When I meet people in the context of my mother’s care I invariably introduce myself as Gillian, Milly’s daughter – also known as mummy’s rotweiler. My way of warning them not to mess with me or my mum.
On several hospital stays my mum would have died if I hadn’t been there to ensure that they IV’d her as she was mega dehydrated. In December 2014 she was sent home, at my request, classified ‘end of life.’ I write this in March 2015 and my little VIP, my little rosebud is still chugging along. How many old people die every week in our hospitals because they don’t have visitors or they have visitors who remain silent?
Carers are the silent masses. They are non-persons. They are the ones who live in modern day Auschwitz – often forgotten, badly treated, losing all sense of identity and self-worth. If every carer in the UK took a day off and went to the seaside to have a rest and some fun then the entire healthcare system in the UK would be on red alert. It would not be able to cope. Caregivers stay silent because they’re afraid – the authorities are so powerful. They remain silent because they no longer have the energy or the time to speak out.
Care workers are badly paid given the work they do and the responsibilities they have. They’re looked down on because they’re on zero hours contracts, minimum wage or not much more and … they wipe people’s bums. This makes me furious. They are unsung heroes. My mum is still here today because of the wonderful carers hired by RV Care. I’m naming them because they merit the applause.
When I’ve paid off the debts I incurred taking care of my mum and secured my own future and old age (I have no siblings or children so it’s all down to me) then I would like to be the voice of the silent ones. The voice that speaks for the elderly who can no longer take care of themselves or speak for themselves. The voice of the caregivers. The voice of the care workers. The voice that makes the difference. Not for personal glory. But to make a real difference in the world.
My lovely mum passed away on April 18th, 2015. I pledge that in your memory mummy that I’ll carry on with my
Voice for the Silent and I will honour your memory by creating the Milly Leonara Art gallery to house all your wonderful paintings and establishing a foundation in your name to support underprivileged young people who want to follow their artistic dreams. I’ll love you for always and I’ll miss you every day of my life.