Caring is an essential role which can be extremely rewarding. However, it can also be exhausting, frustrating and relentless and can place strain and stress on relationships and everyday living for our carers. The theme for this year’s Carers Rights Day was ‘Know Your Rights’. In a recent survey of nearly 6,000 carers, Carers UK found:
- Four in five unpaid carers are providing more care for relatives
- 78% reported that the needs of the person they care for have increased during the pandemic
- Two thirds (67%) worried about how they will cope through further lockdowns or local restrictions.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, most carers have had to provide more care, often without the usual help from family and friends, and with limited or no support from local services.
Dr David Crichton, Chair at NHS Doncaster Clinical Commissioning Group said: ‘‘In Doncaster there are more than 33,000 people providing unpaid care for their loved ones, friends and neighbours. Without this help, many people would not be able to do things most of us take for granted, including getting washed and dressed, making meals and completing paperwork.
‘’Carers Rights Day gives us an opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to our wonderful carers for everything they do to help others, and this year, we want to focus on making sure people who are also carers are aware of their rights.
‘’There is a lot of support available to carers and one the most important things carers can do is make sure their GP is aware that they are a carer. That way, we can work together to help keep carers well and help them to continue to provide the extremely valuable support they provide every single day.
‘’Please do tell your primary care practice that you are a carer and make sure you get a ‘flu jab this year. Being Winter Well has never been more important for carers this year’’.
Geoffrey Johnson, Public Governor at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and a member of the Doncaster Carers Strategic Oversight Group, shares his experience of being a carer with us, as part of our campaign highlighting the support available to carers as we celebrate Carers Rights Day this year:
‘’We have all felt isolated, missed family, friends and our holidays this year, during the coronavirus pandemic. But let’s pause for a moment, for this is the life of an unpaid carer during ‘normal times’.
”As a result, many carers have been left exhausted and close to burn-out.
”A carer is anyone, including children and adults, who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health condition or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid.
”I was a full-time carer for two years and during that time I had to learn new skills. I was not trained in first aid and I had to observe the medical professionals, so should my father, (who was a high falls risk) fall and lacerate his tissue-thin skin, I knew what to do. I was also shown how to identify and treat pressure sores.
”The life of a carer is very hard and demanding. Full time carers deliver care 24-hours a day, often getting up during the night to help the person they care for, which adds to these considerable pressures.
”I had to leave my employment to look after my elderly father, which I do not regret to this day, as it gave me two precious years to be with him and like all carers, we developed a very special bond.
”I would say one of the most important positives that came out of caring for my father, was after his passing, I was determined to speak up for carers in primary and secondary care.
”I am delighted that organisations across Doncaster continue to champion the work of carers and the fantastic work they do. There are many kind words expressed on carers rights day by health and social care professionals, but unless you are or have been a carer, you will never fully understand or appreciate what it involves and it is therefore extremely important that we engage with carers, to see what we get right and what improvements are needed to our services.
”In these difficult times, I want to thank all carers in Doncaster, I am incredibly proud of you all, and this only grows with each passing day’’.
Support for Carers in Doncaster
Doncaster Carers Reach Out
Are you living in Doncaster and a carer for someone? If yes, we are here to help.
We can support you in your caring role, help you to stay connected in your community and give you balance in your life. At Making Space we understand that while caring for a family member or loved one is a very generous and selfless thing to do, it can also take its toll on your own health and wellbeing. Ways in which we can help include:
- One-to-one support: We know that being a carer can be a challenging at times, which is why our friendly and compassionate carer support workers are with you every step of the way to make sure you receive the best possible support.
- Peer support: We believe that being a carer is easier when you have people around you who understand what you are going though. Our peer support groups will bring together a network of carers in your local community who will help pick you up when you’re down and celebrate the everyday successes of being a carer.
- Information: Our job is to make sure your commitment is recognised by those that matter, and that positive steps are taken to enhance, prioritise and protect your wellbeing. We will identify the services you, and the person(s) you are caring for, may need and help you to get in touch with them.
Contact us: get in touch today to find out how we can support you either by telephone on (01302) 986900 or by email: DoncasterCarers@makingspace.co.uk
Carers Rights Day 2020 is held on Thursday 26 November
About Carers Rights Day
Whether you are a new carer or have been caring for someone for a while, we believe that it’s important that you understand your rights and are able to access the support that is available to you as soon as you need it. Each year, Carers Rights Day helps us:
- ensure carers are aware of their rights
- let carers know where to get help and support
- raise awareness of the needs of carers.
The theme for Carers Rights Day 2020 was ‘Know Your Rights’
Carers need to know their rights wherever they are in their caring journey: whether they are in the workplace, in a healthcare setting, when interacting with professionals or at home. This Carers Rights Day, we want to empower carers with information and support, so they can feel confident asking for what they need. We also want carers to know how to challenge things when their rights are not being met.
If you are caring for someone and want to know more about your rights, click here to read our Looking after someone guide.
You can find out further information about the support available to carers in Doncaster, including Young Carers (anyone who provides care and is under 18 years of age) on our Clinical Commissioning Group website here