Local author publishes poetry book about caring for a parent with dementia
A Bedfordshire carer has published a poetry book based on personal experience caring for a parent with dementia
A Bedfordshire carer has published his collection of poems, inspired by his experience of caring for his mother with dementia.
The author Kayson J Gurney is splitting the profits of the sale of the heart-rending poetry book ‘In the Moment: Caring for your loved one’, with local charity Carers in Bedfordshire and the Alzheimer's Society. The 57-year-old wanted to ensure the book was ready to be sold in December so those interested in poetry, or what it takes to be a full-time carer for a family member, could put it on their Christmas list.
Kayson has cared for his 84-year-old mother Kay for the last seven years, after he moved back into the family home. He gave up his teaching job when he recognised she was beginning to forget things and how to do simple daily tasks.
He said: “With my mother's mind and memories continuing to fade as she began losing the battle to stay in the same reality as me, I got into writing poetry as I had to try and express how I felt. I attended the Carers in Bedfordshire Poetry Zoom Group and was also inspired by the stories of members of the Alzheimer’s Society and Carers in Bedfordshire support group I attended with my mother.
“It’s heart breaking to see my mother deteriorate. As someone gets worse with dementia you take on more and more things you never thought you’d have to do. My poems are written from the heart and reference this relationship change, as well as the scale of fatigue you feel as a carer. A lot of people have no idea how hard caring is, it’s 24/7 you can’t just switch off."
Jolene Macnaughton, Fundraising Manager at Carers in Bedfordshire, added: “We are so grateful to Kayson for his very generous donation. We know how much time and effort has gone into the very moving and thought-provoking collection of poetry. It’s also amazing he found the time to write so many poems alongside caring for mother. We will put the money towards helping other unpaid carers.