Carers Bill of Rights
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Heart Failure Carers Bill of Rights
It is very important that the Carer and Patient get there relationship balanced – face the facts it is the Patient who will loose out if the Carer’s is not respected and looked after. Below you will find a list of your rights as a carer form our view point. Pin this on your fridge door or somewhere where the Patient can see it.
- Take care of myself. This is not an act of selfishness. It will enable me to take better care of my loved one.
- Seek help from others even though my loved one may object. I recognise the limits of my own ability, endurance and strength.
- Maintain facets of my own life that do not include the person I care for, just as I would if he or she were healthy. I know that I do everything that I reasonably can for this person, and I have the right to do some things for myself.
- Get angry, be depressed and express other difficult emotions occasionally.
- Reject any attempt by my loved one (either consciously or unconsciously) to manipulate me through guilt, anger or depression.
- Receive consideration, affection, forgiveness and acceptance from my loved one for as long as I offer these qualities in return.
- Take pride in what I am accomplishing and to applaud the courage it sometimes takes to meet the needs of my loved one.
- Protect my individuality and my right to make a life for myself that will sustain me when my loved one no longer needs my full-time help.
- Expect and demand that as new strides are made in finding resources to aid physically and mentally impaired persons, similar strides will be made toward aiding and supporting caregivers.
