Caring and Coping

As a care provider you are likely to be a spouse, parent or close friend.

• You will feel the pain

• Your will feel offended & hurt

• You will be stressed

• You will feel concerned

• You will be put-out

• You will feel hopeless

• You will feel alone!

It is often a lonely place. You can not always share with the person who you care for, as they need lifting in their spirits and do not need the burden. So you carry the burden and do your best to not let it show. 

One way to cope is to have a friend who is detached from the situation, whom you can talk with and get things off your chest. It is not a case of complaining, but talking helps to keep things in perspective.

There is also an up-side to being the care provider. You will find that often you gain benefit from being a carer. 
Entrance fees can often be free or greatly reduced. 
You will be given the same priority as the person that you are caring for, especially at airports and ferry ports.

One thing to watch out for as a carer - It is easy to take over. You need to be there for support, but you need to encourage the amputee to do as much as is possible for themselves. Do all you can to give the person you care for their independence.

The amputee

As the one being cared for, remember to show gratitude and say thanks. Always acknowledge what the carer is doing for you.
You can hurt the one you love by just taking them for granted. You may feel hard-done-to, but it is not their fault that you have lost a limb.
Do not feel afraid to say something if you feel crowded in, but do it in a gentle manner and explain why.

Remember to talk together about things and share each others concerns where you can.

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