A dedicated carer from Middlesbrough is urging people to “live in the moment” and “find the daily positives” when looking after friends or loved ones.
Pam Banks, a retired childminder, tried to soldier on by herself when her husband Robert was first diagnosed with dementia a decade ago.
But the strain of 24-hour care left her suffering from stress and, when she eventually reached out for support, she found it a relief to talk to people who understood her.
“Being a carer is hard. You need to learn to live in the moment with your loved one. If carers don’t look after themselves, how can they care for others?” said Pam.
Pam’s top tips for carers:
- Take each day at a time
- Make the best of things
- Find the support you need for your loved one and yourself
- Training to help you understand the illness is a must – all jobs need training
- A sense of humour helps
- You will need buckets full of patience
- Live each day the best you can
- Take joy in the little moments
- Make time for yourself
- Find daily positives
- Make happy memories to help you cope in the future
Advice on accessing support for carers is available on our website.
The carers hub web pages have been co-created for and by unpaid carers.
