Being a full time Carer is hard work but very rewarding
Andrew, 55, lives in Deal. He became a full time Carer for his mother who has dementia in 2020 and started a new business working from home to help him combine work with caring for her.
“My father died in 2018 after suffering with Alzheimers for 15 years. My mother was living alone when Covid hit and we quickly recognised she wouldn’t be able to manage alone and took steps to get a diagnosis of her dementia. We sold our house, moving to a property where Mum now has a self-contained flat. We can take care of her daily needs, but she can maintain dignity and a degree of independence.
In the course of the move and resettling of Mum we realised there is a market for gifts and aids to keep memories alive and conversation going, and to help normalise change. From this, a new business has developed that I can do from home whilst caring for Mum.
I do everything for Mum – cooking, cleaning, laundry, take care of finances and medication, make and take her to appointments and try to keep her engaged in daily activities.
Being a Carer is hard work but very rewarding. I worry much less about how mum is doing now she lives in the house. Life is at a slower pace as I had a very stressful job before. I’m enjoying the process of setting up a new business that enables me to be at home, and love the daily engagement and conversations I now have with her.