Things I Didn't Know About

Last night I went to the third meeting for Carers and came home with information about things I didn't know about.  Again it was a good meeting with lots to talk about - there are so many things that seem to be common to all our partners which I sort of assumed were peculiar to Pete, but if they all have them then they are obviously small things that affect the majority of stroke survivors but which you aren't told about.  The main two I can remember are: 1). Everything has to be done NOW, not in 5 minutes time but now. It doesn't matter what else you might be doing.  2) taste can be affected.  One lady said her partner seems to have lost a certain amount of taste and he says food is bland, so she gives him relishes etc to help.  I have mentioned that Pete seems to dislike some foods now and also that he has to practically have a plate full of tomato sauce with everything, which he hardly ever used to have before.  Someone used to have salad cream with everything and now won't have it at all.  It's very interesting to compare these things.

Then there was information about practical things I didn't know about - 3 in particular.  These are all schemes some of the others knew about, not information officially given out.

1). Devon Carers can issue a card, about the size of a credit card, that you carry all the time and it says you are a carer and gives information on who to contact if anything unexpected happens to you whilst away from home.  It has crossed my mind that I should have some information on me to say that Pete is at home alone and will need someone.  So this sounds good and I have rung them this morning to apply for the official card.  This is supplied free of charge.

2). Boots (aaaagh!!) supply pots for a scheme called 'message in a bottle'.  This is a little pot that you keep in the fridge (because most people have one!!) with information on the medication the person needs.  There is a sticker you put up saying you are part of this scheme and so when anyone has to come in in an emergency and you are not available to give details then they can quickly find all the relevant information. So I have picked one of these up today.  Definitely worthwhile and, again, it is all free.

3). We may be eligible for a reduction in our council tax (yippee!!). Apparently, if you are a carer for someone in the house (but not a partner/spouse) you qualify for a reduction but although this rule doesn't apply to us, we may qualify for another reduction because Pete uses a wheelchair sometimes in the house.  They are sending the form for me to complete and we have to get a letter from the GP but they said that, although Pete only uses the w/chair first thing in the morning as he is a bit unstable for a while when he gets out of bed, they think we may qualify. That would be useful.  But I do think that perhaps the information that some carers get a reduction and also you can qualify if a wheelchair is used in the house should be much more widely available.  Basically, when they leave hospital all you are told about is the Disability Living Allowance.  For a few weeks when Pete came home he could only use the wheelchair to get around but we would definitely have been able to get a reduction then.

So now I am much wiser than before and this is all useful information that you only find out about from word of mouth from other carers.