Personal Experience in Caring for My Close Relatives

This personal story is two different stories with two different twists. Since my childhood I have always been close to my grandmother. Throughout my teens and adulthood I learned what diabetes was and how to deal with that situation and how to care for an individual who has that illness. Before I used to panic and just call the ambulance, but now I know how to deal with it and learnt all the steps that I seen my mother do as she cares for her, too. There is a lot to take in and handle when someone goes through diabetic seizures, all the emotions and how to remain calm yourself and get them feeling well again and reassure them. Have to check on them constantly and check their sugar levels everyday and give insulin and all medication. Now it is a part of my lifestyle to look after her and it is incredibly hard work.

Then my grandmother had an accident and fell and fractured her hip that was painful to watch her in pain and I was emotional and she has made tremendous achievement of trying to get back to walking and taking step by step. It was hard adjusting her in the normal duties at home and taking her in a wheelchair and adjusting to her situation and making changes. She is slowly recovering and I am proud off her. She is a strong individual for being in that age.

The other story was when my uncle fell ill with an simple chest infection and it gradually went into seriousness and he was hospitalized for months in the ITC unit. You wouldn’t think a minor sore throat or flu would lead to that condition. Every day was a day in praying that he makes it through and he went into a coma and the doctors and nurses helped a lot and there were some cases where they said there is not much to do, but we never gave up and fought it through and everyday attended the hospital to check up on the progress. He was middle-aged and the doctors and nurses told us it may come to turning off the machines if no progress is made. We all said you can’t just turn off machines because the lungs are damaged. But after all that hard journey he finally came home and is slowly making progress and it’s taking time everyday. And I look after him.

Throughout I learnt how to adapt and how to manage and how to remain under pressure and took on all the responsibility and I have learnt that being a career* is an rewarding journey and I love being helpful. And I appreciate life more. I became a carer as I felt it is my duty to care and look after the elderly and loved ones. It makes me feel I am appreciated and grateful that I am looking after the loved ones. It taught me to be independent and strong and how to look after them both throughout life without keep calling the professionals. I have learnt how to be patient and listen and be supportive, also professional and responsible to do my duty and take care of them both. Good interpersonal and communication skills are essential for working in care. Also being able to listen and understand allows you to be an efficient carer. It is everyday duties to care for them and I am used to them as I have my routines and it’s made it much easier and simple. It is hardworking to be an carer.

* In the UK caregivers are called “carers.”