Catherine, senior home help in Wilmslow

I am currently working as an Advocate/companion for a lady with learning difficulties who is overseeing her daily routine and ensuring she is taking her medication and helping her with her cooking, shopping, housework and washing/ironing. Ensuring she is safe.

I was also caring for my mother. She was displaying dementia in the early stages, forgetfulness, going to an old address, losing sense of time, forgetting the date. An inability to make decisions or concentrate on everyday tasks such as cooking and she was no longer able to look after my brother or take care of the household anymore. My brother has brain damage and learning difficulties, so I returned home to become their full time carer. That is what I have prominently been doing. Mum had a Subarachnoid Haemorrhage early in 2015. The subsequent brain trauma worsened the condition. She needed communication support and help with trying to remember names and places and helping the brain learn alternative ways of working in order to minimise the long term impact of the brain injury by using prompts. Her speech was very affected, so I devised with her flash cards and visual aids. I have been responsible for her appointments and working with various professionals in her rehabilitation programme. She developed mood swings, challenging and aggressive behaviour. She became extremely upset over trivial matters and experiences bouts of anxiety or irritation. She would often wake in the night screaming like she was in pain and try to leave the household in the middle of the night. She was later diagnosed with have vascular dementia, she has problems with memory, thinking or reasoning. I was responsible for her personal needs, such as washing, dressing and toileting. Taking her to all her appointments and overseeing the administration of medication. All household duties. I had to prioritise my day to ensure that my brother’s needs were met too ensuring he attended all his appointments and teaching him how to cook, shopping, washing and ironing. I was working closely with social services and other health care professionals.