SHELTERED HOUSING and Voluntary Work

On diagnosis of Mac’s shortened life expectancy we moved to a ground floor flat in a sheltered housing complex in 1979 and resided there for seven years. We had a warden to call on if required and a garage for my adapted car. By this time I became very reliant on a wheelchair for my mobility because on standing I became very unsteady with very little co-ordination for walking safely.

I was by now experiencing many other physical and neurological symptoms of my MS and was persuaded by the local Secretary of Eastbourne Multiple Sclerosis Society to join their committee. This was the start of my Voluntary work and resulted in 21 years for the MS Society in various capacities culminate

Also at this time it was felt by a local Social Worker that facilities were needed for people with all types and degree of physical disability and I became a founder member involved in the M.O.R.E. Club from 1979 – untill 2011 as Secretary, Vice Chairman and Chair.

Another of my voluntary jobs saw me become nursing adviser to Saffron’s Athletic Club and I used to attend their training sessions and races to monitor the athlete’s vital signs blood pressure etc and to treat their various sports related injuries. Being very keen on athletics this was as near as I could get to actually being able to participate myself.

Looking back I think by absorbing myself in the care of others again only in a voluntary capacity helped me to adapt more to my own physical limitations and the fact that Mac wanted constant attention for himself. Now when I hear of people with a debilitating disability allowing and wanting their partner to take full responsibility for them and their care I realise that I would not be as independent as I am now if Mac had been more willing and able to give me some assistance. I did have a very difficult time in the final years of Mac’s life trying to cope with his demands all hours of the day and night and his intense possessiveness which prevented me from having a life of my own. I can remember him buying me one of the very first Motorola mobile phones which cost almost £400 so that he could contact me if he thought I was out of the house longer than necessary. I now realise that carers have a really lonely life and deserve all the help and support they can get, they are the forgotten people and without their dedication and care the world would grind to a halt.

After seven years in Sheltered Housing and only having one bedroom we managed to get a transfer to a council bungalow with two bedrooms and a garage which made life a lot easier as by now we both required the use of wheel-chairs.

I must say Mac was a lot happier with this move as we were much more independent and to quote him “We didn’t now live in a fish bowl”.