Maggie is a sixty nine year old female carer who cares for her sixty nine year old husband and thirty three year old daughter.

Maggie’s husband is currently undergoing tests for dementia, suffers with diabetes and has two hearing aids. Cared for cannot receive a diagnosis as COVID 19 has put a stop to all tests. Maggie’s daughter is living with autism. 

Maggie has been a carer for over thirty years. Her husband has become more forgetful, more absent minded and struggles with the smallest of tasks. He has become more challenging, more frustrated with his health issues and more difficult to care for. He can get frustrated with his diagnosis and takes it out sometimes on Maggie. This has placed more responsibility and demands on the Maggie.. When her daughter gets down, as she suffers with anxiety and depression, Maggie has the difficult task of getting her motivated again. This can sometimes last for months. The emotional strain Maggie can be huge.

 

Intervention

Maggie had a long discussion with DCA Support Worker about herself, and the cared for physical and mental health issues and the challenges involved with the management of these. The offer of reassurance through one to one discussions whenever needed which will allow Maggie to get things off her chest, and to release some of the stresses that may be building up.

Support worker also referred Maggie to the National Autistic Society for help and tips on how to manage recurring situations that she keeps meeting.

The DCA support worker also referred Maggie to Welfare Benefits in order to apply for attendance allowance.

Maggie has also been referred for a DCC Emergency carer’s card and a personal budget through DCA in order to help her fund some respite from her caring role.

 

Outcomes Achieved

DCA have given Maggie the safety net to know that someone is there with them, that they are not on their own, that someone is there if the situation alters in any way. 

This history built between each other is seen as invaluable by the Maggie who received a personal budget last year. This gave her an opportunity to catch up with family members she had not seen for a number of years and gave her some much need invaluable time to herself for respite from her caring role.

It has also helped her find herself again while also recharging her batteries so that she can do what she does best, that of caring for her loved ones.

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