Jenny, a Silverchain client in her seventies from South Australia, has always been a devoted wife. After her husband, John was diagnosed with lung cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asbestosis, she also became his full time carer.
Doctors told John he had only a few days left, however, four years later John is still going, managing his health conditions thanks to Jenny and support from Silverchain.
After doctors suspected cancer, John needed half his lung removed. Along with his COPD and asbestosis, his outlook was not good. Fortunately, John has proven doctors wrong, however, the impact on his wellbeing and Jenny’s freedom has been enormous.
The incredible stress and strain of being a full time carer has been difficult for Jenny to manage, but regular visits from Home Support Worker Rachel Hall have helped to ease the burden.
Today, John can only walk a few steps before needing to catch his breath, and with these limitations, he has little desire to leave the house. In fact, he hasn’t left it in over a year. For Jenny, this has resulted in something all-too common: carer stress.
“John is quite unaware of how hard it is for me,” Jenny said.
“A lot of it has to do with the isolation. People don’t visit you much when you’ve got an illness like John’s, and we can’t entertain people. John doesn’t even want to go out into the garden.
“There’s no way I’d walk away, but it’s hard. Some days I’ve just had enough,” Jenny said.
John and Jenny’s situation is one shared by many, but that doesn’t make it any easier.
As a Home Support Worker, Rachel started visiting John and Jenny not long after John returned from hospital. She helps them clean their house, but more importantly, she provides a ray of sunshine every time she visits.
“She’s an incredible cleaner and she has a great work ethic; there’s no doing half a job with this young lady, she puts everything into it. But what we appreciate more than that is her great personality and how she treats us during her visits,” Jenny said.
“She’s always very happy, she’s bubbly, she loves life and nothing seems to get her down,” Jenny said.
“With John not getting out, he really looks forward to Rachel’s visit. She spends time with both of us, one on one, plus she chats the whole time she’s cleaning. It’s just so wonderful to have someone visit who is so full of life.”
About a year ago, Jenny had a hip replacement. When she returned home, yet again, Rachel’s presence was a godsend.
“She did extra little things that she didn’t need to do, just out of the goodness of her heart,” Jenny said. “She always goes the extra mile.”
In an undeniably difficult situation, Rachel brings so much more than top notch cleaning skills. She lightens the burden simply by being herself.
Silverchain is undertaking a significant research project on how we can better care for carers. Click here to read more about it and how you can show your support: Silverchain Foundation’s Caring for the Carers Appeal.
Pictured (from left): Jenny, John and home support worker Rachel.
