am wondering if I will get a call and I am not feeling optimistic.

As I was going about my daily chores I was thinking about the time that I have spent with my mum that day. I have only really spent time with my mum when I have needed to do something for her such as feeding or changing her and I am thinking about the things she would have been doing if she was in the day care centre such as singing, exercising and all the other fantastic activities that they do. FEELING IRRITATED NOW, poor mum.

I started thinking about ways in which I could cut down, to save money, to pay for mums transport – this is difficult because no matter what way I work it someone will lose out on essentials, especially given that I am on a low-income.

Being  a full-time carer for my mum means I work 24/7 which equates to 672 hours a month. Because my sister comes to my home every second week to take over my role and give me respite the amount of hours I work is reduced to 624 hours a month.

Carers Allowance, which is my wage for looking after my mum is around £248.40 every 4 weeks, making my hourly rate a whooping £0.39p – ain’t I lucky.

Thinking back to a pervious blog; the one were the lady at my local MP’s office highlighted my carers allowance when I was complaining about the £56.90 charge for my mum’s transport, which at the time indicated to me, that she felt I should use this to pay for my mum’s taxi – astronomical.

If I used my carer’s allowance to pay for my mum’s taxi I would then get 0.03p an hour for my role as a carer – I CAN ONLY LAUGH IN AMAZEMENT AT SOME PEOPLE’S THOUGHT PROCESS and I can assume that there are very few people in Scotland who work for 0.03p an hour.

IS THAT EVEN LEGAL?????
I wonder what the minimum wage in Scotland is?
Is my job an actual job?

RANT OVER

I decided to have a look at Government policies etc….. to see what my mum’s rights are and came across the following information:

Scotland’s National Dementia Strategy (http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/324377/0104420.pdf)

Highlights the following:

This strategy adopts the principles set out in the Charter. In summary, these are that people with dementia and their carers have the right to: Participation, including rights to accessible information and support to participate in decisions that affect them; to live as independently as possible with access to community facilities; to full participation in planning care; and to be assisted to be involved in policy-making. Accountability, including rights to enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms including full respect for their dignity, beliefs, individual circumstances and privacy; and to the accountability of organisations and individuals responsible for care and treatment for the respect, protection and fulfilment of their human rights.

If this is the case why is my mum’s right to participate in her community being taken away from her.

This strategy also acknowledges the following “support for those who care for people with dementia is often overlooked, so that their health suffers with the stress of caring“.

So what about me? Why am I having to go through the stress and anxiety of dealing with service cutbacks and unrealistic demands of payment for services for my mum and so forth.

I decided to contact a local carers support charity to see if they could organise funding which would allow me to get my car adapted – this way I could take my mum into the day care centre myself.

They said they would look into this for me. FINGERS ARE CROSSED.

I find it ridiculous that once you reach pensioner age you cannot apply for a mobility car – is this not a form of agism – I ask myself! If my mum had a mobility car I could whisk her into the day care centre myself. IF I AM WRONG ABOUT THIS SOMEONE CORRECT ME – MAYBE I HAVE MISREAD.

It’s now after 5pm and I have had no call from the financial assessment team, therefore, I will need to wait until tomorrow for any news on my mum’s arrears and the £56.90 charge towards her transport costs 😦

Tonight is one of the nights that I spend helping my son study for his up and coming exams. After dinner I sit with him and go over past papers. I am very aware that my mum has not had a lot of my attention, I feel very guilty. It’s very unfair. I wish there were two of me, one for mum and one for my children – how much easier life would be.

The carer arrived and together we washed and changed my mum into her pjs. Mum was tired looking but still giggling, which was good. We walked my mum through to the livingroom and sat her in her chair.

Now back to studying.

Aaaaaaargh! let the fun commence. After 3 hours of “I don’t need to learn this”, and “I don’t need to learn that”, he learned this and that. Phew! I was glad when that was over lol… I bet my son was too.

It’s now after 9pm and time for my mum’s bed. I asked my daughter to help me stand my mum up, which she did, and then we walked my mum through to her room, which can take about ten minutes, but is great for keeping my mum mobile.

My daughter held my mums hands to prevent her from falling and I changed my mums pad, we sat my mum in her wheelchair and then put the full body hoist over her to hoist her into bed. It’s now 9.45pm

I think then – time to chill – a cup of tea