A director at a North East council has shared her personal experiences of caring for a family member to show support for carers across the region.

 

Durham County Council is supporting Carer’s Week, from Monday 6 June to Sunday 12 June, by raising awareness of the challenges faced by unpaid carers and the contribution they make to families and communities.

 

It is estimated that five million people in the UK juggle work and caring responsibilities, but don’t always recognise themselves as a carer.

 

With this year’s theme being ‘making caring visible, valued, and supported’, the council’s director of adult and health services, Jane Robinson, has shared her own experiences of becoming a carer for her mum.

 

Jane said: “Around the time of Carers’ Week last year, I became the carer for my mum after she was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Caring for my mum, who was previously very fit and well, gave me a huge insight into the physical, practical, and emotional challenges of being a carer.

 

“Whether it was managing the complexities of hospital appointments and medication, co-ordinating formal carer arrangements, or practical and domestic things, there was lots to think about and do. At times being a carer was really scary, particularly in the middle of the night, and at times it was exhausting, but there was fun too such as supporting mum to tick things off her bucket list.

 

“I was lucky to have support from fantastic family and friends which really helped me. I know this is not always the case for many carers, who may feel alone or isolated, so it’s important we talk about what it is to be a carer to make it more visible and recognise the invaluable impact it has on the lives of those we care for.”

 

The council has partnered with Carers’ UK to offer unpaid carers in County Durham free access to lots of online resources to help make caring easier, including access to a care coordination app where people can manage appointments and save important information about the person they care for.

 

People can register for the digital resource for carers at  www.durhamcarers.info/index.php/support-for-carers

 

Carers can also receive different support from the council depending on the care they provide and who they care for.

 

People can request support if they are:

  • Adult carer – An adult who provides care for another adult or a parent who cares for a child over the age of 18.
  • Parent carer – A parent who looks after a child who has a disability and is under the age of 18.
  • Young adult carer – A young adult aged 18 to 24 who provides unpaid care, assistance, or support to a family member
  • Young carer – A child or young person under the age of 18 who looks after someone with care and support needs, for example, a parent, sibling, or other relative.

Cllr Paul Sexton, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for adults and health services, said: “Not everyone with caring duties recognises themselves as a carer, but it’s important that we acknowledge the vital help and support unpaid carers give to friends, family and people within the community.

 

“There is lots of help and resources available for people who care for another person, which can be accessed by anyone who needs it. We are committed to making sure carers feel acknowledged, valued, and supported, so no one has to feel like they are on their own.”

 

People can get a carer’s assessment to find out what support they are eligible for, find out about carers’ breaks, and get a Carers Card, which gives access to discounts and concessions with business registered on the scheme. More information can be found at www.durhamcarers.info