Hi all
I began caring for my husband after his 3rd stroke in Sept 23. I work full time, and we are parents and grandparents to a wonderful family.
Is anyone else in a similar situation? I would love to hear your thoughts and strategies for juggling everything.
Sewing/embroidery has always been my ‘me time’ but recently I just can’t find the time😔
My hubby is my carer so I can’t offer much advice but I just wanted to say I take my hat off to all carers because I know how exhausting it is. You are remarkable people & all deserve a medal🥉 thank you all.
When I was a carer for my terminally ill dad & my hubby who had cancer (at the same time) I am not sure I had any strategies. I was able to juggle my working hours which helped but other than that I just kept going & doing what I needed to when it needed doing. I did used to destress by going for a run which helped me. I always knew there was an end point with my dad though - although that point took 18 months (longer than expected) so I guess that thought kept me going too.
Hopefully for you time will see your husband improve & start to do more for himself & if you can get others to sit with him for a bit or take him to a day centre for a while that might help too.
Best wishes
Ann
Thanks @Mrs5K, work is my de stress at the moment but with Summer coming I may be able to sew in the evenings again.
Hi @Jonesygirl, firstly I would just like to say a big thank you to all of the amazing carers out there. You do the most amazing job.
I can only speak as a stroke survivor, my husband has been my carer since my stroke 8 years ago . As I have improved and become more independent he has returned to work part time and I’m always encouraging him to go out and do something for himself. He occasionally meets friends for a game of golf or meets up with friends for a pint and a catch up. It gives both of us some much needed space and independence.
Hopefully as your husband improves you will also be able to have some time to yourself and continue with your sewing/embroidery. In the meantime do you have friends or family who could sit with your husband occasionally so that you can take a well earned break, even if it’s only a couple of hours here and there.
Take care of yourself and thank you again.
Regards Sue
Thanks Sue, I will have to have a think about how ghings should progress as time goes on.
You really must be sure you get that ‘me time’.
It is good for you and everyone around you. It is what gives you the energy to continue and helps put everything in its place. No-one can or should give you reason to doubt it.
Best wishes,
Keep on keepin’ on
Thanks @Bobbi, thanks all.
I hear you, I guess things have become busy, I have been tired and I just haven’t had the motivation or energy to find my time (plua a nasty bout of sciatica has stooped me in my tracks for a while!
). Hopefully that will change soon.
I am my husband’s carer. He had a stroke that left him without his right-side and speech. I was lucky that i could work from home when he first came out of hospital. The care package didnt work out at all so it was down to me for the first 6 months. I found that i needed to get back to work for my own sanity. I arranged a care package that worked and eventually i managed a phased return. I think that was probably the best thing for both of us. I gained a break from being a full-time carer and it encouraged him to become more independent.
Yes i have to squeeze all of the things like practising speech, physio tasks, cooking and house duties into a window of 4 hours when i get home but its becoming the norm now.
I keep reminding both of us how far we have come in 18 months and how much we have yet to achieve in the next few years.
I cant offer you any real advice on juggling but it all seems to happen but life is always a compromise atm. You just have to realise that you cannot do everything for everyone all of the time!
Good luck and you will succeed 