Carers and Crazy Tuesday

I have had my first week of having carers, overall its gone pretty well.

I have had the same carer in the morning and i am going to have the same carer in the morning continiously, getting on really well, she comes around 9.30am and makes breakfast and a cup of tea, and then helps me wash, brush hair, brush teeth etc and then assist get dressed which roughly takes an hour.

Then i have a second carer come at about 1pm and make me lunch which is about 30 minutes. The funny thing is although it wasnt intended is the lunchtime carer turned out to be my cousin which is really good because it makes me feel like i have a friend around and makes it feel less clinical. The agency said that its okay for my cousin to continue being my lunch time carer as long as she only does lunch time and not morning caring, as morning caring would be unethical. I am more than happy for my cousin to continue being my carer. The other thing that the agency said is that with my cousin being a carer that patient confientuality would have to kept.

On Thursdays i go to my mums early, my fiance starts work at 10 and takes me to my mums at 9.30 so i have to have a carer early. However the usual morning carer isnt available at 8.30 so i have a different carer and i dont have a lunchtime call because i am not at home.

Tuesday was a very busy day, i had my normal morning and afternoon carer calls, i also had someone from the agency call to write up a careplan which took an hour and an half.

Then i had someone from social services come to do a financial assessment to see if i am able to contribute towards my care, when they do this they take only my money into account... my benefits my Disability Living Allowance and also my Incapacity Benefits and also all my outgoings, they worked out that i was unable to contribute which is common with people on benefits. Then i spoke to the person about my benefits and they said that as i am not sick enough to be needing care assistance i should be entitled to the middle rate care componant of Disability Living Allowance and at the moment i am only on the lower care componant. The lady called the DLA and requested the form which came through today, i need to call her monday and make an appointment and she will help me go through the form.

After the social services lady left then my Occupational Therapist came to measure the bathroom for the wetroom and said that it should be completed within the next few months, she also ordered some "elephant feet" raisers for the current bed we have, and is refering us to the district nurses RE getting a electric bed but is not sure whether or not we will be able to get one.. The OT was here for about an hour, overall it was a very crazy day!!

Very glad it was over!!