Rebecca spoke to us about caring for her autistic son and the role Carers First has played in giving her a much deserved break.
Rebecca has cared for her autistic son for 33 years. Every day is much the same, a daily challenge to keep her son calm while encouraging him to be independent. She’s always on call and most days are relentless and she feels ready for bed by 5pm. Caring has taken its toll on Rebecca’s health and she has suffered kidney failure. During lockdown, her washing machine broke down and Rebecca had to resort to washing clothes over the bath. This exhausted her, aggravating the arthritis in her fingers, giving her backache, and lengthening her already exhausting days.
Rebecca turned to Carers First just as she had done in difficult times before. Thanks to Trish, her Carer Support Advisor, for many years, Rebecca has been receiving an annual Carer Assessment. She has a Carer Allowance which helps her take an invaluable break, paying for a night away each month at a local hotel. This is a lifeline and keeps her going on the toughest caring days. She attends a monthly support group where she has made great friends. Trish helped her get a grant for a new washing machine – “Trish is a lifesaver. It has made my life a lot easier. I wasn’t keen on learning old fashioned handwashing!”
A lifetime of caring has formed a dogged resilience in Rebecca. She keeps an ear out for those in a caring position and makes sure they know about Carers First’s support. While she often has to “grin and bear life”, she finds joy in her teddy bear collection and in her group of friends. She’s affectionately known as a hugger and looks forward to the day when she can squeeze her many honorary nephews and nieces again.
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