There are many types of loss when it comes to people in our lives. It's not just death that can take a loved one away from us. Other types of losses can be just as difficult to cope with, for example when a loved one suffers from a form a dementia or suffers a brain injury. The person we love is still there, but they are different, they possibly cannot remember us, look at people they have known for years as if they are strangers, their moods and personality changed forever or on a gradual...
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia; a term used to describe a set of symptoms, such as memory loss, difficulties thinking and language, and in some cases, changes in behaviour and mood.
Currently, there are more than 520,000 people in the UK with Alzheimer’s disease. Worldwide, it’s estimated over 46 million people are living with some form of dementia.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease. Meaning that over time, the brain becomes more...
When someone you care about has bipolar, a condition that affects moods, it can be difficult to know how to support and be there for them. People with bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression) will experience extreme mood swings, going from depression to mania.
During depressive episodes, they’re likely to feel very unmotivated, very low and lethargic. During manic episodes, this changes to feeling very ‘high’ and overactive. They may make poor decisions and in extreme cases may...
As a story teller its great to speak to people and be the 'teller' of their story. Each story is important and has value. Permission has been given to tell this story. A story of a young lady whose dad had complications in surgery and now he has 'complications' in life and so does she. My dad was in hospital for prostate surgery he suffered neglect from those who were meant to care for him. His injury left him unable to walk and this caused him to become clinically depressed. The...
It's eating disorders awareness week and we may be reflecting on difficult aspects of eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder which reduce a person's quality of life. One aspect to consider is the cost to the person and their carers. The cost of an eating disorder is high. There is the loss of earnings and the impact on career choices from a reduced capacity to work or study, there is the social cost which is the impact it has on family and friendships and there...
When it comes to caring, many of us will not know the responsibilities involved - not, until we are thrust into the role ourselves. Young carers will be caring for someone, while still attending school, college and trying to live a normal life - but how normal can they be?
To support Young Carers Awareness Week and help make people more aware of the life young carers live, we spoke to Carers Trust, who put us in contact with Becky, aged 16.
Below is Becky's seven-day...
Thursday 26th January 2017 is Young Carers Awareness Day.
With an estimated 700,000 young carers in the UK, we want to support Carer’s Trust and recognise the challenges young carers face every day. This year, the theme of YCAD is ‘When I grow up’ and focuses on the future of young carers, helping them achieve their dream jobs.
What is a young carer?
A young carer is a young person, under 18, who helps to look after a family member or friend. They may be responsible for cooking and...
There are more than 11 million people currently living with a disability, impairment or limiting long-term illness in the UK, but what support is available?
Living with a disability can be an incredibly long journey, physically and mentally, both for the individual and the people who live with and/or care for them. But there is help and many resources available - you just need to know what to look for.
Seeking help
The first step is knowing when an extra hand may be needed. If you are...
Sometimes life throws obstacles, causing you to trip, fall and sit wondering what happened. When these obstacles stand in your way, it can often feel as though they all come at once - not just the odd bump in the road, but an avalanche of bad news. This can leave us feeling lost and not knowing where to turn, or who to turn to.
Losing a loved one is an obstacle that appears in most of our paths. Unfortunately, this pain is something we will likely all experience, but it is important to...
Dementia has touched my life personally and professionally, and I would like to do all I can to help promote awareness of this progressive disease of the brain. I turn my thoughts to the extreme impact dementia can have upon the world of those who live with this progressive disease day in, day out. From what clients have told me, their worlds often diminish as their friends and family stop making contact. This is particularly sad since, with enough support in the early stages, it is possible...
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