Conversations with Carers is a series of podcasts, articles and innovative dance films, which examines the realities of paid and unpaid care. The work is created by Rashmi Becker, MBE, Founder of Step Change Studios, and supported using public funding by Arts Council England. Episode 3: The informal Carer Photo credit: Conversations with Carers, produced … Continued
A well-meaning HR Manager once told me that she understood the difficulties I was having juggling issues with my brother’s care and a full-time job because she was a working parent and she too had the juggle childcare and work. I responded (perhaps slightly unfairly on reflection) by pointing out that as a parent she’d … Continued
I have an incredibly unique family as both my brother and sister have a degenerative disease of the nervous system. My Mum is in the last stages of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). So from the get-go I was in a world of disability, experiencing the good, the bad and the down right ugly!!! The advice I … Continued
I was 6 years old and my sister, Sophie, was nearly 5 years old, when Kathryn was born. Kathryn was a really easy baby, but when it came to her two year check – things weren’t quite right. Physically she was fine, but she wasn’t meeting milestones mentally and didn’t have any language. That has … Continued
I am the youngest of four children to two loving and amazing parents. Two of my siblings have severe learning disabilities and epilepsy. My sister, Mira, who is 45, and my twin brother, Prasad, who is 38. Their disabilities were caused by medical failures at birth. It has been an emotional roller coaster being part … Continued
I’m 61, and my brother, Frazer, has a learning disability and epilepsy. He is 6 years younger than me, so I have always looked out for him. At the moment, his medication seems to be controlling things well, but we review his treatment regularly with his doctors. I feel like I have been on an … Continued
My brother Mike and I were born in the late 1960s. In our early years, we were very close as we were near in age. We grew up with an extended family of grandparents, aunts and uncles. We used to mimic TV programs of the time like Bonanza, we painted each other’s faces, we were … Continued
My parents were foster carers. In 1976 when I was 4, a baby boy named Paul was placed with us. I cannot remember a time before Paul and I grew up together as brothers. Paul has severe learning disabilities and autism. He communicates through rote behavior & echolalia learnt through his lifetime. In the ‘moment’ … Continued
After the sudden death of a mother, the elderly father reluctantly turned to his son and asked if carers would possibly help with his daughter. A lady who lives with a learning disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, anxiety and mobility issues. His son had spent the past 30 years working within Adult Social Care, to understand … Continued
I live in Northern Ireland with my husband and we look after my mother-in-law who is in her 90s. My own parents are in their late 70s/early 80s and live in England. They are on a basic pension, and Mum has recently started having memory problems. My sister Emma has Down Syndrome and lives next … Continued