Ian’s Hope story

Ian cares for his elderly mother with Alzheimer’s Disease. She had been going to day care one day a week prior to lockdown - but is with him full time at present.

“The course covered all the things we struggle with as carers - food, sleep - and gave hints and tips about how to improve things. It’s all about self-care really, how to look after yourself.  I liked the fact I could dip in and out for 10 minutes, 20 minutes. I printed things off, bookmarked lots of pages and I’ve gone back to those.”

Ian really enjoyed the Hope Cafe for course participants that met by Zoom once a week “They were exceptional. Just to see and be able to talk to people, put faces to names and meet the co-ordinator!” The participants found the experience so rewarding that they have agreed to keep meeting by Zoom now that the course has finished. He hopes they might even meet face to face when lockdown restrictions are lifted.

The self-compassion part of the course was most helpful to Ian - he learned not to be so hard on himself: “I’m a much more patient person now, I don’t get angry as easily”. He’s now building other suggestions into his daily routine, such as looking at the positives “Even when you’ve had a crap day there is always something positive and thankful to come out of it, no matter how small”.

Ian’s greatest achievement on the course has happened because he started to walk for exercise regularly, as part of the goal-setting activity. He had anticipated that it would help towards his long-term goal to lose weight. During the six weeks of the Hope Programme, he has dropped a jeans size: “I was a size 36 waist and now I’m a 34 - I DID IT!”

When his mother returns to day care once a week, he’s planning on re-starting his hobbies again. Ian would definitely recommend the course for other carers.

Ian’s photo of his before jeans (36W) and his after jeans (34W) together.