How family carers dread the Christmas and New Year holidays
A few thoughts written by carers and a former carer
When you are carer of someone who can do nothing for themselves and can’t communicate the normal feeling of isolation becomes more acute at Christmas.
Care workers who normally come in to help are on holiday, as mostly, we can’t afford the double time for them to work.
The GP surgery is normally closed for a week, the district nurses are also off, so if any emergency occurs we have to wait for out of hours services which usually have to travel long distances -and can’t get here quickly.
Friends, neighbours and family are usually out partying, so help is difficult to find if you need it quickly.
When every one else stops work for the holidays, we unpaid carers are more isolated , more stressed, and more taken for granted.
The feeling of isolation is increased by the fact that I have no choice. At this time of year there are so many social activities going on and, although if I had the choice, I probably would not choose to participate in all of them, I have no choice and that does get me down.
And all us carers, just cant clock off at the end of the day, we are on call 24/7/365, Christmas time being the worse time, when all outside help are unavailable,so we have to forfeit any kind of social life,and to be ready for any emergencies that may occur.
even if your a former carer Christmas is so isolating.
it reminds you of what thing were like .
its funny how you can miss the hard work that caring at Christmas brings.
