Carers

Attending a meeting

As a carer there are many demands and pressures and these can be such as organising appropriate care which can take a lot of time and energy and on occasion find that not a lot, if anything, is happening. Attending a meeting about the caring role can be a very stressful situation and it is important to be well-prepared for it so that you can be focused when the meeting takes place.

Try and think about the meeting beforehand and visualise the meeting and rehearse various scenarios through imagery of what will be said and reactions of others and yourself.
What to do is to imagine yourself walking up to the door and then walk into the meeting, acknowledge all those present and sit down. Make sure you see yourself smiling as you sit down, being positive, upbeat, calm and most importantly relaxed with a good posture.
If you are able to visualise the situation beforehand, you will find that you are well prepared and this will ensure that all will go well. You can try this a few times until you feel more calm and controlled.
You can also practice what you will say at the meeting and go over different points you wish to make and this will help when the meeting takes place.
Make a list of the main points you wish to raise and then you won't forget anything. Write bullet points in a notebook rather than on a bit of paper so that you don't lose it.

This will result in the meeting going well, you feeling more positive about yourself, more

confident and being able to cope when the next meeting takes place.

Cost £10 includes postage and packing

When it is difficult to deal with situations and be proactive

When there is a difficult situation to deal with, such as a relative who is not helping with your caring role, this can lead to a lot of anger and resentment. When this situation arises, it is best to choose your moment to discuss in detail, especially if it is a brother or siter, for example.

The best method is if they live closeby, then work out a plan that you take it in turns to visit and care for your loved one. This could be alternative days or alternative weeks and it is good to emphasise that you need a break just to keep your energy levels up and to try and keep fit and healthy.

They will possibly agree with your plan, but the main issue is that they are able to sustain it. Each time they do visit, emphasise how important it is to you and to your health and that it gives you some respite to help ‘recharge your batteries’. You may require a bit of negotiation but it is better to persevere so that you can get an outcome suitable for yourself.

The time that you will have for yoruself is to relax and enjoy the time to it’s best effect even if it is putting your feet up and reading a book.

As a carer, you are so often thinking of others first, and do not feel guilty about having a pleasant time. Relax and enjoy those few precious hours - even if it is taking the dog for a walk. If you don’t have a walk, there are opportunities to take a dog for a walk as this can be a really calming experience. Even patting a nice dog can help to relax - try and see.