Carers Week: How are you doing?

Chloe_Alumni
Chloe_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 10,506 Championing
edited June 2020 in Coffee lounge

This week, 8th-14th June, is Carers Week. A carer is defined as someone who looking after a family member or friend who has a disability, mental or physical illness or who needs extra help as they grow older.

Being a carer can be a real strain at the best of times, however this is amplified during the global pandemic.

The back of a man and a woman The woman is resting her head on his shoulder

New figures released for Carers Week show an estimated 4.5 million people in the UK have become unpaid carers as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is on top of the 9.1 million unpaid carers who were already caring before the outbreak, bringing the total to 13.6 million.

2.7 million women (59%) and 1.8 million men (41%) have started caring for relatives who are older, disabled or living with a physical or mental illness.

Typically, they will have been supporting loved ones from afar, helping with food shopping, collecting medicine, managing finances and providing reassurance and emotional support during the pandemic.
How are you doing? What advice would you give to someone who has just become a carer? What things can you do to look after your wellbeing? Let us know in the comments below!

Comments

  • Chloe_Alumni
    Chloe_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 10,506 Championing

    Caring for my mum taught me how to look after my autistic son – The Telegraph

    0ver the past couple of months, whilst everyone has been deeply affected by the pandemic, unpaid carers like myself have been hit particularly hard. Research by Carers UK shows that more than a third of the UK’s estimated 7 million carers have lost support due to closures or reduction of support services. 

  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,720 Online Community Programme Lead
    I think remembering to make time for yourself is really important. Caring for another has the tendency to become an all-consuming task and when it gets too much the first person to get neglected will often be yourself.
  • Jomiranda
    Jomiranda Online Community Member Posts: 23 Contributor
    Having tough times atm, hubby & I have Worked all through apart from the first 4weeks. Care for our Adult Son aswell & he lives with us whilst we are in Lockdown Hell. 
  • christian96
    christian96 Posts: 101 Contributor
    Not too bad. It rained here tonight. I handed my partner a list and sent him out this afternoon so that he could have a proper break this morning for a while doing the weekly food shop for us and also did some more coursework too online as well. Today I mostly just stayed at home finishing up two courses on future learn. One was on Quakerism and the other one was about sleep. Both equally fascinating. This afternoon I even did a home exercise workout session. Later this week I am going back to work. Looking ahead already. 
  • WestHam06
    WestHam06 Online Community Member Posts: 1,390 Trailblazing
    A massive thank you to all of the amazing unpaid carers who are out there looking after a relative or friend who is older, has a disability, mental or physical illness or who needs extra help. Where would we be without you, sending you all  my very best wishes and appreciation. I appreciate that at times it must be very difficult but it's important to make time for yourself and as @Adrian_Scope has said at times it can become all to consuming and as a result of this it is often the carer who neglects themselves. I know easier said than done but
    please remember to look after yourself, you are important too! Thank you. 
  • Chloe_Alumni
    Chloe_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 10,506 Championing
    Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts. :)
  • Jasonwhatulike
    Jasonwhatulike Online Community Member Posts: 4 Connected
    Hello - looking to connect with people
  • Chloe_Alumni
    Chloe_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 10,506 Championing
    Welcome to the community @Jasonwhatulike! How are you doing today? :)
  • Jasonwhatulike
    Jasonwhatulike Online Community Member Posts: 4 Connected
    Not to bad CHLOE. A mixed day of trying to sort stuff out
  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,720 Online Community Programme Lead
    Sorry to hear it was mixed @Jasonwhatulike. Did you make any progress in anything at least? :smile:
  • Jasonwhatulike
    Jasonwhatulike Online Community Member Posts: 4 Connected
    Some progress
  • kelly45
    kelly45 Online Community Member Posts: 13 Connected
    As a care worker and mother/grandmother ❤
    Plus going through my own disability and son with autism?
    The only and best way to care for any person is to care how you would want to be cared for ? ask yourself this question... Would you be happy with the care you give?
    Only care from your heart and you will be rewarded by the most beautiful feeling from knowing they are happy because you have made them feel that way ❤
    The smile they give you when you are in their presents will dissolve any bad day you thought you were going to have ?
    Caring is the most rewarding job paid or unpaid you will ever experience, I'm not saying it isn't tough as some days are harder than others ?
    There are some excellent virtual training courses for some disabilities available which I highly recommend if you really want to see the world as they do with thier disability ❤
    I hope this helps people struggling x

  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,720 Online Community Programme Lead
    What a wonderful post @kelly45. Thank you. :smile: