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"I feel as if the help I received was 2 years too late"

About: NHS Calderdale

Posted by dimple334 (as a relative),

From my experience, people in their late 70s sometimes do not get enough information about services and help available for dementia patients. It seems that this is often the case with older GPs.

It was only through a local carers organisation that I found out that we could have a social worker. The medical care we received was good but I think more information would have been useful about services that could have helped my wife and I. I have suggested putting leaflets in GP waiting rooms to make people aware of what is available.

My wife passed away recently and I feel as if the help I received was 2 years too late. It was suggested that I share my story with Patient Opinion by the Calderdale Carers Project. Even though I am not a carer anymore I go to meetings as I feel a lot of ex-carers, like myself, have experience to pass on to new members.

This is a story is not a complaint, just my experience and I hope it can help improve things for other carers.

More about information, Care of the elderly, Carers and dementia

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Responses

Response from Anne Catchpole , Assistant Director of Involvement , NHS Calderdale on 30/07/2010 at 08:24

Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your experience. I am afraid your experience of caring for your wife without knowing where to find support is not uncommon.

Both NHS Calderdale and the Local Authority work together to try and raise awareness of carers, yet we know many remain hidden. NHS Calderdale also works closely with organisations such as Calderdale Carers Project to support carers.

We hope your story encourages people to contact organisations to see what help is available. Without the time and commitment of volunteers like you, to help raise awareness, we will always have hidden carers.

I am sorry this has been your experience and this only highlights that we need to work harder together in the future to support those who continue to care for others on a daily basis.