Just wanted to introduce ourselves to you all on this wonderful friendly forum.
My name is Jan and hubby is Ed and we have been travelling in our caravan full time for the last 5 years and loved every minute of it.
Unfortunately we have sold our van now as my Mum and Dad are both not well, so have moved into a unit here on the Tweed coast to be able to care for them.
I must say hubby and i are finding it very hard to live within these 4 walls, so we are looking at buying another van and we will live in the local caravan parks here. Maybe we could just move from one park to another and just pretend we are still travelling!!!!
Regards Jan
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"we haven't been everywhere....but its on our list"
it must be hard for you and your husband as that was a brave decision to care for your mum and dad i am a carer in the community and i see it so often and no how much care will be reqiured just remember that when you are loooking after someone you also need to look after yourself as well and you will still need to do the things that make you happy just remember that there is help out there for people and as i am not sure of there needs you dont have to do it all yourself so even though you may have put on hold your plans dont feel guilty when you want to get up and go again
-- Edited by magraret on Saturday 2nd of June 2012 08:13:09 AM
A big welcome to you both. I can imagine how it must feel after being mobile for so long. I hope you can find a van to suit your needs. Good luck with it. Tess
thanks again, it will be a difficult time, Dad with leukemia and parkinsons, and mum with early dementia, but they only have me. They are very private people, they have no friends so they do rely on me very much......but as you say....the carer has to look after themselves and there is a lot of help out there. I am so blessed to have such a great hubby, so all is good.
Jan
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"we haven't been everywhere....but its on our list"
I am sorry to hear about your parents, My wife Sandra and I looked after my dad for just over 5 years as well, he also had leukemia. it can be a very hard time but also it has it's good times as well and we wouldn't change our decision. There is a lot of help out there. we had so much help from QLD health as well as the leukemia foundation, make sure that you get in contact with them, they are very special people.
It is great that you have the support of your partner and remember to take time out for yourselves.
Wow living on the road for 5 years, I envey the both of you. that is Sandra's and my dream to travel Australia.
Welcome Jan and Ed. You will find plenty of friends on here. I know exactly how you feel, believe me. As others above have said make time for yourself and also use the various govt agencies that are out there for your needs. I have just had great help from Qld Health Homecare who came in and installed a handheld shower and rails in my shower to make my life a bit easier while caring for my son. Cost me nothing, I was amazed. Make sure you get the appropriate help you will need to make your life easy, what ever it is. And get out there whenever you can for little breaks if nothing else. Now all I need is to find someone who can fix my back, hip and aching leg. lol
Welcome here & I'm sure your family appreciate your care. Maybe now & then you will be able to use respite care & get away for a couple of days now & then. That will refresh you.
Thanks for all your friendly welcomes and comments. I have to fess up here.........i have been on this forum as a "visitor" for a long while now.
It has been a God send when i have been awake all hours of the night, just to be able to come on here and lose myself in all your joys and travels, and have even followed with concern all the sadness and health issues. So without sounding like a "stalker" (yuk...not keen on that word) i feel like you have all been like friends i have not meet yet.
So, thank you all for such a great forum.
Jan
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"we haven't been everywhere....but its on our list"
Very best wishes Jan and Ed, its not an easy task given their respective conditions. Our parents would have seen us through our illnesses if the situation was reversed, so I understand your commitment. Just make sure to take some time for yourselves occasionally.
Thats fine Jan, you could stalk as much as you wanted, glad it filled in the time of those sleepless nights and gave you some comfort knowing there were others out there in similiar circumstances. Now its nice to know we can share with you all that is going on in your life.
I am sorry to hear about your parents, My wife Sandra and I looked after my dad for just over 5 years as well, he also had leukemia. it can be a very hard time but also it has it's good times as well and we wouldn't change our decision. There is a lot of help out there. we had so much help from QLD health as well as the leukemia foundation, make sure that you get in contact with them, they are very special people.
It is great that you have the support of your partner and remember to take time out for yourselves.
Wow living on the road for 5 years, I envey the both of you. that is Sandra's and my dream to travel Australia.
Take care of yourselves
Rick
Thanks for your welcome, and thanks for the info re the leukemia foundation...i will get in contact with them for sure. Dad has his good days and bad days, Parkinson's also gives him a hard time.....he has a few falls, and broken his nose so at long last persuaded him to use a walking stick....its a pride thing i suppose.
We did enjoy our travels in our 5 years....also did a lot of house sitting which we enjoyed, it got us out of the van for a while but we were always ready to get back in it and take off again!!
Thanks again for the info
Jan
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"we haven't been everywhere....but its on our list"
Hi Jan and Ed - welcome to the Forum. I undertstand the parent thing - mine are getting more and more of a worry as the years go by which is why I haven't been very far away. I haven't had to move in with them yet but I can see it coming up in the next year or so.
I have a brother and two sisters, but being the eldest, and the only solo - it is me that does the constant keeping in touch and visiting etc. I got away for a few weeks last year and will do the same again in a month or so.
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Esmeralda
It aint over until the fat lady sings, and I dont feel like singing just yet!
Hi Jan and Ed - welcome to the Forum. I undertstand the parent thing - mine are getting more and more of a worry as the years go by which is why I haven't been very far away. I haven't had to move in with them yet but I can see it coming up in the next year or so.
I have a brother and two sisters, but being the eldest, and the only solo - it is me that does the constant keeping in touch and visiting etc. I got away for a few weeks last year and will do the same again in a month or so.
Thanks Esmeralda,
They do become a worry dont they.....how the tables turn!!
I do have an older brother but he left to go to England when he was 18 for a holiday and never returned..so have not seen him for over 40 years! We keep in touch with the odd birthday, xmas email, and i do inform him of how Mum and Dad are going, it would be nice to have him here though, but dont begrudge him his life.
Enjoy your time away while you can, hopefully we can do the same.
Regards Jan
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"we haven't been everywhere....but its on our list"
And a homely welcome from me too. Nice of you to join us. Most of us, if we confess, started as "stalkers". Reading and learning before putting a toe in the water. You are actually very well qualified, experienced nomads, now turning to the role of carer. You will have lots of experiences to pass on as time goes by. I realise you are the sole carer for your parents, but please don't put all of your lifestyle on hold. You could become quite resentful some time down the track. There may come a time when one or both parents are too much for you to handle on your own. There are agencies as mentioned here, and it's in your best interest to utilise them, for your own health's sake. I would also hope your parents haven't put the pressure on you and expecting you to care for them. Private they may be, but you are only human, and obviously not a "springing" chook either. They may just have to get used to outsiders helping you and them. And it has nothing to do with the quality of your love for your parents. Don't allow yourself to be pressured or blackmailed.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Thanks so much CG for your lovely welcome and very kind words of wisdom.
I know i will want to try to do it all myself, but i also know that that is just silly as i will burn myself out. I have "been there, done that" as i am also a carer for my husband. I am thankful that he is so much better now, but i have learnt by my mistakes in trying to "do it all myself"
So i will take on board the great advise you have all given me, and i will get help this time.!!!
We are trolling thru the for sale ads at the moment, looking for another caravan, so thats exciting times for us.
Thanks again for all your kind words, Regards Jan
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"we haven't been everywhere....but its on our list"
