Being A Carer

During 2025 my mother’s health took a significant downturn, as a result of struggling with the impacts of going fully blind and having several falls, along with other general effects of old age. And that in turn greatly increased my responsibilities as an unpaid carer for her.

So I’ve been documenting our journey here in the hope that it raises awareness, and I’ve included some links to useful resources below as well. I hope you find it interesting and insightful.

My Posts

2025

• Summaries:
  • January-July 2025 – Mum’s physical and mental health decline, plus my wellbeing.
  • August-October 2025 – Mum’s broken wrist and resulting support. I was also interviewed for RNIB Connect Radio’s Good Company show and podcast during this period.
  • December 2025 – Reflections on the year, latest updates and a look ahead to 2026.
• Journals:
  • Jan-May 2025 – Falls, sleep issues and panic attacks.
  • June 2025 – Another fall, sleep and heatwave effects.
  • July 2025 – Collarbone fracture, sleep and mental health.
  • Aug 2025: Part 1 – More falls, broken wrist and hospital stay.
  • Aug 2025: Part 2 – Return home, carers, mental health and melatonin.
  • Sep 2025: Part 1 – Occupational therapy, mobility, sleep and outings.
  • Sep 2025: Part 2 – Physiotherapy, sleep, confusion and long term care plans.
  • Oct 2025: Part 1 – Wheelchair referral, physio, sleep, counselling and befriending.
  • Oct 2025: Part 2 – Cast removal, recovery, Moorfields and wheelchair delivery.
  • Nov 2025: Part 1 – First wheelchair outings, sleep progress and end of reablement.
  • Nov 2025: Part 2 – My wisdom tooth removal, Mum’s skin biopsy and outings
  • Dec 2025 – Support work cuts, appointments, Christmas outings and shopping.
  • Christmas 2025 – A brief update on Christmas in my end-of-year post.

2026

• January 2026 – Mum’s improvements, support work cuts and looking forward.

Useful Links

Here are links to some UK resources that I’ve either become aware of during my caring journey, or already know about and feel are worth highlighting:

• Support Organisations:
  • Carers UK
  • Carers Trust
  • We Care Campaign
• Support Entitlements:
  • Benefits, Financial Support & Working
  • Carers Assessments
• Discount Cards:
  • Carers Card UK
  • Discounts For Carers
  • Forward Carers
• Sight Loss Mental Health Services:
  • RNIB
  • Partially Sighted Society
  • Macular Society
  • Deafblind UK
  • Sightline Befriending
• Other Mental Health Services:
  • NHS Talking Therapies
  • Mind (including advice for carers)
  • Samaritans