ABSTRACT
Caring Responsibilities / Ways of Coping / Emergencies / Illness / Disability / Personal Health and Safety Caring Responsibilities / Ways of Coping / Emergencies / Illness / Disability / Personal Health and Safety General Issues covered in this session Finding out about personal health and safety including: What things do you like to eat? Do you get your own breakfast and what is it? What kind of lunch do you have? Do you know what healthy eating is? Do you know why it is important? At home are there things you are asked to help with, like lifting? Do you help with personal care, like washing, helping with a bath/going to the toilet? Do you get enough sleep? Is your sleep interrupted? Do you ever have a lie-in? Do you have feelings of tiredness....backache? What do you do to give yourself as a treat? Has your caring role stopped you going out with friends? Does your caring role prevent friends from visiting your home? Are there certain times of the day when you would like some help? Do you take time off school? How often? For what reason? Do you know who your school nurse is, can you talk to her? Session 2 Feelings surrounding caring - see Session 3 worksheets. Can you tell me about the illness/disability of the person cared for? Can you, and do you talk to them about their medical condition? Are there questions about their medical condition or situation that you would like answered? Sometimes young carers think that the person they care for would not like them asking questions - do you think like that? Explore together. Is there any information you might like me to help you find out? Do you worry sometimes about the person you help care for? What do you do when you feel worried? Do you get worried how things are at home when you are not there? Do you talk with your parent about what it’s like for you helping out at home? What kinds of things do you do to help? What things are most difficult? What are the things you enjoy about caring? Shall we look at the possibility of (medical) equipment/resources being found? Would you like a pen pal - ‘Write Away’ Do you know which professional people are involved/helps your family? Do you know what job they do? Do they talk to you about what they do, or why they come? Practical needs at home, eg,, Social Services, Occupational Therapy, Respite Looking at possible alternatives/ways forward. Do you worry about money? Do you think your mum/dad worries about money? What to do in an emergency Do you ever think about what would happen if there was an emergency? Do you know what you would need to do if there was an emergency? Do you get worried you would have to cope with it? Think about home environment eg. hazards in the home, availability of mobiles, etc. Think about who to contact: doctor, emergency services, neighbours, parent at work - is there a list of telephone numbers available for use in an emergency in the home? Think about specific issues relating to person cared for, eg. mobility, medication, resuscitation. Other Ideas Use “What if …” scenarios made specific to each young carer’s situation
