Most young people turn to their grandmothers as a source of love and support. But for Paul Windridge, it’s his grandmother who relies on his care 24 hours a day. Deborah Field reports.
PAUL Windridge has been his grandmother's primary carer since he was 21.
Mr Windridge, of South Hurstville, has put his life on hold to care for Erna, who was living in a retirement home before she was diagnosed with dementia.
He and his grandmother live together in the house he shares with his father.
Mr Windridge, 29, has been named NSW carer of the year of an older person in the National Carer Awards run by Life Without Barriers.
The awards recognise and celebrate the extraordinary contributions carers make to the community, and were held in consultation with Carers Australia and Families Australia.
There are more than 857,000 carers in NSW of whom more than 100,000 are under 25.
Before dementia took hold, Mr Windridge's grandmother was an active woman who volunteered at her church and with Legacy.
She enjoyed babysitting children and her hugs were a source of warmth and reassurance.
She now becomes anxious if her grandson is out of her sight.
Mr Windridge estimates he has about six hours to himself each week.
"It has been a loss of freedom because she never likes anyone not being a few metres away from her at any given time," he said.
Mr Windridge cooks, washes and cleans for his grandmother, who attends a support group for older people with dementia twice a week.
"The most important thing I've learnt is to not be afraid to ask for support, he said.
Mr Windridge is studying to become an engineer, but he estimates it will take him four times as long to complete his degree because of the number of subjects he has had to delay.
He said maintaining a romantic relationship with a partner "would be restrictive".
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