Good social care changed my life

Having a disability makes you feel restricted in so many ways, but if you have good social care, it changes your life forever.

My social care experience

I employ care workers to enable me to get on with my day-to-day life. My care workers help me with housework, gardening, cooking meals – in fact; they help me with everything. They drive me to work, help me to shop, and provide support that allows me to meet up with my friends. They even help take care of my dog, Mabel and come with me on holiday.

 

My social care is really my arms and legs! It enables me to live a fulfilling life so I don’t feel restricted. Social care gives me the freedom to live the life I want to live, to do what any other non-disabled person can.

Social care gave me my independence

I am now able to live the life I want to live. I have a job, a social life, and my own home. When I moved out of the family home four years ago, it felt like a big step, but now I love it. Without social care, I would have had to continue to rely on my parents.

I am able to work two days a week at a police headquarters thanks to the care I receive. My care worker stays there with me, so they are there to enable me if I need anything. My care workers allow me to have a sense of flexibility and control.

Unfortunately, it took years and years for me to access the care that I need. Social care needs to be more accessible because many people don’t have access to adequate support. Social care should be readily available for everyone.

What my support looked like during the pandemic

During the pandemic, I wasn’t given enough advice about PPE for my care workers. It was stressful to organise protective gear for 12 people. However, thanks to my care workers, I could still access the support I needed.

Care workers deserve much more recognition. They are there for me 24/7 and have transformed life for my family and me.

I believe that people with disabilities deserve to get the support they need to be independent and to live life on their own terms. Social care has dramatically changed my life for the better- it has enabled me beyond my expectations.