Many people are caring for someone with a ‘hidden’ disability which often means they do not see themselves as carers.
This is particularly true for Zoey who cares for her 12 year old daughter Tia. Tia’s physical disability is very hidden. She attends a mainstream school and, in more ways than one, leads the life of an average teenager.
But Tia’s condition means that she has to be very careful with her diet and always has to plan ahead, particularly if staying away from home. It also means that Zoey has a disrupted night’s sleep in order to help manage her condition.
“I have to ensure there is a strict routine to help make sure that she is ok which includes getting up at the same time in the middle of the night to check on her.
“I have been doing this all of her life.”
Zoey has always just ‘gotten on’ with things until a friend suggested that she registered with Carer Support Wiltshire in 2013.
“When I first registered with Carer Support Wiltshire, I was coping ok apart from struggling with the fact there seemed to be no services available for children in Wiltshire.
“Out of all the medical professionals I’ve taken Tia to see over the years, no one had ever mentioned that I could get some support as a carer.
“As she’s getting older, it’s getting harder and I’m trying to learn ways to enable her to be more independent.”
Since registering with Carer Support Wiltshire, Zoey has accessed information on some free training opportunities for carers and has enjoyed an aromatherapy massage at Carer Support Wiltshire’s Semington office which really helped her to relax and enjoy a bit of ‘me’ time.
