I have been re-reading Anna Arstein-Kerslake’s book, Restoring Voice to People with Cognitive Disabilities. And it has made me reflect on the adults I care for as a live-in carer. Many of them live with cognitive disabilities such as dementia or the after-effects of stroke. Although their situations may not precisely align with the examples in the book, the central principle still applies. We must see each person as a whole individual, not as a diagnosis or condition.
You know what really gets me? When people talk about getting older, they always throw around numbers – like turning 70 or 80 is some deadline where everything falls apart. But working in live-in care has completely changed how I see all this.
Continue reading “Ageing Isn’t Just About Age—It’s About Ability, Dignity, and Voice”You know what’s weird? I’ve probably talked more about incontinence problems, memory hiccups, feeling lonely, and what people want when they’re dying than most of my friends ever will. That’s just part of the job when you’re living in someone’s home, helping them through their later years.
Continue reading “Why We Need to Talk About Ageing Before It Happens to Us”
As a live-in carer, I often encounter situations where our well-meaning actions can unintentionally take away independence rather than support it. To counter this, I recently created a Benable list of independent living aids that, in my experience, encourage independence and give individuals back a sense of control over their lives.
Continue reading “Everyday Independent Living Aids That Make Life Easier”
Patience isn’t something that is taught in carer’s training. They cover moving and handling techniques, medication schedules, and emergency procedures. Still, no one prepares you for the kind of patience that comes from watching someone you care about struggle with the simple act of buttoning down a shirt for twenty minutes. Or when the same question is asked repeatedly in an hour, with the same genuine confusion.
Continue reading “What I’ve Learned About Patience”