Carer’s Week - What my PA’s do for me

My Dad and my PA’s are my carers.

One of my PA’s on
‘Come to work in
    Your PJ’s day’

My PA’s (Personal Assistants), Alison and Emily are amazing and I feel blessed to have such amazing PA’s who I feel truly care for me and go above and beyond for me. I love PA care as I get to build up a good solid relationship with my PA’s and my care is consistent compared to my agency care. I also have more autonomy over my care. I can also do fun things like on this random day like ‘Marmalade Day’ on Come to work in your pyjamas day’ I let my PA come to work in her pyjamas.

I employ Alison and Emily via Direct Payments and I use and agency to help me do the admin and legal side of the employment as well as help me find new PA’s as I’m still looking to complete my team of PA’s.

My Dad also cares for me like for example if a PA is off he will come round after work to make my tea, do the washing up and do other jobs for me that I struggle to do. Dad also does my gardening for me. Dad also helps with my social wellbeing and during the school holidays we’ll usually go to a garden centre together as he knows I find it difficult to get out so we’ll have a coffee and usually get some things for my garden. My Dad is also on call all the time and has even come out in the middle of the night to me like when I had someone break into my garden. I also find it good to talk to my Dad when I’m struggling with my mental health.

Going through the day here are some of the things my PA’s do to support me to help me personally but also manage to enable me to live on my own:

• Meal preparation and also making drinks
• Preparing medication and ensuring I’ve taken all my medication
• Dealing with my catheter
• Preparing my bath
• Getting me into the bath - lifting my legs into the bath and operating my bath lift
• Helping me brush my teeth
• Helping me wash my face
• Washing me
• Shaving me
• Washing, brushing and styling my hair
• Helping me get out off the bath
• Helping me get dried
• Applying barrier creams
• Assessing my pressure areas to help prevent/treat pressure sores
• Helping me to get dressed both in the morning and at bedtime
• Transferring such as into my wheelchair or onto a chair
• Preparing catheter bags
• Making my bed
• Ensuring I’m wearing my CareLink
• Helping me remember things
• Supporting me in the community and accessing the community
• Driving me to places 
• Keeping me safe when I become unwell
• Getting my wheelchair and also sometimes my Batec in and out of the car 
• Taking me to medical appointments
• Supporting me at medical appointments 
• Helping me manage my anxiety
• Helping me with communication
• Doing laundry 
• Washing pots
• Food shopping
• Taking me out on Batec rides
• Meet my additional needs when I’m having a bad day 

This is just what I can think of off the top of my head now what Alison, Emily and my Dad do for me. I’m so grateful to have the support I do and to have the great relationship I have with my PA’s too.

I think more people need to consider a career as a PA and I always advocate for what a fantastic job it can be and how you’re supporting someone to live their life how they want to and you’re helping to enhance their quality of life too and the relationship you build up with your client is amazing too.

I also think that caregivers should receive more in Care’s Allowance.

Carer’s need more recognition for the role they play in disabled people’s lives.

Without Alison, Emily or my Dad I wouldn’t be where I am now. I wouldn’t still be living independently in my own home and I love having my own home. I feel cared for and supported and my PA’s enjoy coming to work and that makes me really happy knowing that.