"Support when I most needed it"

My husband has advanced Alzheimer’s, diagnosed 7 years ago and I’ve been caring for him on my own. A few months ago he started to get very agitated, starting in the afternoon and then was up most of the night, confused and upset.

I was absolutely exhausted and didn’t know how I could possibly continue to look after him. I contacted the mental health team in Letterkenny that he was under to tell them what was happening. 

The response was immediate and the support incredible. The doctor reviewed my husband right anway and changed his medications. The OT came out and accessed him and offered great advice and the community  nurse with the team came out also. She really listened and supported me, organising some practical help and counselling specific to carers. They both kept in contact with me until things improved. 

I can’t thank them all enough as they got us through a crisis. I’m glad to stay my husband is sleeping well and in better form and I have my strength back to care and look after him in our home. I honestly know that if we hadn’t had the support from the mental health team, he would be in a nursing home now as I would not have been able to continue caring for him.