Up to last Christmas I was the sole carer for my wife who had advanced Alzheimers syndrome. Having said that, I think I should add that I am a wheelchair user who has extensive paralysis from the neck to the knees at the back -including the right side of neck. Due to cerebellar damage, my balance is very poor also.
The Social Services completely ignored my condition, and refused even to give me a respite break. It was only after complaining to the head office that I got a break of one week. I was then ignored for a further 18 months, and was going downhill fast with exhaustion. Again a complaint to head office got results and she was taken into a care home.
After the assessment of her settling in at the home --the social worker wrote in the records "John does not want to care for his wife any more".
I really do wonder where they recruit these social workers from.