Carers Questionnaire

[Lelee]

Hi Carers
 
I'm attaching a questionnare that is a work in progress. I would really like some feedback on the questions, whether you think they're relevant or whether you think something needs to be added, etc.
 
Could any carers out there please complete the questionnaire and return to me on email: Lelee2222@aol.com
with your comments. Alternatively if any carers, friends or family are motivated enough they can be printed off for any carer friends or carer groups to complete and returned by post to The Alliance head office in London.
 
I could also complete the form by phone for somebody. My number is 07855 165831.
 
The carers assessments are all well and good but I feel these questions are more pertinent to our caring role.  Once I have gathered enough information the plan is that it will be taken forward to relevant sources to inform and shape future servces for carers and in turn their family.
 
The forms can be anonymous but it would be useful if you could add the area that you live in.
 
The more carers that contribute to this the better so please feel to distribute as you see fit but please ensure the information gets back to me.
 
Thanks
 
Linda

[leecollingham]

Hi Linda

Have made a couple of changes to you questionnaire.  They are marked in red.  Let me know what you think.

Lee

[Lelee]

Hi Lee, yes think they're necessary. How do I change the red print to black print on form?

Linda

[admin]

Just highlight the red text and change the colour to black (can't remember which menu it's in in Word 2003 although it's probably format, but it should be at the top of the page anyway - the symbol for it is a bold letter A sitting on top of a line in the colour you're typing in).

[leecollingham]

Ursula is right Linda.  But have done it for you.
Speak soon

Lee

[Lelee]

Thanks Ursula and Lee. Have now attached carers questionaire version 2.
Linda 

[bebe]

Not too sure if I am classed as a carer.  My daughter is 35.  I have suspected she has had a drugs problem since her university days when she changed. Dhe had been in a relationship with  a man she met when she was at university. They lived together and had a daughter. Then they moved around a lot back home to us for a while away again and in the last 10 years close by.  We a a good relationship with our grandaughter who visited us regulary.  There were obvious problems with money and we helped them out frequently.  About seven years ago some money was taken from my husbands credit card account and various other items of value from the house.  When confronted  my daughter's partner admitted to stealing as he needed the money for his drug problem which he blamed on work mates.  This resulted in a row and we didn't speak to him for some time but kept contact with our daughter.  Life went on and we only saw our daughter sporadically and never for long periods we did consider that she may have a problem too but it was denied.  Thing seem to get worse contact wise and eventually  her partner told us  she had left leaving our granddaaughter with him. Eventually we managed to make contact with pour daughter and she finally admitted to being addicted to heroin and methadone. She had sought out treatment whilst she was away and for the first time in year she spent the night at our house.  She came regularly  and made a venue for her and her daughter to spend some time together. They both came on holiday her us for the first time ever.  Evebtually she moved in with us and has made a home her for herself and daughter.  All this is not as idealic as it would seem for the first time in years I have been able to observe my daughter and now realise how damamged she is.  There are not any rows but she behaves like an adolelence and is more like a sister to her child than a mother. I stand back and do try not to interfere though it's difficult.  She is hoping to move into a small cottage nearby with her daughter which is good.  My fears are that she may not br ready as she has always had a very controling partner, who diid all the housework.  I'm not sure what to expect from her her health does not appear great she easily gets breathless and is having lots  of dental problems.  She is still attending her drug program sessions which are once a fortnight and has her prescription thrice weekly now.  I  just don't know what to expect or hope for the future, she does not have any ambition as far as career or work is concerned.  i do worry about her and her daughter who I feel is receiving very poor parenting from both of them.

[Lelee]

Hi Bebe

“A carer is someone, who, without payment, provides help and support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without their help. This could be due to age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability.” - www.carers.org

After reading your post I'm releived your daughter is moving close to you so you can still keep an eye on the situation. Your worries are understandable. Please keep posting and feel free to call our help line if you ever need to. There's many of us in similar positions and the worry for the future is a huge one.

Please try and stay positive, it's good that your daughter has engaged with a treatment agency and I assume she must be stable if she's picking up three times a week. It's also positive that your daughter has taken steps to regain her independence by arranging to move into her own home with her daughter.

Full credit to you for being there when they both really needed you and for being sensitive and wise enough not to interfere. I'm sure you would know when to take action if if the need ever arised.

Now's the time to maybe take another step back and be there in the background for as and when needed. 

How old is your grandaughter and has your daughter had a diagnosis re her breatlessness?

Take care

Linda x

[maggiem]

Hi Linda, Happy new year to you!
I have just received the the carers questionnaire and being a techno idiot I am not sure how to post my answers! This sort of thing completly throws me. Would it be ok to print, fill in and then post to you?
Hope all is well with you and that Christmas was happy, although it seems ages ago now!
Take care
Love Maggie

[Lelee]

Hi Maggie
 
Can you copy and paste? It's easy, just highlight all the area by left clicking at the beginning and scrolling to the end. Right click and select copy, address an email to me and press paste. It should all be there and you can add to it too.
 
If not just send it to our head office address and I'll get it.
 
Christmas wasn't what I'd hoped it would be this year but there's always another one! Hope yours was good and that this year as carers we are instrumental in changing services for the better for us and our loved ones.
 
You must be on PADA's forum then? They sent the questionnaire out to over a 100 carers yesterday.
 
I'm doing a presentation in February for prisons, IDTS, (Integrated Drug Treatment Systems) giving a carers perspective and want to ensure that the voices of many carers are heard. I can give my own perspective and experiences but the message is much stronger collectively.
 
Thanks Maggie
 
Linda

[Lelee]

Can you copy and paste? It's easy, just highlight all the area by left clicking at the beginning and scrolling to the end. Right click and select copy, address an email to me, right click again and press paste. It should all be there and you can add to it too

Sorry Maggie, should have included as highlighted above.

Linda