PART 1

CAROL: It's really good to see you, Tom.

卡萝尔：见到你真的很高兴，汤姆。

Since I had to give up work, I feel I'm losing touch with my friends and colleagues.

自从我不得不放弃工作以来，我感觉自己正在与朋友和同事失去联系。

TOM: We really miss you in the office – we were all so sorry you had to leave.

汤姆：我们在办公室真的很想念你 —— 你不得不离开，我们都很难过。

But you must be relieved to have more time to look after your mother. How is she?

但你一定松了一口气，因为有更多时间照顾你的母亲了。她怎么样？

CAROL: Well, she's very cheerful but she needs a lot of help.

卡萝尔：嗯，她很开朗，但她需要很多帮助。

TOM: Have you tried to get any support from the local council?

汤姆：你有没有试图从当地议会获得任何支持？

CAROL: No. I didn't know I could.

卡萝尔：没有。我不知道我能做到。

TOM: Yes, they offer different kinds of practical support.

汤姆：是的，他们提供了各种实际支持。

They realise that carers sometimes need time for all the other responsibilities they have apart from the person they're caring for, and also that they sometimes need a break.

他们意识到，照顾者有时需要时间来承担除照顾对象之外的其他所有责任，而且他们有时也需要休息。

CAROL: Absolutely. OK, so tell me more. How do I go about getting this support?

卡萝尔：当然。好吧，那么再多告诉我一些。我该如何获得这种支持呢？

TOM: Well, you'd have to have an assessment of your mother's needs.

汤姆：嗯，你需要对你母亲的需求进行评估。

That means someone would come round and talk to you about the situation and what you need.

这意味着会有人来跟你谈谈情况和你的需求。

So for a start they'd want to know the amount of time you spend looking after your mother every day.

首先，他们会想知道你每天花多少时间照顾你的母亲。

CAROL: OK.

卡萝尔：好的。

TOM: Then they'll probably ask you what sorts of tasks you do for your mother during the day.

汤姆：那么他们可能会问你白天都为母亲做了哪些事情。

Things like if she needs help with getting dressed, for example.

比如说，如果她需要帮忙穿衣服。

CAROL: Right. I help her with that, and also I help her get into the shower in the morning.

卡萝尔：好的，我会帮她做这些，我还会帮她早上洗澡。

TOM: Yes, that sort of thing.

汤姆：是的，就是那种事。

They'll probably ask you if you do the shopping for her, and help her at mealtimes.

他们可能会问你是否愿意帮她购物，以及在用餐时间帮忙。

And whether she can cope using money.

还有她是否能应付使用金钱。

CAROL: Yes, that's becoming a bit of a problem.

卡萝尔：是的，这确实变成了一个小问题。

She used to be very good at it, but not any more.

她以前很擅长这个，但现在不行了。

TOM: And be ready to tell them about anything you find particularly difficult about caring for your mother.

汤姆：准备好告诉他们任何你觉得特别困难的关于照顾你母亲的事情。

CAROL: So recently I've noticed she's started to have quite bad problems with her memory … if I wasn't there, I think she'd forget to eat, for example.

卡萝尔：最近我注意到她的记忆力开始出现相当严重的问题...... 比如，如果我不在场，我想她可能会忘记吃饭。

And often she doesn't seem quite sure what day it is.

而且她经常似乎不太确定今天是星期几。

TOM: Yes, tell them about that. And are there any physical difficulties you have caring for her? Lifting her, for example?

汤姆：是的，告诉他们这件事。你照顾她时有什么身体上的困难吗？比如说，举起她？

CAROL: Yes. She's quite heavy, and I'm afraid of hurting my back – I'd be in real trouble if that happened.

卡萝尔：是的。她很重，我担心会伤到背 —— 如果真的发生那种情况，我会遇到真正的麻烦。

TOM: They can give you advice about that, and also about how to avoid the possibility of your mum having a fall.

汤姆：他们可以给你一些建议，比如如何避免你妈妈摔倒的可能性。

CAROL: Great. So once they've done this assessment, if I'm eligible, what happens next?

卡萝尔：太好了。那么，一旦他们完成了这个评估，如果我符合条件，接下来会发生什么呢？

TOM: Well, they might support you financially.

汤姆：嗯，他们可能会在经济上支持你。

So they might help you with transport costs, like if you have to get a taxi to take your mother for an appointment, for example.

所以他们可能会帮你支付交通费用，比如说，如果你需要叫出租车送你母亲去赴约。

CAROL: I usually drive her myself actually. So could I claim for the petrol?

卡萝尔：实际上我通常自己开车送她。那么我能申请汽油费吗？

TOM: You could, and you can claim for the insurance too.

汤姆：你可以，你也可以申请保险。

CAROL: Oh, right.

卡萝尔：哦，好的。

TOM: And if you need help with the housework, they can arrange for someone to come along once or twice a week.

汤姆：如果你需要帮忙做家务，他们可以安排人每周来一两次。

And one other thing, I hope you don't mind me saying this, but it's important you look after yourself, and it seems to me you're under quite a bit of stress.

还有一件事，我希望你不介意我这么说，但你要好好照顾自己，这很重要。在我看来，你似乎压力很大。

CAROL: I am, yes.

卡萝尔：是的。

TOM: Well, tell the council, because they may be able to give you some advice on how to minimise it.

汤姆：好吧，告诉委员会，因为他们可能会给你一些如何最小化压力的建议。

CAROL: Really? Though actually I feel so much better having talked to you.

卡萝尔：真的吗？不过说实话，和你谈过之后我感觉好多了。

I'll get in touch with the council straight away. Now shall we …

我马上就联系委员会。现在我们是不是......