back in the circle

We've been working with a group of carers at Warrington Museum, trying out ideas for re-labelling museum objects, using emotional connections with the artefacts rather than historical ones. This week we focussed on writing. Participants were interviewed about their lives as carers. They then inter-cut lines from these interviews with descriptions of objects that attracted them around the museum...

Carol with Finger and Toe rings from West Africa, Warrington Museum  & Art Gallery

rings


in rings – how you feel while caring

it's reminiscent of a wheel, you never get off

a sign of devotion, trust and

symbol of love

all the things you would do for a child

rather than being back in the pram they're in

a wheelchair, return to childhood

back in the circle

difficult to accept care – irritation

because it means you can't cope and that's a failure

finding a few moments to get your head together

no end to the task, no breaks

care is frustraton.



Carol

16 July




Interview  

It's reminiscent of a wheel, being a carer. You never get off. When you're not with the person you care for, you're thinking of them – are they getting properly looked after? Your brain is only intent on that one thing.

Finding a few moments to get your head together.

Care is frustration. I didn't give as much as I wanted, didn't get him what he really needed, couldn't keep him at home eventually. Frustration when people don't give you the right information or do the job they're supposed to and you do a lot of work for nothing. You make a complaint and they never get back to you, or fob you off. Ring so an so, then ring so and so. Phone call after phone call in amongst everything else you've got to do.

You don't think of it as how you show care, you do it automatically. You do a million things. All the things you would do for a child, all the things you would do for an adult. Provide food and warmth, making sure they're eating healthily, changing them, putting food in their mouths. And of course rather than being in a pram the person is in a wheelchair and you're pushing them around as you would a child. So again it's a circle, you're back in the circle.

It's difficult to accept care, irritating. Cos it means you can't cope and that's a failure. People ask are you alright and you always say 'Yeah'. It's a difficult thing to accept care when you've cared for someone.

Carol, interviewed 16 July