Currently, in the UK there are 6.5 million Carers – which equates to one in eight people. These are people who care for someone who is disabled, ill, older or suffering from a mental health condition.
It is estimated that this number will rise; Carers UK foresee a 40% increase in the number of Carers by 2037. This is partly because our society is living longer with illness or disability.
Caring may be required round the clock, or it may only be required a few hours a week. Regardless of how much time is spent on caring for others, being a Carer can impact your life in a huge way.
Carers are those who help other people in their day-to-day life. Unlike people who provide care professionally, most of these Carers are friends or relatives of the person they are caring for.
This type of support is essential for helping loved ones get the most out of life, but understandably it can be taxing mentally and physically.
For some, caring becomes a sudden responsibility (for example if a loved one is involved in an accident or becomes ill). For others the responsibility creeps up on them – relatives begin to age and are unable to cope, or your partner’s health deteriorates.
The responsibilities Carers have will depend on the illness of the person they care for. Generally, Carers will look to help loved ones in their everyday activities. This can range from feeding and clothing someone, to taking them out and socialising.
Juggling this sort of care with other responsibilities such as work and family life can be difficult. It is common for Carers to suffer from heightened stress, making them susceptible to anxiety and depression.
We have dedicated Adult Assessment Workers who offer emotional and practical support to carers from age 19.
We offer numerous services and support for Carers and their families.
If you would like someone to talk to in confidence, then give one of our Adult Team a call on 01539 815970. Alternatively you can fill out the Referral Form on this website and someone will be in touch.
We can then talk about what might make your life easier and how you can get more help, or if you prefer we can arrange a time and place where we can meet up and talk about what your needs are.