Frances's story
One couple to have benefited from the Caring with Confidence programme is Frances and Reg Winch. The couple, who are in their sixties, live in Maldon, Essex and for over two years have been living with the changes vascular dementia is having on their lives. Frances is now her husband’s full time carer and looks after all his personal care.
Due to Reg’s condition he suffers from hallucinations, is very jumpy, struggles to hold conversations and is incontinent. He requires continuous care and Frances has to change and clean Reg regularly throughout the day. This can be difficult for Frances as she is unable to get Reg in and out of the bath without help and the lifting she has done has led her to injure her neck.
The couple are the first to praise the staff at Maldon Carers Centre, who introduced Frances to the Caring with Confidence programme. France said: “Maldon Carers Centre has been a great support. When the staff recommended I attend the Caring with Confidence sessions I was looking forward to meeting other people in similar situations to myself.
“It was great. I have made lots of new friends and I now realise that I am not alone with the thoughts and feelings I have. I know not to feel guilty about these feelings or for getting frustrated in certain situations, as I now know that they are natural reactions.”
From attending the first session, ‘Finding your Way’, Frances began to look at her caring role more positively which helped her manage better when she was faced with a difficult situation at home. She felt that others she had met on the sessions had described worse circumstances than her own and that this put her role into perspective.
Frances continued: “I have been able to take a step back from my caring role and I am able to manage situations better. Swapping tips and caring knowledge with the other carers on the session was great. I was unaware that as a blue badge holder, Reg, was entitled to a key for disabled toilets when we are out. I have since applied for this and it makes trips out a lot easier.
“I have kept in touch with some of the carers I met on the Caring with Confidence programme. Once a month we go to lunch club and catch up. I feel like I have more freedom now. The sessions have helped me to start making the most of my time. I am more relaxed and this has helped Reg relax more too.”