Tma_1

We have all received care at some point in our life, for example, as a child. If there was not anyone to feed us, bath us, look after us we would not have survived. There is a clear definition given by government of who is or who isn’t a carer. A definition given by government for carer is: “Who looks after a friend, relative or a neighbour, who need support of their disability, age or sickness. It does not mean a professional care-worker in a nursing home, for example- or someone employed by a disabled person”. It is essential to know who is and who isn’t a carer so that they are able to receive the help and support they may need. I have chosen someone to focus on. And I am going to find out if the person is a carer or not. The person I have chosen is called Lata who cares for her father-in-law who is called Mohan. Lata has been caring for Mohan for past 10 years. Mohan has what Angus had A Parkinson’s disease. Mohan is not very mobile. But Mohan’s condition is worse than Angus. Lata looks after Mohan every day. However, Mohan can’t move at all so Lata has to look after him while he is in bed. She does most jobs for him, for example, gives Mohan his medicine, gives him injection, cooks for him, feed him, helps him to sit up and do all the little jobs. It was very difficult for her when she first had the duty to care for him. Lata did not know what she had to do but gradually she picked her caring skills. A complicating factor is that it is difficult to decide if Lata is a care or not because she receives some help from her husband and her two children. Lata’s husband sometimes washes and takes Mohan to the toilet. And the children often keep Mohan company. This could make one wonder if they should be classed as carers too' Well I do not think children should be classed as carers because it is something that everyone does who lives together. As for Lata’s husband I think he cannot be classed as a carer because he only helps when washing and the toilet is needed. And the government has decided that “Caring for more than thirty-five (35) hours a week qualifies a person for the Carer’s Allowance”. Another most important complicating factor is that people who care may not label themselves as a carer. They may think that it is a duty because of family ties, close friendship or partner, For Example, Lata believes that it is her duty and responsibility to care for Mohan because she is married in that family. It is similar to Ann and Angus’s story. Ann promised her mother to look after Angus before she passed away. So Ann believed it was her duty to fulfil her promise and it includes family tie as well. Mohan wants be independent. He does not like being cared for but he is in a very poor condition so he cannot look after himself. Lata does not receive any support from social services. On the other hand, she doesn’t want any support. She is comfortable and feels good about caring for her father-in-law. At the end it is very hard to decide whether someone is a carer or not. But by looking at the government’s definition of a carer Lata meets the criteria and she is classed as a carer. However, she prefers not to be called as a carer because she believes that it is her responsibility.